With a name that is very aptly given, Cutting Edge Bullets products separate themselves from nearly everything else on the market.
In over 15 years, Cutting Edge Bullets has made a name for itself with its unique product offerings. Still, according to Vice President of Operations Bob Savard, recently the company had begun to consider expanding its presence overseas.
With assistance from the STEP grant program, Cutting Edge Bullets received a FAA grant to attend the Enforce Tac Trade Show in Nuremberg, Germany on February 26 – 28, 2024.
Since 2011, Idaho has received STEP awards, making funds available to qualifying Idaho companies for international marketing campaigns to export their products.
Program objectives are to increase the number of small businesses that export, increase the value of exports and increase the number of small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities. Participants must meet SBA eligibility requirements to participate in STEP-funded programs.
The show brings together a variety of exhibitors from the security and armed forces industries. In addition to Cutting Edge Bullets, Idaho companies WMD Tech, Genesis Arms and Primary Weapons Systems also attended.
Savard said receiving the STEP grant to cover booth costs made the decision to attend Enforce Tac easy.
“The big impact was the booth cost for Enforce Tac being covered,” Savard said. “It really helped push us over the fence, we are glad we did it. It was a good deal and ultimately, we did make a lot of good contacts at Enforce Tac. It was definitely worth
our time.”
Since attending the show in February, Savard reported their international sales from the show totaled $802,000 and he expects that number to continue to increase.
Savard said with all the success from Enforce Tac, he looks forward to working with Idaho Commerce to attend future shows.
“I would say it is a win-win,” Savard said. “There is a lot of the headaches of traveling to new countries, doing new shows and Idaho Commerce really helped negate all those issues so it was not a problem.”
Learn more about the Idaho State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) here.