August 25, 2026 • 23 mins
Are you looking for an easier, more organized way to clean and maintain your firearms? In this episode recorded live at the 2026 SHOT Show, hosts Erica Chin and Maggie Reese speak with Heather Pleskach of Otis Technology. Heather shares how Otis was started 41 years ago by a 16-year-old female hunter who needed a simple way to clear barrel obstructions in the field.
The conversation covers the growth of the shooting sports industry, raising kids with respect for hunting and firearm safety, and the long-standing support Otis provides to female-focused organizations. Heather gives an exclusive preview of the Otis Flex system, a modular cleaning platform launching in August 2026 that stacks, locks, and nests to fit any shooter's setup. To check out the new modular cleaning kits or get in touch with customer support, listeners can visit otistech.com or call 1-800-OTIS-GUN.
Mentioned Links
- 03:34 - Otis Technology (41-year-old firearm maintenance and cleaning product manufacturer)
- 05:16 - Babes with Bullets (Female-focused shooting sports camps and events)
- 05:16 - WOMA (Women's Outdoor Media Association)
- 06:40 - Ron Spomer Outdoors (YouTube educational content on firearm care and hunting)
- 18:23 - NSSF / SHOT Show (National Shooting Sports Foundation trade show at Venetian & Caesars Forum)
- 21:47 - otistech.com (Official company website for product details and orders)
- 21:47 - cs@otistech.com / 1-800-OTIS-GUN (Customer service email and toll-free phone number)
Key Takeaways
- Otis Technology was founded 41 years ago by a 16-year-old female hunter who created the breach-to-muzzle cable system after a mud-clogged barrel ruined a family hunt.
- Otis has a long history of supporting women in shooting sports through partnerships with organizations like Babes with Bullets and WOMA.
- The upcoming Otis Flex system (launching August 2026) offers over 70 configurations featuring stackable, lockable, and nesting modular storage cases.
- Introducing children to hunting and range maintenance early builds self-sufficiency, safety awareness, and respect for natural resources.
- Specialized cleaning supplies, like lead-removing hand wipes, are essential for reducing heavy metal exposure after target shooting.
Keywords Used Amateurs and Experts Podcast, SHOT Show 2026, Otis Technology, Heather Pleskach, Erica Chin, Maggie Reese, Otis Flex, Gun Cleaning, Breach-to-Muzzle, Babes with Bullets, WOMA, Whitetail Hunting, Lead Wipes, Modular Storage.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:09):
Welcome to Amateurs and Experts Podcast.
I'm Erica Chin and I'm here withMaggie Reese.
And we are your hosts of uhSpectacular Morning at uh 2026
uh SHOT Show and we're in theOtis Technology Booth.
They have this amazing podcastbooth for us, and I'm so excited
(00:29):
to have Heather Plascotch on umwith Otis, and she's gonna be
sharing some really cool stuffwith us, so very excited to
welcome.
SPEAKER_02 (00:38):
Thank you.
Happy to be on.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
How's uh how's the show going so far?
SPEAKER_02 (00:43):
It's been good.
It's very busy and it's a goodvibe, and happy to happy to see
all the traffic and be here andconnect with everyone.
SPEAKER_03 (00:51):
It's a pretty busy show.
I think busier than the lastcouple years, I feel.
SPEAKER_02 (00:56):
I feel the same way.
We moved our booth a little bitso we're closer to the bridge.
I don't so I don't know if we'recatching extra traffic from that
or because we were in a goodlocation previously as well.
But you know, I hope it's a signof a good year to come.
SPEAKER_04 (01:12):
How many shows have you done?
SPEAKER_02 (01:13):
Me personally, yeah.
Um 17 minus the birth of my twochildren.
So 15.
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (01:22):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (01:23):
Maybe it's 16.
I can't remember.
SPEAKER_04 (01:25):
So I think I'm in the same boat.
Yeah.
I I think we've known each otherthat long.
SPEAKER_03 (01:28):
Yeah, I think so too.
SPEAKER_04 (01:30):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (01:31):
I met Heather at um Babies with Bullets three gun
match.
The very first three gun match,like my biggest three gun match
ever.
Yeah.
Um, and I totally, I mean,you're such a cool person.
I was like, I think I even toldyou I'd love to rep Otis.
I think so.
Yeah.
I'm like, are you guys hiring?
Can I work from home?
SPEAKER_02 (01:51):
I think I started, I think that was my first
three-gun camp.
It led up to it led up to thatthree gun competition.
Oh.
And I'd never taken the pistolcourse, so I dub was like, you
can do this, and I'm like, Idon't know if I can.
Because I my like pistol wouldbe my least familiar firearm at
(02:12):
the at the time.
Yeah.
So I was like, I don't know if Ican do this.
SPEAKER_04 (02:15):
But what's your favorite?
Are you a shotgun person or arifle person?
SPEAKER_02 (02:19):
Uh I guess it all depends.
You know, I'm primarily ahunter, so I primarily have a
rifle with me, but I dosometimes we'll go shoot
sporting clays, and that's fun.
Yeah.
Even though my score's notgreat.
Yeah, yeah.
Um but it's just fun.
Yeah.
Um, but you know, if I'm targetshooting, I prefer to hit steel.
(02:39):
Paper's just very boring to me.
So everybody has that.
SPEAKER_04 (02:43):
Everybody has their preference.
Like I would always pick apistol.
Yeah.
First, like first, and handsdown, yes.
Like I will dump any gun andjust pick up a pistol.
That is uh my least proficient.
SPEAKER_02 (02:53):
Yeah, it's that what you started on though, was
pistol?
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (02:56):
Yeah, so that's probably why it's just my go-to.
Yeah.
Like I always want to go back.
SPEAKER_03 (03:04):
But then I was so excited when I got my PCC
missile caliber Kirby.
SPEAKER_00 (03:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (03:08):
That I was just like, oh my gosh, this is so
fun.
Yeah.
But now I'm back to thefundamentals of pistol.
SPEAKER_04 (03:15):
But what I love about what like what we were
talking about, like with thebabes with the bullets and the
three gun and all that stuff isthat Otis has been like
sponsoring like female centricevents since the beginning.
Like they've always been a goodsupporter of that segment of the
industry and and really pushedwomen and encouraged women.
And obviously that probablycomes from your company culture.
SPEAKER_02 (03:34):
Yeah, yeah.
So yeah, I mean Otis, so we're a41-year-old company.
Uh we were founded by a female,she was 16 years old.
SPEAKER_04 (03:42):
Um I didn't know that part.
SPEAKER_02 (03:43):
Yeah, so she was 16, she was hunting with her dad,
um, and she tripped and fell inthe mud.
They tried to clear theobstruction, ended up getting a
stick stuck in it, so they hadto hike two miles back to camp
and the hunt was over at thatpoint.
And at the time, like they werehunting for meat for the
freezer, like they needed it.
(04:05):
Um, and so the whole time back,she's like, There's gotta be
something I can take with me.
So when she got back to camp,she was messing with like her
grandfather's World War IIstuff, and she ended up creating
what's now today, like ourbreach to muzzle cable system.
Um, and she'd carry it with herin the field to be able to clean
(04:26):
and clear obstructions so thatthat wouldn't happen again, and
then it kind of just grew fromthere.
Um, you know, we're a defensecontractor, so it's lightweight,
compact, portable for militaryto carry with them.
Um when they need their firearmto work, um, you know, they can
do it in a mission-readysituation.
Um, and then hunters and lawenforcement, etc.
(04:49):
So, you know, female-owned, butshe's always been and Otis has
always been about giving backand getting involved in um youth
and new people coming in andlearning about the shooting
sports, hunting, etc.
So we've always um donatedproduct and whatnot to events
and organizations that helpsupport those initiatives.
(05:12):
And Babes with Bullets was oneof those as well as now the
WOMA.
SPEAKER_04 (05:16):
That's such a cool story.
Like I didn't I I didn't knowthat whole entire history, but
it makes sense because you guysare always like evolving your
product lines just to make iteasier to use, and I'm all about
like if I have to clean my gun,it better be easy because I
don't want to do it.
Like it's a pain to do it, it'sa pain to strip it down.
Like sometimes you don't want todo that in the field, like you
(05:37):
you just want it to besimplified and you want to have
products that make it easier foryou to do that.
So oh my gosh, I love that it'sfrom a 16-year-old.
SPEAKER_03 (05:44):
Yeah, the first um the first baby with bullet, I I
think I I won like the big yes,and it was amazing.
It has a little travel um pouchin it and stuff like that.
And so I would take it to therange.
Um when I was working as aprobation officer, I would take
it out there and clean my dutyweapon with it, and everybody
(06:06):
was so amazed by it.
They're like, Can I can I borrowthat?
Can I borrow that?
You know, and even out at therange, people would use it, and
um it was it's it is veryefficient.
SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
I just taught my son to use it over Christmas break.
Oh so he's now eight, but um hehas uh little 22 that his
grandpa bought him, and he keptseeing me and my husband come in
from hunting and you know,wiping our guns down because it
was snowing or raining orwhatever, and so he got really
(06:37):
interested in um learning how toclean a gun, and he actually my
husband actually should show hima Ron Spoer video of cleaning a
gun with Otis, and I was like,Hey, I don't know if you know,
but I can also teach him.
So I sat down and um he cleanedhis 22 and but it was cool like
(06:59):
that that he watched it fromround two.
SPEAKER_03 (07:01):
That is very cool.
SPEAKER_04 (07:02):
But I do the same thing, like I have to like watch
along on a YouTube video or orsomething like that, because
sometimes it's just like you youneed that little extra push to
make sure at the end you you'renot missing a spring in your
gun.
And when you put it backtogether.
SPEAKER_02 (07:15):
Yes, I've had to do that at like the WOMA events
when the ladies bring theirpistols in and I help them work
through cleaning it.
And if it's a pistol I've nottaken down and I can't figure it
out, I'll w quick find a YouTubevideo just to make sure that's
it.
It's so funny, yeah.
I love it.
But you've got cool stuff withyou today, huh?
(07:37):
Yes, so we've been working on itfor a few years.
It's been it's been a a heavylift, a big project, something
I'm passionate about.
Um, and we're launching it inAugust.
Um, so it's a sneak peek for youguys.
This is our Otis Flex system,and it's a whole platform of
products that work together withone another and kind of makes
(08:03):
gun cleaning for you.
So um the cases are functionaland they're designed to work
with one another.
Um, they stack on top and lockon top of one another.
So you can there's three boxsizes that we have currently
that we're gonna launch and thenthere'll be more to come.
Um but the boxes can stack ontop of one another, they're
(08:25):
designed um so that they fit,um, which was a lot harder than
you would think to figure outthose dimensions.
Um, and then internally theparts organizers work in
conjunction with one another.
So there's a parts organizerthat has a like a patch
dispenser and a cable retainmentsystem, and then you that parts
(08:48):
tray can also fit in the lid, soyou can kind of swap it out how
you want to set it up.
Um and then the other partsorganizers can also fit in the
lid or in the base.
SPEAKER_04 (08:58):
Um it's so functional because like for a
long time I I used to do thismyself, and like and I would see
other people do it.
They would like get craft boxesor like little toolboxes or
things like that, and then tryand build it out themselves, but
it was never quite right, youknow, in terms of how it fit or
how it came together.
But you try and do that just toput it in your pistol bag or
your range bag and have it withyou, and like you guys took it
(09:21):
to the next step and made thesolution yourself.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (09:24):
I love that um you're not gonna have to dig in
the bag, you know, for all yourbrushes and stuff like that and
poke yourself.
SPEAKER_02 (09:32):
Right.
Yeah.
Well, and you know, it wasdesigned for organization and
modularity and flexibility.
So however you want to clean,whatever your regimen is,
because everyone has a littlebit of a different method, um,
you can set it up the way youwant.
So we are we'll have over 70configurations that we're
launching with, but we'll alsosell the items separately.
(09:54):
So if you want to build from theground up, you can, or you can
buy you know what we alreadyhave configured.
You can take uh you know asingle cow cleaning kit that you
buy and then you want to addadditional items to it, there's
ability for expansion.
SPEAKER_03 (10:11):
Um I love that.
SPEAKER_02 (10:12):
And then the future is you know, the next box size
is one that contains these.
So you add the locking and thestacking, but now these can nest
within this larger box and theparts organizers can be
configured in the lid, and thatreally allows you to build this
system that you want.
Um, and what I also like aboutit is with its ability to nest
(10:36):
and stack and whatnot, if youdon't have a large space, if you
don't have like a dedicated gunroom or workbench or whatnot, it
all kind of stays compact andtogether so that you know if it
fits in a closet on a shelf, youcan pull it down and you have
everything there.
SPEAKER_04 (10:53):
Um But what I'm hearing from you is that you're
encouraging people to buy moreguns in different calibers.
Well, of course.
Because you solved the problem.
SPEAKER_02 (11:03):
Well, I mean, you know, some people start out with
just one firearm, and like wewere talking about earlier, you
started out in pistol, I startedout primarily hunting, so it was
really rifle and shotgun for me.
And eventually, a lot of timesthey continue to expand what
they have.
So whether they have one gun ora hundred, this system can
(11:26):
tailor to what they need andhave and want.
And if they grow more guns, thenthey can grow their system too
to make sure they have you knowthe gear that they need.
SPEAKER_03 (11:36):
It's really an efficient, like pretty much
toolbox for cleaning.
SPEAKER_02 (11:41):
And the parts organizers, they um they're
flexible enough, they rotate umso that you can quickly access
them.
Um the parts go in easy, comeout easy, but they also don't
fall out.
So, you know, the last thing youwant is to open up the box and
it's just a bunch of parts inthere.
Um so as my dad always says, aplace for everything and
(12:02):
everything is placed.
So that's very much what thisis.
SPEAKER_03 (12:06):
So if you have that guy out there or that gal out
there that has a toolbox withall the tools and the in their
places and everything like that,this is I mean, this is a great
uh gift for them.
SPEAKER_04 (12:16):
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
So tell us more about yourhunting.
What's your favorite thing to gohunting for?
SPEAKER_02 (12:22):
Uh so I primarily whitetail deer hunt.
Uh-huh.
Um, mostly because it's it'swhat I'm most interested in.
I've done a little bear huntingum and some turkey hunting, but
I don't love to wake up early inthe morning for anything.
So um I haven't I honestlyhaven't turkey hunted since my
(12:42):
dad died because I used to gowith him.
Um so maybe someday I'll getback to that, but it's primarily
white tail.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (12:48):
I did a turkey hunt um last year during the winter,
so it wasn't you it was wayharder.
Yeah, I'm sure.
To get them to come out.
Yeah.
And I was like, it's just aturkey.
I just want a Christmas turkey.
SPEAKER_02 (13:02):
Why is this so hard?
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean it definitely hasthere's a lot of there's a lot
of method to it, you know, andit's it's hard, it's not easy,
um, calling them in.
Um, but my dad always did that.
So I would hang out with him,I'd curl up for a nap when I
needed to, and then let him dothe hard work.
(13:25):
So um, you know, it was nicetime together, but that's fun.
That's fun.
SPEAKER_04 (13:30):
So when are you gonna take your kids any?
SPEAKER_02 (13:32):
Or they do go now, so um my husband will take my
son will go to camp with himsometimes and go for the weekend
hunting.
Um, and then on the weekends,like I took my daughter to
hunting, we've got a blind setup, and she's just turned six.
We got out there and she stuckher head out the window and
(13:52):
said, Come here, dear.
We're looking for you.
And I'm like, that's not how itworks.
So um, but she was with myhusband last year when he got a
uh buck during muzzle loadingseason, so that was a really
cool experience.
That is for her.
So they go quite a bit.
SPEAKER_03 (14:09):
Yeah, that's awesome that you do that as a family.
Um I think that it's importantto uh basically raise our kids
to be sufficient, yeah.
And that is definitely one wayto be self-sufficient, it's
being able to hunt and harvestuh you know, meat for your for
yourself and your family.
SPEAKER_04 (14:26):
For sure.
And to do it responsibly and tohave somebody who educates you
in the proper way.
Yes.
And and uh understand the safetyaspects of it and learn from a
young age and have respect foreverything that you're doing.
Have respect for the firearm andthen also have respect for the
animal and understand what itspurpose is and how you're
providing for your family.
So that's actually really cool.
SPEAKER_02 (14:45):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, they like going.
Um we like taking them, but wealso when we take them, we also
go knowing that we're probablynot gonna see anything because
they're they're leaning out thewindow saying, Come here, dear.
SPEAKER_03 (14:59):
Yeah, so do your kids shoot also?
SPEAKER_02 (15:02):
Um they do a little bit.
Um, we'll take them to camphunting, or not hunting, sorry,
uh shooting.
Uh-huh.
Um so Dexter will shoot his 22,Skyler will shoot a little bit.
Um, probably not as much as wewant to, but busy lives.
Do they go around saying this iswhat my mom does?
Um he does.
They were so excited to so wedid a employee apparel order,
(15:27):
and this year I had kids'apparel added to it.
Because my kids have beenbegging for Otis clothes for a
while now.
Yeah.
So the second I brought it home,they both put it on, and they
were just so happy to have Otisclothes.
SPEAKER_03 (15:43):
So they're gonna be the up and coming.
SPEAKER_02 (15:44):
Uh Dexter has said that when he grows up, he wants
to work at Otis.
So that's but he also wants tobe in the army and he also wants
to be an electrician like hisdad.
So we don't know yet.
Skylar wants to be pretty whenshe grows up, so no limit.
Also a good goal.
SPEAKER_04 (16:03):
Well, and and probably clean hands and not
messy, and like my favoriteproducts from you are all about
like the hand wipes.
Yes.
Oh yes.
Oh every time I'm like, Heather,just send me the biggest box.
Yeah.
I forgot I sent you like athousand of them then?
Yes, yes, and it makes me superpopular when I'm at the range
(16:25):
because like we get to the endof the match, and then everybody
just walks up to me and says,Here, my hands.
Yeah, I'm like, hey, this I gotthis part.
SPEAKER_02 (16:32):
I got this part.
Yeah, and that's definitelyimportant for for kids too, just
to help remove the heavy metalsand yeah, the lead
contamination, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:42):
Right, which is wild because like when I was growing
up, like I didn't even thinkabout that.
I'd be shooting and eating asandwich at the same time, you
know, and it's like, maybethat's not so healthy long term.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (16:52):
Our daughter, our daughter was a range princess,
so she would be out there on therange and she would make like
little lead castles.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (17:06):
The things that we've learned as we've gone
along.
SPEAKER_03 (17:09):
Probably not the best thing to do.
But um she was so excited, shewould have it all over, and she
would just be out there playingwith the you know, dirt on the
range.
That's funny.
And now I'm like, wipe it off,wipe it off.
I know.
Total parent fail.
But she had so much fun, yeah.
(17:31):
And and I mean, she washes upwell, so live and learn, live
and learn.
And we did have her checked foryou know, heavy metals and
stuff.
So, I mean, everything was fine.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
CPS doesn't need to call.
SPEAKER_04 (17:48):
Yeah, she's older now and she knows better.
For anybody listening, this isnot currently happening.
No, not at all.
Not at all.
SPEAKER_03 (17:58):
That was I mean, a decade at least ago.
SPEAKER_04 (18:04):
Oh my god.
So we've been talking about howlike this show sometimes like it
gets longer and longer andlonger, but it's still good
stuff.
But like every year they keep onadding.
There's like range days andmedia days and more stuff to
see, and it's like it's prettycrazy.
Yeah, it's pretty crazy to be inthe industry in Caesar.
SPEAKER_02 (18:22):
Well, and then expanding to Caesar's forum has
really opened the door for moreexhibitors to be able to
exhibit.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (18:29):
And more people to come because there's more space.
Yeah.
So the last couple years I feltlike because it expanded, there
there seemed to be less people.
But this this like yesterdayafternoon was crazy.
Yeah.
I felt like this is the old shotshow.
SPEAKER_02 (18:47):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll be interested to seewhat the attendance numbers are.
Yeah.
But I think you're right.
I mean, the past few years it'sthere's been like dead, dead air
pockets, and you're like, what'sgoing on?
But I think it's totally withhow much expansion they've done.
You know, there's a lot moresquare footage for people to
cover, so there's less time forbooth.
SPEAKER_03 (19:07):
Yes.
And before, I mean, you spentlike a couple seconds in each
booth if you wanted to actuallysee what what's going on here.
And now, I mean, it's it'spretty much your milliseconds.
Yeah, you really gotta planahead and have your hit list.
Yeah, and look at the map.
Map everything out.
SPEAKER_04 (19:27):
Yeah.
We've tried to do that onFridays.
We've tried to like break out onFridays and like walk around and
and see something outside of ourbox, but I kind of get lost.
SPEAKER_02 (19:36):
Do you remember that year during COVID?
I guess it wasn't well, it wasCOVID, but it was the first shot
show they had after.
Yes.
Um and you and I, it was sodead.
We just we were looking forunder armor because I wanted to
find new camos.
Yes, yes, they didn't show up,but I couldn't find them.
I know.
It was that was one of myfavorite shot shows because it
(20:00):
was, I mean, not from a salesperspective, but it was such a
low-key stress-free vibe.
It was.
Yeah.
And then you had the maskedpolice putting you on a list.
I know.
SPEAKER_04 (20:15):
And we kept getting in trouble.
But they were like chasingpeople down.
They were.
They were like, I remember that.
SPEAKER_03 (20:22):
Yeah.
And it was all over socialmedia, people that were chased
down and kicked out.
SPEAKER_04 (20:27):
I know.
That's kind of the cool thingabout the industry though, is
that you get to see all thephases of it and all the growth
and and stuff like that, and howit evolves over time, and I
don't know.
It kind of makes it fun, youknow.
As we sit here and we talk abouthow many shows that we've done,
but you know, it it's goodhistory.
Yeah.
It is good history.
Fun fun times.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:46):
I think the NSSF has done a really good job evolving
and growing and and listening tofeedback, you know.
Yeah.
Um, they've got uh that likehappy hour after dark thing,
which I think is great forpeople to meet others in the
industry, especially if they'renew coming in.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04 (21:03):
I only come to happy hour with you.
Yes.
So also a great way to meet newpeople and network.
For years I would schedule allof my business meetings at 4
p.m.
in your booth.
Yeah.
Which coincidentally just hadbeer in it.
Yes.
It is the best time.
SPEAKER_02 (21:20):
Um and some people that I schedule meetings with,
they know when happy hour is, sothey'll schedule their meeting
30 minutes before and then rollright into happy hours.
SPEAKER_04 (21:30):
I know, and then everybody would be like, oh my
gosh, you're working for Otis.
I'm like, no, I'm I'm justtaking one of their tables at 4
p.m.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (21:39):
Heather, if um people want to get a hold of uh
you get a hold of Otis products,how do they do that?
SPEAKER_02 (21:47):
Um so our website is OtisTech.com.
That's O T-I-S-T-E-C dot com.
Um, and then our phone number is1-800-Otis Gun.
So they can call, they can go onour website.
Um, our customer service is csat otistech.com.
So we have um you know a fullcustomer service staff that
(22:09):
answer the phones and our emailsum so they would be able to
easily get a hold of us for anyquestions, comments, whatnot.
SPEAKER_03 (22:18):
Um when when can they start ordering this
product, the flex system?
SPEAKER_02 (22:21):
So we anticipate August.
Um I'm hoping sooner, but Ithink August is a safe bet.
Um so it will be available onour website and at all major
retailers.
So we've got you know a lot ofcommitments for this system and
we've got great placement andend caps and whatnot, so it will
be at all major major locations.
SPEAKER_04 (22:43):
Okay, my birthday is August 8th, so do I get a
birthday package?
SPEAKER_02 (22:48):
Yes, and I'll figure out how to get you some Yangling
too.
SPEAKER_04 (22:53):
I wasn't sure if I could say that on the air.
But my packages from Heather arethe best.
SPEAKER_02 (23:00):
I didn't say how it would get to.
Because you're not supposed todo that.
SPEAKER_04 (23:05):
Okay, okay.
Oh, editing.
Everybody can just read betweenthe lines.
Yeah, nothing bad happened.
Nothing to see here.
SPEAKER_02 (23:17):
Carrier pigeons brought them.
I love it so much.
SPEAKER_03 (23:22):
Thank you for being on Amateurs and Experts.
SPEAKER_02 (23:25):
Oh, thanks for having me.
It's been fun.
Have a great show.
Thank you.
Welcome to Amateurs and Experts Podcast.
I'm Erica Chin and I'm here withMaggie Reese.
And we are your hosts of uhSpectacular Morning at uh 2026
uh SHOT Show and we're in theOtis Technology Booth.
They have this amazing podcastbooth for us, and I'm so excited
(00:29):
to have Heather Plascotch on umwith Otis, and she's gonna be
sharing some really cool stuffwith us, so very excited to
welcome.
SPEAKER_02 (00:38):
Thank you.
Happy to be on.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
How's uh how's the show going so far?
SPEAKER_02 (00:43):
It's been good.
It's very busy and it's a goodvibe, and happy to happy to see
all the traffic and be here andconnect with everyone.
SPEAKER_03 (00:51):
It's a pretty busy show.
I think busier than the lastcouple years, I feel.
SPEAKER_02 (00:56):
I feel the same way.
We moved our booth a little bitso we're closer to the bridge.
I don't so I don't know if we'recatching extra traffic from that
or because we were in a goodlocation previously as well.
But you know, I hope it's a signof a good year to come.
SPEAKER_04 (01:12):
How many shows have you done?
SPEAKER_02 (01:13):
Me personally, yeah.
Um 17 minus the birth of my twochildren.
So 15.
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (01:22):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (01:23):
Maybe it's 16.
I can't remember.
SPEAKER_04 (01:25):
So I think I'm in the same boat.
Yeah.
I I think we've known each otherthat long.
SPEAKER_03 (01:28):
Yeah, I think so too.
SPEAKER_04 (01:30):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (01:31):
I met Heather at um Babies with Bullets three gun
match.
The very first three gun match,like my biggest three gun match
ever.
Yeah.
Um, and I totally, I mean,you're such a cool person.
I was like, I think I even toldyou I'd love to rep Otis.
I think so.
Yeah.
I'm like, are you guys hiring?
Can I work from home?
SPEAKER_02 (01:51):
I think I started, I think that was my first
three-gun camp.
It led up to it led up to thatthree gun competition.
Oh.
And I'd never taken the pistolcourse, so I dub was like, you
can do this, and I'm like, Idon't know if I can.
Because I my like pistol wouldbe my least familiar firearm at
(02:12):
the at the time.
Yeah.
So I was like, I don't know if Ican do this.
SPEAKER_04 (02:15):
But what's your favorite?
Are you a shotgun person or arifle person?
SPEAKER_02 (02:19):
Uh I guess it all depends.
You know, I'm primarily ahunter, so I primarily have a
rifle with me, but I dosometimes we'll go shoot
sporting clays, and that's fun.
Yeah.
Even though my score's notgreat.
Yeah, yeah.
Um but it's just fun.
Yeah.
Um, but you know, if I'm targetshooting, I prefer to hit steel.
(02:39):
Paper's just very boring to me.
So everybody has that.
SPEAKER_04 (02:43):
Everybody has their preference.
Like I would always pick apistol.
Yeah.
First, like first, and handsdown, yes.
Like I will dump any gun andjust pick up a pistol.
That is uh my least proficient.
SPEAKER_02 (02:53):
Yeah, it's that what you started on though, was
pistol?
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (02:56):
Yeah, so that's probably why it's just my go-to.
Yeah.
Like I always want to go back.
SPEAKER_03 (03:04):
But then I was so excited when I got my PCC
missile caliber Kirby.
SPEAKER_00 (03:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (03:08):
That I was just like, oh my gosh, this is so
fun.
Yeah.
But now I'm back to thefundamentals of pistol.
SPEAKER_04 (03:15):
But what I love about what like what we were
talking about, like with thebabes with the bullets and the
three gun and all that stuff isthat Otis has been like
sponsoring like female centricevents since the beginning.
Like they've always been a goodsupporter of that segment of the
industry and and really pushedwomen and encouraged women.
And obviously that probablycomes from your company culture.
SPEAKER_02 (03:34):
Yeah, yeah.
So yeah, I mean Otis, so we're a41-year-old company.
Uh we were founded by a female,she was 16 years old.
SPEAKER_04 (03:42):
Um I didn't know that part.
SPEAKER_02 (03:43):
Yeah, so she was 16, she was hunting with her dad,
um, and she tripped and fell inthe mud.
They tried to clear theobstruction, ended up getting a
stick stuck in it, so they hadto hike two miles back to camp
and the hunt was over at thatpoint.
And at the time, like they werehunting for meat for the
freezer, like they needed it.
(04:05):
Um, and so the whole time back,she's like, There's gotta be
something I can take with me.
So when she got back to camp,she was messing with like her
grandfather's World War IIstuff, and she ended up creating
what's now today, like ourbreach to muzzle cable system.
Um, and she'd carry it with herin the field to be able to clean
(04:26):
and clear obstructions so thatthat wouldn't happen again, and
then it kind of just grew fromthere.
Um, you know, we're a defensecontractor, so it's lightweight,
compact, portable for militaryto carry with them.
Um when they need their firearmto work, um, you know, they can
do it in a mission-readysituation.
Um, and then hunters and lawenforcement, etc.
(04:49):
So, you know, female-owned, butshe's always been and Otis has
always been about giving backand getting involved in um youth
and new people coming in andlearning about the shooting
sports, hunting, etc.
So we've always um donatedproduct and whatnot to events
and organizations that helpsupport those initiatives.
(05:12):
And Babes with Bullets was oneof those as well as now the
WOMA.
SPEAKER_04 (05:16):
That's such a cool story.
Like I didn't I I didn't knowthat whole entire history, but
it makes sense because you guysare always like evolving your
product lines just to make iteasier to use, and I'm all about
like if I have to clean my gun,it better be easy because I
don't want to do it.
Like it's a pain to do it, it'sa pain to strip it down.
Like sometimes you don't want todo that in the field, like you
(05:37):
you just want it to besimplified and you want to have
products that make it easier foryou to do that.
So oh my gosh, I love that it'sfrom a 16-year-old.
SPEAKER_03 (05:44):
Yeah, the first um the first baby with bullet, I I
think I I won like the big yes,and it was amazing.
It has a little travel um pouchin it and stuff like that.
And so I would take it to therange.
Um when I was working as aprobation officer, I would take
it out there and clean my dutyweapon with it, and everybody
(06:06):
was so amazed by it.
They're like, Can I can I borrowthat?
Can I borrow that?
You know, and even out at therange, people would use it, and
um it was it's it is veryefficient.
SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
I just taught my son to use it over Christmas break.
Oh so he's now eight, but um hehas uh little 22 that his
grandpa bought him, and he keptseeing me and my husband come in
from hunting and you know,wiping our guns down because it
was snowing or raining orwhatever, and so he got really
(06:37):
interested in um learning how toclean a gun, and he actually my
husband actually should show hima Ron Spoer video of cleaning a
gun with Otis, and I was like,Hey, I don't know if you know,
but I can also teach him.
So I sat down and um he cleanedhis 22 and but it was cool like
(06:59):
that that he watched it fromround two.
SPEAKER_03 (07:01):
That is very cool.
SPEAKER_04 (07:02):
But I do the same thing, like I have to like watch
along on a YouTube video or orsomething like that, because
sometimes it's just like you youneed that little extra push to
make sure at the end you you'renot missing a spring in your
gun.
And when you put it backtogether.
SPEAKER_02 (07:15):
Yes, I've had to do that at like the WOMA events
when the ladies bring theirpistols in and I help them work
through cleaning it.
And if it's a pistol I've nottaken down and I can't figure it
out, I'll w quick find a YouTubevideo just to make sure that's
it.
It's so funny, yeah.
I love it.
But you've got cool stuff withyou today, huh?
(07:37):
Yes, so we've been working on itfor a few years.
It's been it's been a a heavylift, a big project, something
I'm passionate about.
Um, and we're launching it inAugust.
Um, so it's a sneak peek for youguys.
This is our Otis Flex system,and it's a whole platform of
products that work together withone another and kind of makes
(08:03):
gun cleaning for you.
So um the cases are functionaland they're designed to work
with one another.
Um, they stack on top and lockon top of one another.
So you can there's three boxsizes that we have currently
that we're gonna launch and thenthere'll be more to come.
Um but the boxes can stack ontop of one another, they're
(08:25):
designed um so that they fit,um, which was a lot harder than
you would think to figure outthose dimensions.
Um, and then internally theparts organizers work in
conjunction with one another.
So there's a parts organizerthat has a like a patch
dispenser and a cable retainmentsystem, and then you that parts
(08:48):
tray can also fit in the lid, soyou can kind of swap it out how
you want to set it up.
Um and then the other partsorganizers can also fit in the
lid or in the base.
SPEAKER_04 (08:58):
Um it's so functional because like for a
long time I I used to do thismyself, and like and I would see
other people do it.
They would like get craft boxesor like little toolboxes or
things like that, and then tryand build it out themselves, but
it was never quite right, youknow, in terms of how it fit or
how it came together.
But you try and do that just toput it in your pistol bag or
your range bag and have it withyou, and like you guys took it
(09:21):
to the next step and made thesolution yourself.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (09:24):
I love that um you're not gonna have to dig in
the bag, you know, for all yourbrushes and stuff like that and
poke yourself.
SPEAKER_02 (09:32):
Right.
Yeah.
Well, and you know, it wasdesigned for organization and
modularity and flexibility.
So however you want to clean,whatever your regimen is,
because everyone has a littlebit of a different method, um,
you can set it up the way youwant.
So we are we'll have over 70configurations that we're
launching with, but we'll alsosell the items separately.
(09:54):
So if you want to build from theground up, you can, or you can
buy you know what we alreadyhave configured.
You can take uh you know asingle cow cleaning kit that you
buy and then you want to addadditional items to it, there's
ability for expansion.
SPEAKER_03 (10:11):
Um I love that.
SPEAKER_02 (10:12):
And then the future is you know, the next box size
is one that contains these.
So you add the locking and thestacking, but now these can nest
within this larger box and theparts organizers can be
configured in the lid, and thatreally allows you to build this
system that you want.
Um, and what I also like aboutit is with its ability to nest
(10:36):
and stack and whatnot, if youdon't have a large space, if you
don't have like a dedicated gunroom or workbench or whatnot, it
all kind of stays compact andtogether so that you know if it
fits in a closet on a shelf, youcan pull it down and you have
everything there.
SPEAKER_04 (10:53):
Um But what I'm hearing from you is that you're
encouraging people to buy moreguns in different calibers.
Well, of course.
Because you solved the problem.
SPEAKER_02 (11:03):
Well, I mean, you know, some people start out with
just one firearm, and like wewere talking about earlier, you
started out in pistol, I startedout primarily hunting, so it was
really rifle and shotgun for me.
And eventually, a lot of timesthey continue to expand what
they have.
So whether they have one gun ora hundred, this system can
(11:26):
tailor to what they need andhave and want.
And if they grow more guns, thenthey can grow their system too
to make sure they have you knowthe gear that they need.
SPEAKER_03 (11:36):
It's really an efficient, like pretty much
toolbox for cleaning.
SPEAKER_02 (11:41):
And the parts organizers, they um they're
flexible enough, they rotate umso that you can quickly access
them.
Um the parts go in easy, comeout easy, but they also don't
fall out.
So, you know, the last thing youwant is to open up the box and
it's just a bunch of parts inthere.
Um so as my dad always says, aplace for everything and
(12:02):
everything is placed.
So that's very much what thisis.
SPEAKER_03 (12:06):
So if you have that guy out there or that gal out
there that has a toolbox withall the tools and the in their
places and everything like that,this is I mean, this is a great
uh gift for them.
SPEAKER_04 (12:16):
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
So tell us more about yourhunting.
What's your favorite thing to gohunting for?
SPEAKER_02 (12:22):
Uh so I primarily whitetail deer hunt.
Uh-huh.
Um, mostly because it's it'swhat I'm most interested in.
I've done a little bear huntingum and some turkey hunting, but
I don't love to wake up early inthe morning for anything.
So um I haven't I honestlyhaven't turkey hunted since my
(12:42):
dad died because I used to gowith him.
Um so maybe someday I'll getback to that, but it's primarily
white tail.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (12:48):
I did a turkey hunt um last year during the winter,
so it wasn't you it was wayharder.
Yeah, I'm sure.
To get them to come out.
Yeah.
And I was like, it's just aturkey.
I just want a Christmas turkey.
SPEAKER_02 (13:02):
Why is this so hard?
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean it definitely hasthere's a lot of there's a lot
of method to it, you know, andit's it's hard, it's not easy,
um, calling them in.
Um, but my dad always did that.
So I would hang out with him,I'd curl up for a nap when I
needed to, and then let him dothe hard work.
(13:25):
So um, you know, it was nicetime together, but that's fun.
That's fun.
SPEAKER_04 (13:30):
So when are you gonna take your kids any?
SPEAKER_02 (13:32):
Or they do go now, so um my husband will take my
son will go to camp with himsometimes and go for the weekend
hunting.
Um, and then on the weekends,like I took my daughter to
hunting, we've got a blind setup, and she's just turned six.
We got out there and she stuckher head out the window and
(13:52):
said, Come here, dear.
We're looking for you.
And I'm like, that's not how itworks.
So um, but she was with myhusband last year when he got a
uh buck during muzzle loadingseason, so that was a really
cool experience.
That is for her.
So they go quite a bit.
SPEAKER_03 (14:09):
Yeah, that's awesome that you do that as a family.
Um I think that it's importantto uh basically raise our kids
to be sufficient, yeah.
And that is definitely one wayto be self-sufficient, it's
being able to hunt and harvestuh you know, meat for your for
yourself and your family.
SPEAKER_04 (14:26):
For sure.
And to do it responsibly and tohave somebody who educates you
in the proper way.
Yes.
And and uh understand the safetyaspects of it and learn from a
young age and have respect foreverything that you're doing.
Have respect for the firearm andthen also have respect for the
animal and understand what itspurpose is and how you're
providing for your family.
So that's actually really cool.
SPEAKER_02 (14:45):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, they like going.
Um we like taking them, but wealso when we take them, we also
go knowing that we're probablynot gonna see anything because
they're they're leaning out thewindow saying, Come here, dear.
SPEAKER_03 (14:59):
Yeah, so do your kids shoot also?
SPEAKER_02 (15:02):
Um they do a little bit.
Um, we'll take them to camphunting, or not hunting, sorry,
uh shooting.
Uh-huh.
Um so Dexter will shoot his 22,Skyler will shoot a little bit.
Um, probably not as much as wewant to, but busy lives.
Do they go around saying this iswhat my mom does?
Um he does.
They were so excited to so wedid a employee apparel order,
(15:27):
and this year I had kids'apparel added to it.
Because my kids have beenbegging for Otis clothes for a
while now.
Yeah.
So the second I brought it home,they both put it on, and they
were just so happy to have Otisclothes.
SPEAKER_03 (15:43):
So they're gonna be the up and coming.
SPEAKER_02 (15:44):
Uh Dexter has said that when he grows up, he wants
to work at Otis.
So that's but he also wants tobe in the army and he also wants
to be an electrician like hisdad.
So we don't know yet.
Skylar wants to be pretty whenshe grows up, so no limit.
Also a good goal.
SPEAKER_04 (16:03):
Well, and and probably clean hands and not
messy, and like my favoriteproducts from you are all about
like the hand wipes.
Yes.
Oh yes.
Oh every time I'm like, Heather,just send me the biggest box.
Yeah.
I forgot I sent you like athousand of them then?
Yes, yes, and it makes me superpopular when I'm at the range
(16:25):
because like we get to the endof the match, and then everybody
just walks up to me and says,Here, my hands.
Yeah, I'm like, hey, this I gotthis part.
SPEAKER_02 (16:32):
I got this part.
Yeah, and that's definitelyimportant for for kids too, just
to help remove the heavy metalsand yeah, the lead
contamination, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:42):
Right, which is wild because like when I was growing
up, like I didn't even thinkabout that.
I'd be shooting and eating asandwich at the same time, you
know, and it's like, maybethat's not so healthy long term.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (16:52):
Our daughter, our daughter was a range princess,
so she would be out there on therange and she would make like
little lead castles.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (17:06):
The things that we've learned as we've gone
along.
SPEAKER_03 (17:09):
Probably not the best thing to do.
But um she was so excited, shewould have it all over, and she
would just be out there playingwith the you know, dirt on the
range.
That's funny.
And now I'm like, wipe it off,wipe it off.
I know.
Total parent fail.
But she had so much fun, yeah.
(17:31):
And and I mean, she washes upwell, so live and learn, live
and learn.
And we did have her checked foryou know, heavy metals and
stuff.
So, I mean, everything was fine.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
CPS doesn't need to call.
SPEAKER_04 (17:48):
Yeah, she's older now and she knows better.
For anybody listening, this isnot currently happening.
No, not at all.
Not at all.
SPEAKER_03 (17:58):
That was I mean, a decade at least ago.
SPEAKER_04 (18:04):
Oh my god.
So we've been talking about howlike this show sometimes like it
gets longer and longer andlonger, but it's still good
stuff.
But like every year they keep onadding.
There's like range days andmedia days and more stuff to
see, and it's like it's prettycrazy.
Yeah, it's pretty crazy to be inthe industry in Caesar.
SPEAKER_02 (18:22):
Well, and then expanding to Caesar's forum has
really opened the door for moreexhibitors to be able to
exhibit.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (18:29):
And more people to come because there's more space.
Yeah.
So the last couple years I feltlike because it expanded, there
there seemed to be less people.
But this this like yesterdayafternoon was crazy.
Yeah.
I felt like this is the old shotshow.
SPEAKER_02 (18:47):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll be interested to seewhat the attendance numbers are.
Yeah.
But I think you're right.
I mean, the past few years it'sthere's been like dead, dead air
pockets, and you're like, what'sgoing on?
But I think it's totally withhow much expansion they've done.
You know, there's a lot moresquare footage for people to
cover, so there's less time forbooth.
SPEAKER_03 (19:07):
Yes.
And before, I mean, you spentlike a couple seconds in each
booth if you wanted to actuallysee what what's going on here.
And now, I mean, it's it'spretty much your milliseconds.
Yeah, you really gotta planahead and have your hit list.
Yeah, and look at the map.
Map everything out.
SPEAKER_04 (19:27):
Yeah.
We've tried to do that onFridays.
We've tried to like break out onFridays and like walk around and
and see something outside of ourbox, but I kind of get lost.
SPEAKER_02 (19:36):
Do you remember that year during COVID?
I guess it wasn't well, it wasCOVID, but it was the first shot
show they had after.
Yes.
Um and you and I, it was sodead.
We just we were looking forunder armor because I wanted to
find new camos.
Yes, yes, they didn't show up,but I couldn't find them.
I know.
It was that was one of myfavorite shot shows because it
(20:00):
was, I mean, not from a salesperspective, but it was such a
low-key stress-free vibe.
It was.
Yeah.
And then you had the maskedpolice putting you on a list.
I know.
SPEAKER_04 (20:15):
And we kept getting in trouble.
But they were like chasingpeople down.
They were.
They were like, I remember that.
SPEAKER_03 (20:22):
Yeah.
And it was all over socialmedia, people that were chased
down and kicked out.
SPEAKER_04 (20:27):
I know.
That's kind of the cool thingabout the industry though, is
that you get to see all thephases of it and all the growth
and and stuff like that, and howit evolves over time, and I
don't know.
It kind of makes it fun, youknow.
As we sit here and we talk abouthow many shows that we've done,
but you know, it it's goodhistory.
Yeah.
It is good history.
Fun fun times.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:46):
I think the NSSF has done a really good job evolving
and growing and and listening tofeedback, you know.
Yeah.
Um, they've got uh that likehappy hour after dark thing,
which I think is great forpeople to meet others in the
industry, especially if they'renew coming in.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04 (21:03):
I only come to happy hour with you.
Yes.
So also a great way to meet newpeople and network.
For years I would schedule allof my business meetings at 4
p.m.
in your booth.
Yeah.
Which coincidentally just hadbeer in it.
Yes.
It is the best time.
SPEAKER_02 (21:20):
Um and some people that I schedule meetings with,
they know when happy hour is, sothey'll schedule their meeting
30 minutes before and then rollright into happy hours.
SPEAKER_04 (21:30):
I know, and then everybody would be like, oh my
gosh, you're working for Otis.
I'm like, no, I'm I'm justtaking one of their tables at 4
p.m.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (21:39):
Heather, if um people want to get a hold of uh
you get a hold of Otis products,how do they do that?
SPEAKER_02 (21:47):
Um so our website is OtisTech.com.
That's O T-I-S-T-E-C dot com.
Um, and then our phone number is1-800-Otis Gun.
So they can call, they can go onour website.
Um, our customer service is csat otistech.com.
So we have um you know a fullcustomer service staff that
(22:09):
answer the phones and our emailsum so they would be able to
easily get a hold of us for anyquestions, comments, whatnot.
SPEAKER_03 (22:18):
Um when when can they start ordering this
product, the flex system?
SPEAKER_02 (22:21):
So we anticipate August.
Um I'm hoping sooner, but Ithink August is a safe bet.
Um so it will be available onour website and at all major
retailers.
So we've got you know a lot ofcommitments for this system and
we've got great placement andend caps and whatnot, so it will
be at all major major locations.
SPEAKER_04 (22:43):
Okay, my birthday is August 8th, so do I get a
birthday package?
SPEAKER_02 (22:48):
Yes, and I'll figure out how to get you some Yangling
too.
SPEAKER_04 (22:53):
I wasn't sure if I could say that on the air.
But my packages from Heather arethe best.
SPEAKER_02 (23:00):
I didn't say how it would get to.
Because you're not supposed todo that.
SPEAKER_04 (23:05):
Okay, okay.
Oh, editing.
Everybody can just read betweenthe lines.
Yeah, nothing bad happened.
Nothing to see here.
SPEAKER_02 (23:17):
Carrier pigeons brought them.
I love it so much.
SPEAKER_03 (23:22):
Thank you for being on Amateurs and Experts.
SPEAKER_02 (23:25):
Oh, thanks for having me.
It's been fun.
Have a great show.
Thank you.
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The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.