March 15, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Silencer Central.

There’s nothing quite like a home game.

And the analogy seems to fit for Silencer Central, which didn’t have far to go for its road show earlier this month when the Sioux Falls suppressor business set up shop at the Pheasants Forever Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic.

“The aisles were packed with people,” said Jess Poncelet, senior manager of marketing, media and events. “Normally on a Friday afternoon, you can tell it’s a Friday, and people are at work, but this time we were so busy that day we brought in extra help for Saturday.”

Unlike many trade show booths, which are designed to provide information about a business, Silencer Central literally brings its business to the show attendees.

“They will see all our products on display – stands with silencers, firearms with silencers installed – and they get to meet both our sales and administrative teams,” Poncelet said. “They’re there to take people through the entire process once they decide what they want to purchase.”

Customers can order on the spot, provide necessary information, do their photography and fingerprinting, sign paperwork and let Silencer Central take it from there.

“Approval times through the government can vary, but lately we’re telling people to plan on about seven months,” Poncelet said. “That puts you into this fall, so it’s a great time to be thinking ahead to hunting season.”

While visitors to Silencer Central’s booth can’t leave with a suppressor that day, they do walk away with a signature T-shirt.

“It’s fun to see how popular they have become,” Poncelet said. “At this and other trade shows, we see people wearing our shirts from years back, and we can tell because we redesign the artwork each year.”

In Sioux Falls, many customers already were familiar with the local business. But the event also drew people from nearly every state.

“It’s generally a mix of people who know us and somewhat of an education process,” Poncelet said. “We also definitely see people who are repeat customers. They have a new firearm, and they want a suppressor. But then, you have people who have thought about it and want to learn more about the benefits and how to purchase.”

And at Pheasant Fest, they definitely purchased.

“We attend this event every year no matter where it’s held, and from a sales perspective, we doubled our business in Sioux Falls compared with the event last year,” Poncelet said. “At the same time, it was really nice for our team because people from our headquarters got to come see what we do on the road normally, learn about how the shows work and even see opportunities for improvements once they saw the process in action.”

Silencer Central was a bronze sponsor for the event and donated suppressors to be given away throughout the weekend.

“This organization is such a good match for our own commitment to the outdoors and conservation,” Poncelet said. “We’re happy to support them and their individual chapters with donations not just at the large convention but throughout the year.”

The thousands of attendees at Pheasant Fest also could benefit from learning more about the career opportunities at Silencer Central, she added.

“If you loved coming out to Pheasant Fest, we’re your kind of people and your kind of company,” she said. “Many people can’t believe how their skills can transfer to a fast-growing local company that matches their own passion for hunting and the outdoors. You can even consider a role working these shows with us throughout the country or learn more about opportunities at our corporate headquarters.”

To learn more about career opportunities at Silencer Central, click here.

And if you’d like to meet the team one-on-one to consider buying your own silencer, Silencer Central will have booths at two upcoming local shows:

• Sioux Empire Sportsmen’s Show: March 14-17 at the Sioux Falls Arena and Convention Center. Click here to learn more. 
• The DTGCA Sioux Falls Trophy Show March 23-24 at the Sioux Falls Arena and Convention Center. Click here to learn more. 

“Come see us, learn more about using your firearm with a suppressor and maybe even get a sense for if you’d like to consider becoming part of the company,” Poncelet said. “We’d love to meet you.”