We were lucky to catch up with Alex Costa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alex , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Honestly, I’m incredibly happy being a business owner. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had, hands down, but it’s also the most rewarding. You are in command of your own destiny and you get to forge your own path. Of course, that means if I don’t put in the work, things don’t happen, and failure just isn’t an option when you’ve got a family relying on you. But what I’m most grateful for is the flexibility. Being self-employed means I can be there for my wife and kid when they need me. If they need me to drop everything, I can, and that’s something you just don’t get working for someone else.

I don’t really miss the corporate world. I spent time in the food industry and then as a warranty engineer in the automotive sector, so I’ve seen how big companies work. I took the good and the bad from those experiences and tried to build a better place here. We really focus on taking care of our employees, offering benefits that are way better than anything I ever got at those giant corporations. Those big company experiences definitely shaped how we run things, but we’re trying to do it with a more human touch.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In 2013, we began utilizing 3D printing services from Shapeways, a company based in New York City. Initially, we focused on crafting gentlemen’s accessories, including money clips, tie bars, and cufflinks. Concurrently, having acquired my first defensive pistol, I required a holster and magazine carriers. A quote from a prominent company at the time exceeded $400 for these accessories, which were to be fabricated from KYDEX, a cost-effective thermoplastic material. Recognizing that the expense lay primarily in labor, I decided to produce them myself with skills and education learned from my BSME at UNH, Durham.

As I showcased my creations on Instagram and at local shooting events, individuals began expressing interest and offering to purchase them. This organic demand led to the official registration of our business in January 2014. Manufacturing commenced in the damp basement of our rented home in West Side, Manchester, New Hampshire. Today, we employ eleven individuals in a 6,000-square-foot facility in downtown Manchester. ANR Design now has the greatest number of holster combinations and accessories selections on Earth.

Currently, our expertise encompasses thermoplastic forming, the development of soldier systems equipment, holster production, and optic mount solutions for rifles and pistols, as well as a line of woven nylon accessories designed for both prepared civilians and military personnel.

My greatest source of pride is our role as an employer. We are committed to providing comprehensive benefits, surpassing those offered to Jon and myself during our corporate careers, and fostering a positive and dynamic work environment. Becoming an employer was an unforeseen yet profoundly rewarding opportunity.

Secondly, I am immensely proud of our product development. We function as a research and development hub for Special Mission Units (SMUs) and the commercial market. Products initially developed for military applications are also made available to civilian consumers through our online store. A significant emphasis is placed on rapid prototyping, enabling exceptionally fast turnaround times for new projects. For instance, when a vendor introduces a new pistol model, we can produce a finished, production-ready product within three days of receiving the 3D and physical models.

The invitation to consult at military installations, where I am solicited for insights on enhancing specialized equipment and its operational applications by seasoned professionals, remains an extraordinary experience. The trust bestowed upon me in this capacity is a profound honor, one that I continue to find remarkable. While I acknowledge my proficiency in problem resolution, I never anticipated that my perspectives would be so highly regarded by individuals of such exceptional caliber.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

We were really careful and patient as we grew. My starting investment was about $2,400, Jon put in $1,800, and Ryan chipped in $400. We made what we could with that initial money, and then we sold everything we could before putting the cash back into making more products. Basically, we just kept repeating that process, growing the business with its own money. We didn’t take a paycheck for the first two or three years. We used most of the extra cash to buy firearms, either to make our tooling or to test the holsters for quality. We’d also take those guns to the range and make videos for YouTube and Instagram.

Honestly, the business kind of funded our gun hobby. We were able to buy new models we wanted to shoot and train with, and those guns would then help us make new holsters and accessories.

For about nine of our eleven years, we were a cash-only business. We never looked for investors, and when we needed more funds for product development, we opened lines of credit with the bank instead. We wanted to keep control and fund things ourselves.

If you’re making enough money to keep growing, just keep doing it. Don’t take out a huge loan to start a business unless you’re absolutely certain it’s a winner. There’s too much risk, especially now, to bet everything on an idea that hasn’t been tested. That’s always been my way of thinking. Of course, you have to be ready to change things up when you need to, but always have a plan to handle any slow periods.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anrkydexholsters.com/
• Instagram: @anrdesignllc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANRdesignllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-costa-10320572/
• Twitter: @ANRDesignLLC
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ANRDesignLLC
• Other: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1AKResNkCXDDJpgvCgSJFchttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-anr-design-unholstered-80513426/

  https://www.pinterest.com/anrdesignllc/

Image Credits

All images are taken and owned by ANR Design LLC