Armorbags and DocksLocks have combined with Armor Products in a new location at 2610 Airport Road. The companies held a celebration Nov. 4, at the new facility.
The companies have been in Plant City since 1998 but have rented various facilities. Armor Products closed in May on the current location. The offices have been gutted and updated, and an additional building has been added to the lot. Eight new employees were hired in August to keep up with production.
“It’s exactly what we needed,” President David Carmichael said. “We had to have a large, air-conditioned space for workers.”
Armor Products specializes in textile production, making a variety of bags from backpacks to packaging. About 30 to 50% of its sales comes from the diving industry. Armor Products manufactures diving bags, bait bags, mesh bags and more. The company’s biggest trade show, sponsored by the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association, took place this week, in Orlando.
Armor Products isn’t limited to just Central Florida. It sells to about 300 to 500 dealers across the United States and Canada under its brand. The company also manufactures a variety of bags for other companies.
These can include anything from gear bags for the rodeo and off-shore oil industries to suitcases, from military backpacks to Victoria’s Secret shopping bags.
“It’s a real diverse clientele, which is good for us in a poor economy,” Carmichael said. “Almost any product you can name, I can tell you a type of bag that can go with it — whether it’s for packaging or protection.”
Carmichael served for 23 years in the U.S. Army, becoming a military diver. His love for diving expanded into the civilian world. When he retired in 1996, from military service, he wanted to start his own business.
“When I began to look at what type of industry to go into, I had already known many individuals in the diving industry,” Carmichael said.
Armor Products has enjoyed steady growth every year since it started.
Until 2007, Armor Products had to have its products made overseas. Upon the company’s success, Carmichael changed that model. Now, Armor Products are American made — a stipulation for many military bids. When buying from overseas manufacturers, companies have to buy in bulk, pay up front and wait a long time for the order to come in. Because Armor Products caters to smaller buyers, being American made allows the company to control those variables.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
DOCKSLOCKS
Run by Jackie Carmichael, DocksLocks is a unique company that sells a locking security system for surfboards, wakeboards and stand-up paddleboards.
Similar to a bicycle lock, DocksLocks prevent theft and can be secured to many things such as a pier or car.
“There really isn’t anyone doing what we’re doing,” David Carmichael said.