Honestly, what's in the water down in the Lone Star State? I mean every time you turn around there is some new woman-owned firearms-related business popping up. No kidding. First it was Julianna Crowder's A Girl & A Gun which started in Austin. Then there was Tracy Hughes' Brilliant Backstraps from the south side of Houston. And then there is Becky Sells from the north side of Houston and her Armadillo Concealment?

Becky Sells is just as comfortable behind a pistol as she is behind her sewing machine. Photo by P. Erhardt

What's Armadillo Concealment you ask? Don't worry, I asked the same question a couple months back and the answer, as you will find, is yet another one of those great small business stories. Becky makes custom-fitted shooting vests for IDPA competitors. Like all good business stories hers started out as a hobby of sorts to supply her family with better fitting vests. And of course once other shooters saw her creations Becky started getting requests, and that's when her hobby turned into a rapidly growing business. Most vests marketed to the defensive pistol shooter are some variation on the photographers/fishing vest with enough additional features added for shooters that the manufacture can slap that magical word "tactical" on it. The problem with these vests, like most clothing, is that they are constructed to a set dimension (S, M, L, XL, 2X and so on) to fit the widest audience within that size group. While that allows for the most possible customer "fits" it doesn't mean they fit well. And considering in the land of "tactical" it's almost all geared towards men, vests really don't fit women at all. At least not in the way women think of something fitting. Enter the custom fit of Armadillo Concealment's vests. And, as they say, problem solved (problem staying solved). Becky's husband Darrell is a perfect example of the need for a better fitting vest. Darrell looks like the guy central casting sends over when you ask for a big Texan who can clear a barroom. Hand him a big hat, a giant belt buckle and a pair of boots and you got your archetype Texan. Roll camera. Speed. Action...

Becky's husband Darrell is Armadillo's best - and proudest - advocate. Photo by P. Erhardt

Because of his size, especially a broad chest, regular off-the-rack vests that fit the chest area end up being too long and/or baggy in other areas. So Becky builds each vest based on specific measurements of the chest, waist, shoulders and torso length. Now in addition to the custom fit (which means women shooters can actually get a good vest), and because each is handmade, Becky can add just about any feature you want. Want pockets with flaps, or without? No problem. An inside pocket? No problem. A vented back, a mesh back or a solid back? No problem? And as for colors this is where Armadillo has the big boys beat by a mile. Last I spoke to her she offered 19 colors and will try to source a specific color if requested. That broad color selection is a lot better than the basic Black, Tan and Olive Drab that big vest makers offer, and again a certain draw for women who think the color palette should be made up of something other than just earth tones.

Down at the monthly Thunder Tactical IDPA match outside Houston there are plenty of Armadillo Concealment vests in action. Photos by P. Erhardt

Did somebody mention logos? Becky's got you covered on that one too. Companies like Colt, Comp-Tac, Glock, STI, Smith & Wesson and others have all given Becky permission to embroider their logo on a shooter's vest. If Becky doesn't already have the logo then she'll get it. She added the new square version of IDPA's logo in response to requests from several of her customers. All this customization does come at a price. The vests start at $95 with your name embroidered on the front and goes up from there. The most expensive vest she made came out to $300+ because of all the embroidery required. Now that's a bit extreme perhaps, but the heart wants what the heart wants so who are we to judge. The popularity of Armadillo Concealment vests is exploding. Thanks to a heavier material and rigid construction that eliminates excessive flapping and tangling, IDPA shooters have been switching over to Armadillo, so much so that at the 2012 IDPA Nationals Becky's vests accounted for about 11% of those worn in the competition. Not bad for a tiny one-woman business that began just a year prior in October of 2011.

This side-by-side comparison shows how the rigidity of the Armadillo vest (right) clears the the grip better. Photos by Yamil Sued

Business has been so good in fact that it has taken over two rooms in her home, required her to invested in a commercial grade sewing machine and even rope husband Darrell into doing a little ironing. Add to that the distinctive Armadillo Concealment logo design courtesy of her son Mike, and Becky's hobby has become the very epitome of a family business.

Mike Sells' vest sports contrasting stitching - one of the great custom features offered - and the distinctive company logo he designed for mom. Photo by P. Erhardt

Today over 50% of her orders come from outside Texas and Becky is frequently pulled aside at matches and asked by a future customer to measure them and help them spec out their order. This year is likely to be a breakout year for Becky and Armadillo Concealment as more top shooters are wearing her vest in competitions around the country. Team Comp-Tac, north Houston area neighbors of Armadillo Concealment, are wearing the vests. Bobby McGee of Team Safariland, who definitely can't find an off-the-rack vest that would fit well, has one. Team RangeLog's Morgan Allen wears one. And several of those that do not currently wear one have an Armadillo vest on order. The Armadillo Concealment story is yet another small business success story with a very bright future. Though it's a lot of work Becky readily admits it's a passion and looks forward to the day when she retires from her real job to turn her labor of love into a full-time business. - Paul Erhardt, Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network Got shooting sports news? Send us an email at info@shootingwire.com.