The website of Plumsteadville’s gun range and store, “Survival Trail,” states, “we take pride in a surprisingly friendly approach to each and every customer.”
Founder and CEO Bart Breslow said his sales approach is uncommon in the firearms world. Over the years, he noticed other gun stores were not fostering a customer-friendly relationship, rather one more strictly transactional.
Breslow’s vision was to establish a more inviting and educational retail gun shop, one with both customer and safety-first components built into the retail experience.
“We cultivate a diverse mix of beginners and owners in our facility,” he said. “Striving to look at our customers’ needs, our staff first works to discuss goals. As certain firearms need different types of training, we may offer recommendations and possibly advise on a different choice, as well as proposing training options.”
Survival Trail has developed a range of training classes specially designed to help improve individuals of all skill levels — and they have begun to catch on with their customers.
“By far the most popular class to date is “Handgun Basics 101,” notes Breslow. “Our 4 p.m. classes are now sold out through much of February. Handguns are our number one best seller, the demand is huge, so safety is also number one.”
Survival Trail’s AR-15 sales are also strong and their training classes for this specialized equipment have begun to garner interest as well.
Breslow’s classes are intentionally designed in a quality-over-quantity manner. “Our classes are each limited to only five to six people maximum, to keep the training focused and intimate, like taking a private lesson.”
The training experience at Survival Trail encompasses both formal in-classroom training and then time spent on the shooting range for hands-on training.
Equally important to Breslow are his staff — certified range safety officers, prepared to work with beginners or experts.
Survival Trail opened its doors in 2016 as a more typical firearms emporium. Over a two-year period, Breslow has expanded his operation to include a two-bay, state-of-the-art shooting range, one featuring five lanes, the other with seven. These additions were completed in 2021.
When asked how the COVID pandemic impacted his business, Breslow said, “Survival Trail and most other gun shops were absolutely slammed as the pandemic grew. I think it was a fear thing, of people losing their Second Amendment rights. Lines were literally around the corner during much of that time. We were able to build out the shooting range during COVID.”
Despite support for policies requiring that prospective firearm owners receive training before acquiring a firearm, little is known about the scope and content of firearm training nationwide. Therefore, proactive safety-forward businesses such as Survival Trail are providing Bucks County with a welcome service to the local communities they serve.
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