Please tell me a little about Smith & Wesson's history.

Legendary
It is a brand that has been chosen by American cowboys and Russian Czars alike. Military officers traveling to distant shores and police officers walking the local beat have trusted Smith & Wesson to perform when needed. It is this presence that has built their legendary reputation. Today, throughout the world, they remain an emblematic brand representing both a long-standing heritage & unique sense of pride & performance.

Proud and True
If there's a word that describes the promise of Smith & Wesson products, it's authentic. Throughout their history they have developed products that have been iconic. From the artistry in their hand engraving to the reliability of their law enforcement products and their expansion into the areas of Safety, Security, Protection and Sport, Smith & Wesson has consistently delivered the quality deserving of the name.

Renowned and Trusted
Smith & Wesson is one of the most recognized brand names with a commanding 87% brand recognition across all demographics. In addition, they are lauded as providing the most dependable and innovative products in the industry.* With their dedication to meeting new challenges in every segment of their marketplace, and their on-going investments in state-of-the-art technology, they are confident they will continue to earn the trust and respect of both existing and new customers.

* From 2004 study conducted by American Sports Data on behalf of Smith & Wesson.

Innovative and Energized
Great brands reflect the vision and aspirations of their customers. In this regard Smith & Wesson continues to personify the strength, self-sufficiency and independent spirit of their customers. Their dedication to innovation and quality has made them what they are today - a global leader in SAFETY, SECURITY, PROTECTION and SPORT.

They will continue to strengthen their brand by providing customers with the high-quality products and services that are synonymous with the name Smith & Wesson. If your company can live up to the promise of their heritage and meet the demands of their performance, we invite you to join us.

Back to top

What Benefits Could I Expect as a Smith & Wesson Dealer?

• Instant brand name recognition.
• Increase in lead generation.
• Increase in sales closing ratio.
• Better subscriber account retention.
• Availability to an array of financing and financial programs.
• Monitoring by the nations largest independent central station.
• The dealer is in total control of their business and independence.
• Increased revenues and margins.

Back to top

What Would my Committment be as a Dealer?

• To monitor all subscriber accounts with NationWide Digital Monitoring.
• To maintain quality installations utilizing Smith & Wesson® approved equipment.
• To service subscribers & maintain the creditability of the Smith & Wesson® name.

Back to top

How strong is the Smith & Wesson Brand with Consumers?

Smith & Wesson is a global brand with a rich legacy of providing high-quality, authentic products that embody its customers' sense of heritage and independence. As stewards of this unique brand, the company remains focused on maintaining the brand integrity by making sure that every single product displaying the brand nark lives up to the name it bears.

Smith & Wesson ® Brand Awareness Study Smith &Wesson has an 87% Brand Awareness with Consumers.

Back to top

What are some advantages of Branding?

Brand Name Management
Afford Dealer's to Earn Premium Pricing - Added Value for "Brand equity will usually allow dealer?s to earn higher margins by permitting both premium pricing and reduced reliance upon promotions."

Recognition of Brand - The Hidden Endorsement
People will often buy a familiar brand because they are comfortable with the familiar. Or, there may be an assumption that a brand that is familiar is probably reliable, in business to stay, and of reasonable quality.

When there is no clear winner, the strength of brand awareness can be pivotal.

Reduced Marketing Costs
A set of customers with brand loyalty reduces the marketing costs of doing business. Smith & Wesson ® follows a philosophy of zero tolerance for unhappy customers. In one way or another every customer with a complaint is satisfied. Major efforts are made to retain and service customers. A very strong and loyal customer base is available which represents a market already "sold on Smith & Wesson ®". This should reduce the cost of marketing and increase the success of appointments.

Old Brand Names Have More Power
A remarkable phenomenon is that when a brand becomes really well established, with high recognition created as a result of many exposures and usage experiences, recognition tends to stay high over a long time period even if advertising support is dropped.

Smith & Wesson ® is over 156 years old and established for weapons, protection and quality. These are completely relevant in the security industry.

Of additional value is the perception of quality by law enforcement officials when questioned on Smith & Wesson ®. Recent articles by the NBFAA (National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association) have placed emphasis on building a foundation and relationship with local law enforcement to maintain growth in the security industry. Smith & Wesson® has already established this relationship.

Brand Names and Technology Products
The purchase of a computer related product or service is similar to the experience of the first or second time security system buyer. Both are encumbered with many features the buyer does not understand completely, while making a reasonably lasting decision. When selecting a computer the participants relied heavily on a brand name in which they had little or no practical experience but felt the name was an important factor.

Back to top

What is licensing?

Licensing is the ultimate leveraged market strategy that has literally become a business way of life since the early eighties. It allows both the licensor and the licensee major market advantages that would otherwise cost millions of dollars to implement.

Advantages of Licensing
The licensee realizes several benefits through a licensing program. Through the association with an established and quality brand name like Smith & Wesson, you are able to take advantage of the brand equity and loyalty that has been established over the years. In addition, you will be marketing a product with a brand name that has broad recognition beyond the core market.

This offers you several advantages:
1. Expansion of your market share within your established market.
2. Expansion beyond your traditional markets.
3. Increased visibility of your product group.
4. Low cost alternative for the introduction of a new product without trying, at the same time, to introduce a new (unknown) brand name.
5. Increased bottom line profits.

Back to top

How does licensing work?
The licensing program begins with a formal agreement between Nationwide Digital Monitoring Company, Inc., Smith & Wesson and your company. This agreement or contract outlines the responsibilities of the licensor and licensee.

1. A contract is executed between Nationwide, Smith & Wesson and your company.
2. The contract details the products and systems you can distribute and distribution territories.
3. Your company is given the right to use the Smith & Wesson name, monogram, or other registered marks owned by Smith & Wesson on a product exclusive basis.
4. A yearly Performa quota or guarantee is established.
5. Smith & Wesson earns royalties based on material and services purchases.
6. The Smith & Wesson brand product must be brought into the market within a specified period of time.

Back to top

What are the requirements to become a licensee?

Through a licensing agreement with Smith & Wesson, you are legally given the right to produce and install a Smith & Wesson brand of security system. Your products must meet with the approval of Smith & Wesson for quality and company identification.

Some of the requirements are as follows:
1. Your company name must be clearly identified as the installing and servicing company on every system and advertisement.
2. The product must be identified as a licensed item with Smith & Wesson.
3. The Smith & Wesson ® name must always appear with a registration mark.
4. All products installed must meet the standards established on the approved list.
5. The Smith & Wesson brand product cannot be inferior to or "seconds" of your established product line.
6. Smith & Wesson must approve all advertising, packaging and product graphics and copy including Smith & Wesson logo placement prior to production or publication.
7. Media schedules must be sent to Smith & Wesson prior to placement.

Back to top

What are some of the reponsibilities of a licensee?

By becoming a licensee with Smith & Wesson, your company assumes the following responsibilities:
1. System design.
2. Installation.
3. Service and Maintenance of Systems
4. Warehouse and distribution.
5. Packaging.
6. Selling.
7. Advertising.
8. Quarterly progress reports to NationWide Digital Monitoring
9. Maintenance of a specified level of liability insurance.
10. Maintain all required professional licenses for region(s) of operations

Back to top

What support could a licensee expect from Smith & Wesson?

1. Product announcements to Smith & Wesson Distributors and Dealers.
2. Product usage whenever possible or applicable in Smith & Wesson collateral and publication advertising.
3. Availability for lead generation through Smith & Wesson gun dealers.
4. The Smith & Wesson Security Services brand will be given a preference in promotions.

Back to top

Who do I contact for support regarding the Smith & Wesson Security Services Network?

Please contact:
Ray Kerr
Dealer Services Support Smith & Wesson Security Services
(877) 479-0006
rkerr@nationwidedigital.com

Back to top

What More Can You Tell me About the Smith & Wesson Brand?

The Smith & Wesson name has spanned 156 years as the premier manufacturer of our product in the world. The company has a 48% market share in the United States and is the preferred brand in Europe and Australia. The company sells approximately 500,000 units a year with seventy percent going to the domestic consumer market.

Based on company research through Gallup, National Demographics, and MRI, the profile of the Smith & Wesson owner and purchaser is upper scale. Eighty-five percent of our purchasers are male with household incomes in the $40 - 50,000 range. Seventy percent are college graduates, fifty- percent own homes, and over half are married with children. Clearly, this group has unmatched loyalty to the Smith & Wesson brand name.

Add to this, the Smith & Wesson name carries a high degree of instant brand recognition. Over eighty-seven percent of all males over the age of eighteen readily identify the Smith & Wesson name with quality products. As a result of the 1989 media blitz on the Lady Smith line, the recognition rate among women rose to an astounding forty-seven percent from fifteen percent a year earlier.

Smith & Wesson is a company dedicated to the production of quality, innovative products and caters to the law enforcement and consumer markets. Over eighty percent of all domestic police departments carry a Smith & Wesson. Our products dominate national and international matches and competitions. Smith & Wesson maintains visibility through extensive advertising, sporting publications press coverage, product placement in movies, and sports sponsorship. In 1989, Smith & Wesson dominated coverage in outdoor magazines and received favorable national press coverage to the sum of over three hundred newspaper articles, and eighty-five televised news programs.

The Smith & Wesson name represents quality, tradition, innovation, and a part of the American Heritage. It's a name that has strength in the general consumer and the sporting market: a name gaining strength among females: and a name that's addressing the future through innovative development.

Back to top

What is the Smith & Wesson Security Services Network?

This branded network allows an alarm dealer to maintain their independence while leveraging the reputation and consumer acceptance of a 156 year old company known for quality.

The independent alarm dealer when selected as a Smith & Wesson ® Authorized Security Services Dealer is authorized to promote themselves as an authorized Smith & Wesson ® Authorized Security Services Dealer. Along with this comes the ability to utilize the Smith & Wesson ® Trademark on sales literature, contracts, lawn signs, window decals, trucks, business cards, alarm equipment and as part of an overall marketing campaign.

Back to top

What are the core Smith & Wesson businesses?

SPORTING GOODS - Delivering full range: pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns - Revolutionary marketing and consumer pull programs

LAW ENFORCEMENT - Market Size: 17,000 Departments and 800,000 Officers - M&P Series polymer pistols launched January 2006 - Win rates: 80%+ with pistols (264 departments) 90%+ with rifles - Goal: Re-take leadership with M&P Pistols & Rifles

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - Won the only, four new major orders issued by federal government in past two years - Opportunities: Iraq forces, US Military switch: 9mm to 45 caliber

INTERNATIONAL - Global network of sales employees and reps - Growth in FY 2007: 10.1% (Q2 2008 +122%)

Addressing New Growth Opportunities
Safety... Security... Protection... Sport

• Firearms - Handguns & Long Guns
• Law Enforcement - Products & Services Surround the Police Officer
• Homeland Security Products & Services - Professional Installed Electronic Security & Safety Systems
• Defense Related Products & Services - Surround the Foot Soldier

Back to top

Learn More Today!
Request info now, or call us at
1-888-600-1852.