Simon

Interesting times we live in.

Most of my posts here are about my personal feelings, but today after the big news of our JT purchase, I have been thinking a lot about the KEE company as a whole.

We all know it's not an easy economy etc. blah blah blah, and I hate to break the mold, but damn it, I'm excited about the future.

I don't see doom and gloom. I see opportunity.

We've been through a lot since we became KEE, and I am sure in these "interesting" times we will go through a lot more. We are in many ways evolving as a company everyday, and really trying to be best in class at what we do.

Not an easy task by any means, and I know we still have work to do on it. We have passionate people here, people that have built their lives around paintball.

All that KEE does right now is paintball.

We aren't distracted by anything else.

I know other companies are having hard times, we have to be careful too, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've always kind of felt I see the future because it's what I am always working towards (I wish my life would slow down sometimes though). I see every product in my mind, clearly and functionally before I ever start to try and put it into CAD and then bring it to reality.

I am very excited by KEE as a company right now, about where we are, where we are going and the opportunities we have.

At his point it is very early on in the process of acquiring JT and I don't know what will happen as far as brands and products.

I've been watching and reading the message boards to see how everyone else feels about this. There's been some very interesting responses.

If you are reading this and have an opinion I'd really like to hear it. Post it below in the comments please.

How do you feel something like Brass Eagle stacks up in the market place against Extreme Rage?

While you think about that, how about JT and Empire? Viewloader and Halo? WGP, who does that compare to now?

Personally Viewloader was a company I aspired to when I first started working on loaders. Dave Bell was something of a hero of mine, as the man to first bring electronics to paintball, and I remember the first day I met him. The first thing I ever made for paintball was a grip frame, the second thing an electronic hopper with an LED and sensor Dave now works for me and is an extremely important member of my team. Funny how it will be having him and Viewloader together again.

JT was the first real paintball Jersey I ever bought, and Pant for that matter. For years I wouldn't wear anything other than a Spectra goggle. When I designed the new Vents line of goggles, the Pro Flex was the benchmark for cool factor.

Brass Eagle was leading edge when I joined paintball. I remember wanting a Golden Eagle so badly it hurt. (Then using one and being somewhat disappointed by the loose barrel...)

WGP was always cool, but I was a 'mag guy. I still remember building my first cocker piece by piece though, and absolutely loved shooting that gun. Especially with the first Race frames!

These brands mean a lot to me, but then like many of you guys, I have been around quite a long time. I am not sure they mean so much to the modern market place. I hope they still do, and I am really excited about working along side with these guys and seeing where the future takes us!

I think it's going to be a good year and I am excited about being part of paintball still this year. It's going to be tough, for everyone, but then the challenge is part of the fun.