Meet Xinglong, a dedicated business owner specialising in military and law enforcement products, field gear, and outdoor equipment. What started as a passion has now become a full-fledged business.
With a passion for tactical gear and a deep understanding of the industry’s demands, Xinglong ensures that every product meets the highest standards of reliability and performance. He is committed to equipping clients with the best tools for their missions, ensuring safety, efficiency, and preparedness in every situation.
What inspired you to start this business, and how has it evolved over the years?
Well, I started 19 years ago because I liked all this equipment. With my technical knowledge, I would find these things, order them online, and if I found something good, I would recommend it to people. If they liked it, they would buy it from me.
Slowly, I expanded from my small shop at Chai Chee to Ubi Techpark. After which, I was invited to Funan. When Funan underwent renovations, we moved to Adelphi. After Adelphi, we relocated here. It has been a slow but steady expansion over the years.
Black Tactical is known for having the widest range of tactical gear, including brands like Dragon Steel training weapons and Pentagon Tactical in Singapore. How do you source and maintain such a diverse inventory?
Our main brands are Condor, Pentagon Tactical, and Nextorch weapon lights. We have unique items that are mainly for government use, so only we have them. However, certain products are not allowed to be sold to the public.
Sometimes, government personnel from the army, police, or SCDF come to us with specific needs for their units. When they request items, we handle their government orders. If we don’t have something they need, we will source it for them.
Once they buy what they need, we sometimes sell the surplus stock in our shop for other enthusiasts. Many of your customers come from law enforcement, military, and security backgrounds.
Enthusiasts like to buy our products for personal use because of their quality and competitive pricing. We usually test them out on our own first.
How does Black Tactical cater specifically to their needs, and what sets your store apart from other retailers?
We focus on non-commercial products. For example, a regular commercial water bag might cost $200–$300, while a military-grade one could cost $80 or more. Military models tend to be cheaper and more durable because they are “government-issued”, which pushes prices down due to bulk orders.
Even with sunglasses, a commercial model may cost $200–$300, while the military version—due to government purchasing power—can cost $100 or less. Government personnel come to us with their requirements as mentioned earlier, and we help them find the closest match.
With the rise of e-commerce and digital marketing, how has Black Tactical leveraged online platforms like social media to reach a wider audience?
Most of the videos we produce are done in-house. We bought our own camera and create our own TikTok videos to explain the products—what they are for and how they work.
Many government personnel, including soldiers and police officers, are on these platforms too, so we use social media to showcase our items. When they find something useful, they request quotations for their units.
I try to handle as much as possible myself. I also make sure to understand the customers’ needs and ensure they get exactly what they want.
What are some of the biggest challenges in growing your business, and how do you overcome them?
Rental cost is getting crazy. That’s why we left Adelphi and moved to a more affordable location. Now, we focus on online sales and government orders instead of walk-in retail. The niche market is not large, but the current climate is tough.
Looking ahead, what are your future plans for Black Tactical? Do you see opportunities to expand your product range or collaborate with other brands?
There have been talks about opening a franchise overseas, but I’m not sure how to go about it. Some people have suggested having a store in Taiwan, and I’ll have to see how things develop first.
In your opinion, what do you think makes a good entrepreneur?
Hard work. You have to work long hours and know every part of your business.I try to handle as much as possible myself. I also make sure to understand the customers’ needs and ensure they get exactly what they want.
If a product isn’t right for them, we exchange it and make sure it fits their requirements. For some items, we develop our own products based on feedback. For example, the army gloves—customers complained the first-generation version was too hot and not touchscreen-compatible.
So, we improved the material and added touchscreen functionality in the second-generation model. We keep improving based on user feedback.
Where do you see yourself, and what’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
It’s hard to say. This industry is never-ending—new needs will always come up, and we will continue to offer solutions. Hopefully, our long-term suppliers continue supporting us, and our products remain in demand.
At the moment, retail is almost impossible because the cost of renting a shop is too high. If things balance out, we can return to retail.
For Singapore, I hope prices don’t keep skyrocketing. Right now, the income disparity is growing and I hope things balance out so that everyone—from low-income to high-income groups—can find stability. Rental prices need to stabilise too.
Connect with Xinglong: Black-Tactical, Facebook and Instagram.
