Salim Reza, the founder of Insulated Gear, is no stranger to the Pennsylvania Farm Show. He’s taken his Pittston-based company on the road to Harrisburg to participate in the annual event every year since 2018.
This year’s show wrapped up on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Insulated Gear, as its name suggests, sells insulated clothing meant to repel cold weather. Pants, hats and jackets make up a big chunk of the business’ inventory, which is sold almost exclusively online. Insulated Gear relies on its own website and various other marketplaces to sell its products, but trades shows — like the Pennsylvania Farm Show — help the business’ sales and name recognition.
Reza, a resident of Northeast Pennsylvania for nearly 25 years, employs part-time employees to help him out with the business’ operations, especially at the trade shows. Insulated Gear spent two years on the Pennsylvania Farm Show’s waiting list of vendors before breaking through in 2018. With no storefront to accompany the business, Reza said that the farm show is a great way to build real relationships with customers year after year.
“We’ve built an awesome customer base,” Reza explained. “Many people come to the farm show just to buy our product.”
At other shows, Reza might only take one or two workers to help him out. But at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, more hands on deck are basically required. The commitment to customer service exhibited by Reza and his team of three part-timers is the key to talking to every customer that might be interested in Insulated Gear’s offerings.
“We talk to people all day long, every day. We talk about our product, our services, and where they can buy our product,” said Reza.
In a sense, Reza’s business represents Luzerne County, which sends only a few businesses to Harrisburg per year. He said that, because the farm show is more of a national event than a statewide one, Insulated Gear is considered by some out-of-state guests to be local to the Harrisburg area as well.
“I meet people from New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland… all over,” said Reza, before adding: “A lot of people are very shocked that we are within two hours of Harrisburg….”
The massive Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center is annually packed with vendors, animals, food options, and farm show personnel. Despite the large scale of the event, Reza noted the impeccable organization that is displayed each and every year. In fact, he said the operations are becoming smoother with each passing year.
“It’s a very good set-up,” Reza said of the Farm Show, “They give you plenty of time to set up and take down.”
It won’t be long before Salim Reza and Insulated Gear are back on the road to Harrisburg. They’ll be back at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center for the Great American Outdoor Show from Saturday, Feb. 1, to Sunday, Feb. 9.