Smith & Wesson: M&P Shield 380 EZ pistol boosting sales

By Christen Smith

“The M&P SHIELD 380 EZ has definitely been very successful and it’s gained really good traction, it’s got a good following,” CEO James Debney said Thursday. “It’s become a very popular firearm with the consumer giving great feedback.” (Photo: Smith & Wesson/Facebook)
Top executives at Smith & Wesson credited the popularity of the M&P Shield 380 EZ pistol for boosting sales, despite lagging consumer demand industry-wide.
James Debney, chief executive officer of American Outdoor Brands, the gun maker’s parent company, told investors last week sales for both firearms and accessories increased more than 10 percent in its second quarter — defying a double digit drop in federal background checks, the historic indicator of the gun industry’s health over the last 20 years.
“The M&P SHIELD 380 EZ has definitely been very successful and it’s gained really good traction, it’s got a good following,” he said Thursday. “It’s become a very popular firearm with the consumer giving great feedback.”
Launched in February, the pistol — along with two new rifles and a .22-caliber rimfire handgun — accounted for more than a quarter of the company’s $111.8 in firearm sales in the 13 weeks ending Oct. 31. The outdoors segment generated an additional $56 million, thanks

Source: Guns.com