Industry Insider: Airsoft Extreme

When you jump into researching the history of Airsoft from the Airsoft “historians,” you will always hear about the people/companies who kind of paved the way for Airsoft businesses in the US. For AEX to be around 20+ years, means they know the correct formula to keep their customers coming back and they know how to peek interest from new customers. I will let Andrew explain some more about this company.

• Can you tell the readers a little bit about your company? (what services you provide)

Airsoft Extreme is one of the first dedicated brick and mortar airsoft stores in the United States and the first full service airsoft chain store in the country.  We started online sales in 1999 and we established our first walk-in store in 2001 in San Jose, CA.  Subsequently, we expanded to Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego.  We provide a full array of airsoft services including sales, repairs, upgrades, and customizations at all of our locations.  Our headquarters remains in Santa Clara, CA which serves as our flagship store and distribution center and where we have an indoor/outdoor playing field.

• With the emergence of Covid-19 how has it affected your business? (good or bad)

Covid-19 has actually been very good for the airsoft industry overall.  The industry was somewhat stagnant for a while the year before.  Initially, the lockdown negatively affected us because we had to close our stores during this period.  However, as the lockdown eased, there was a pent up demand from existing airsoft customers and from new people who are seeking new recreational activities.  On the flip side, global lockdowns have disrupted the supply chain making product less readily available than previously.  

• In your opinion do you think that Covid-19 has helped or hurt the industry you provide your services to? (In what ways?) 

As previously mentioned, Covid has helped the industry with new people discovering airsoft as a new recreational activity to enjoy while other traditional recreational activities such as amusement parks, or travel vacations remained restricted.  Before government guidance was provided to re-open our stores, it greatly hindered our ability to serve customers.  But now, despite some health safety restrictions that we must continue to adhere to, we are able to offer access to all the services we have always been able to provide our customers. 

• Do you feel that your company provides adequate customer service to those customers who are purchasing products from you?

Absolutely.  We pride our staff in being a part of our local airsoft communities and being active or veteran players with first hand experience in the sport to guide and advise our new customers and to be able to communicate on the same level with experienced airsoft customers.  Our staff has a diverse experience with airsoft, so although no single person knows everything, we have enough knowledge and experience base spread throughout our organization to be able to assist almost any customer’s needs.

• What are your current hot products that everyone is grabbing?

It’s hard to single any particular selection of specific products out since our customer base has diverse tastes.  The staples are always the guns.  As always, mid-range airsoft electric guns are popular thanks to their affordability.  Blowback pistols are always popular thanks to the excitement of their realistic function and moving parts.  We are seeing a slight uptick in gas rifle sales recently for customers who are seeking something different from their AEG to play with or for customers seeking to weapons train since ammunition is so expensive these days. 

• Where can people reach out to you?

You can find us online at www.airsoftextreme.com where our email (sales@airsoftextreme.com) and phone contact information (208.492.9282) are listed.  

Our 4 store locations with address and phone numbers for each store can be found here – https://www.airsoftextreme.com/locations/

Naturally, we are active on Instagram and Facebook also.