Industry Insider: Extreme Airsoft

On the east coast of the US a lot of airsoft fields are scarce and when you do find one, you want to make sure it’s great. Extreme Airsoft in Rhode Island is definitely one of those airsoft hidden gems. It’s a gem because everyone from the owner, managers and staff care about the experience you have at the field. Chuckles, the General Manager at Extreme Airsoft, will give us a bit of insight on whats going on.

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

Extreme Airsoft is an indoor airsoft field and store, offering online sales. We have a full-service tech department, ready to build whatever custom airsoft gun you could want in addition to repairing the one you already have. Extreme offers private parties; whether airsoft, Nerf, Dodgeball, or training events we have you covered. OP days are themed events, with a full backstory, missions whose outcomes directly affect the next few missions, costumes, custom props, and a raffle at the end of the day for products from some of your favorite companies!

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

It has been a bit of both. Despite limitations, we are currently experiencing the highest level of sales in our history. Due to changes in state policy, we restructured gaming hours a few times and have settled at a schedule that offers a balance between gaming and sanitizing. Some product availability is limited on the wholesale end, but it does not prevent us from frequent resupplies from companies. We also had to reschedule EA FEST and the NorthEast Airsoft Expo, our anniversary in addition to a gathering for the entire NorthEast airsoft community. However, we are hoping these events may come back before the end of the year.

• Do you feel that your company provides adequate customer service to those customers who frequent your business?

At Extreme, we strive for high-quality service in the store as well as in staging. Our knowledgeable staff members will help you find the product you need, or maybe the one you’ve always wanted! Whether guns, gear, optics, accessories, or even BBs we’ve got you covered. Our tech staff can repair almost every gun, or build the craziest set up you’ve ever seen. Our referees deal with customers directly in case of emergency, issues on the field, and effectively balance challenging gameplay with a fun and engaging experience.

• What are some of the things you are trying to do to make sure that your business provides a great and safe experience?

Amidst Covid concerns, we keep up-to-date with all state mandates. We restructured our gaming schedule to allow time for sanitization of the field, staging areas, and store. Everything is cleaned several times an hour, so we added additional staff members to maintain standards.

Our referee staff are trained to check every customer as they enter the field before each game for chrono tags and approved face and eye protection, and walk staging between games to check for barrel socks, BBs, propane, and more. In the store, staff makes sure to inform customers of field requirements at check-in, and sells airsoft guns and gear appropriate for the facility. Referees also verbally brief all players with facility rules, and handle any situation on the field.

• What would you say is something that sets your business apart from similar ones in your area or industry?

The staff is incredibly passionate. Mostly consisting of airsoft players, all staff not only play frequently, but design field layouts, game modes, and other content on their own. Every staff member owns a little piece of the field, seeking to improve not only the field but the experience for the customer. The attention to detail. Not many fields are willing to put roofing tiles on their buildings, or design a light system for a building that changes with a randomly-generated gunfight. We also change the layout of the field every 2 months or so, and perform frequent maintenance to buildings/barriers in need. We strive to sell a wide range of products from airsoft to real-steel, backed by warranties that allow us to assist the customer immediately. Our referee staff enforce a rule set designed to make gameplay as hassle-free and simplistic as possible while offering plenty of opportunities to utilize individual playstyle.

• What makes your customer base unique?

Our customer base is a combination of many varieties of playstyle, age group and background. They are also incredibly passionate, and love to assist and teach newer players, integrating them into the Extreme Airsoft Community. We constantly get feedback and new ideas for field layout, game modes, props and objectives. They often volunteer for specialty game modes, repairing or moving the field, or helping with our larger events.

• Where can people find you?

1425 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879
Instagram: @ExtremeAirsoft