During the process of writing a review of the AMP-3 iFAK, I sent some questions over to David Pruett, owner of AMP-3. The response that I received was fantastic. The initial plan was to incorporate the information into the iFAK review that was release a few days ago, but for me, this was its own separate conversation that took a life of its own. So, here is a little Q and A for our members……
Interview with David Pruett of AMP-3 & Beth . . . the real boss & power behind AMP-3!
Question (Q): Tell me a little about yourself David. I know you’re an Emergency Room Physician, woodworker, amateur ham radio operator, a local cert member, husband, father, small business owner, former Navy man…. Is there anything I am missing?
Answer (A): Before attending medical school, I was a Paid-Call Firefighter for Central Santa Cruz Fire District. I loved fire calls and the camaraderie of the fire service. Emergency medical calls ultimately drove me to consider attending medical school. I was very fortunate to get a Navy Scholarship for medical school. I have been able to continue my interest in disaster medicine as one of the Emergency Department Physician Liaisons to our Hospital Disaster Committee
Q: What made you decide to start AMP-3?
A: A few years ago, I put a few kits together for friends. They were a huge hit! With every kit given away, Beth would say, “You should market these”. I would confidently reply, “No one would buy them”. My lesson learned, Beth is always right! We put 10 kits up for sale on the Internet March of 2011 and they were sold in less than twelve hours. We took a deep breath, regrouped and that how AMP-3 started one year ago.
Q: One of your obvious passions is medicine. Why are you so interested in austere medicine?
A: As an Eagle Scout, the outdoors, backpacking and preparedness have always been in my blood. I also love small bags and kits, something I attribute to my Mother who would always make the kids a small canvas ditty bag packed with cool stuff whenever our family would depart on a long road trip for vacation or when my Dad would change duty stations. I really am a “Bag Guy”. Making kits that are small and lightweight, yet complete and comprehensive, for outdoors use has always been an interest.Even in the Navy I was building kits in preparation of potential deployment . . . so I would be prepared. One of my partners still has a pocket airway kit that I built in the Navy. I always build more than one and share whenever possible!
Q: Since the inception of AMP-3, have you had any regrets in regards to your small company… any suggestions for someone that was once in your shoes?
A: We would love to do more shows all over the country. Family commitments and working a full-time job has limited the amount time available for traveling to shows.
We have also had many requests for training, which is difficult to fit into an already busy schedule.If you have an idea, starting with a website and building small and steady growth seemed the best approach for us. Don’t get caught up in over extending yourself financially. Our philosophy has been to pay as we go. We keep investing all profits back into the business . . . no paychecks for us yet! Slow and steady is our motto, along with trying to provide the best customer support possible.
Use Quick Books and keeping excellent records from day one are also key to any business. Hire an Attorney to look over your plan and a CPA to keep the taxman in check.
Q: What do you hope to achieve with AMP-3 in the future?
A: We are planning on expanding our line of kits, modules and specialty preparedness gear. We would also like to arrange a series of preparedness conferences and training seminars
Q: As I have been following your company for a while, do you have any plans in the very near future of expanding?
A: The Guide and Outfitter kits are on the horizon and should be released soon. The AMP-3 iFAK will always be a staple kit. It is a comprehensive first-aid kit sized much like a small MRE. The Scout, Guide and Outfitter will offer choices for extended capabilities.
“The Outfitter” will be our most comprehensive and complete kit. The Outfitter will include more modules such as a Dental Module, Eye Care Module, and extended Trauma & Wound Module, and Emergency Care Module and an Instrument Module. It will be packed in a custom-built medic roll type bag.
Some day we would like to have Amp-3 products in stores all over the country!
Q: I love a small US based company. Do you try to purchase all of your supplies for your medical kits from US manufactures?
A: All of our products are U.S. made as much as possible. That has always been our goal, however, some we have no control over despite continued searches for U.S. sources. All of our bags, including LokSak, MOLLE Utility Bag and Nylon Zip bag are made in the USA. We also try to support local businesses whenever possible.
Q: What makes AMP-3 stand apart from the big named companies such as Johnson & Johnson as well as Adventure Medical Kits?
A: Our kits are hand packed and assembled in the Pacific Northwest with careful quality control. We also pride ourselves in providing excellent customer service. Our kits are not just “repackaged bundles of Band-Aids” or “kits with 200 pieces”. We have carefully thought out each and every module and kit.
Q: Some people in the community argue that your kits are over priced; what do you say to them?
A: I would challenge someone to assemble and build one of our kits for a lesser price. If they were successful I would applaud the effort and give them a “high five”. I think everyone should ultimately build his or her own kits. That said some people like to have one stop shopping. We just happen to enjoy doing it enough to start a business. We have carefully priced out each item in all of our kits and constantly search for better pricing options. In fact, over time we have lowered the cost of some kits as we achieved better pricing through large bulk purchases or established distributorships. In the end, we believe our kits are value packed and not over priced. We can’t keep our kits in stock and spend every spare moment building modules and assembling kits. Our kits have shipped all over the world
Q: I see that Beth has become quite the intricate part of AMP-3. What’s is it like to
work with your spouse?
A: Not much to say here except it is an awesome experience. Beth has always been my better half and AMP-3 exists today primarily because of her input and drive. She is always at the helm while I am away at work. She is the one personally answering customer questions and making several runs to the post office daily. She takes great pride in satisfying every order on the day of receipt. I will often come home from a shift in the ED with a note on the table outlining kits that need to be assembled to satisfy orders.
Q: Many of us who have been following you on your YouTube Channel, (USNERDOC) know what many of your passions are, is there anything out there that you enjoy doing but don’t share too often?
A: Great question! My channel is really a “slice of my life” which is something that has occasionally generated a bit of criticism because some folks seem to expect a particular focus. I always have my cameras with me and I am on the lookout for experiences to record primarily because I enjoy the process of making videos. I enjoy the viewer interaction, but truth be told, even without a viewer base I would be making videos. I have a ton of videos made in the Navy before YouTube existed. It is just something I find relaxing and interesting.
Q: Is there anything in particular that you would like to tell my audience?
A: Prepare NOW to BE PREPARED! With that said, following you and Adam on the Equip 2 Endure website and YouTube channel will serve them well. Preparedness skills are so important for a solid sense of self-reliance. These skills seem to be perishing in a time of rapid electronic convenience, in reality a very thin veil of civility that can be suddenly whisked away.
We also want to thank all of our Amp-3 customers for the trust that they have put in our products and our company. We truly would not exist without our loyal customers
Q: If you could jump on a plane today, where would you go?
A: Canada! We love Jasper and that area of this beautiful country.
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