G’day! I’m Doug, the regional sales manager for NIOA, covering Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. At NIOA, we have a team of seasoned professionals in sales management, including Dave Littlejohn (QLD), Brad Webb (NSW) and Mark Laffy (VIC, TAS), who collectively boast over 50 years of experience with the company. Together, we’ve navigated through various transformations within the firearms industry.

Recently, we’ve had some exciting news as the NIOA Group has acquired Barrett Firearms. The buzz surrounding this acquisition has been unparalleled, and it reinforced my confidence in having transitioned from the retail sector to the wholesale industry when I joined NIOA two years ago.

Shifting to this role has brought about significant changes in my work life, including frequent travel. For more than two decades, I was involved in demanding environments, starting as a chef and later transitioning to retail sales and management. However, the long hours and stress in the culinary world led me to seek a career change that would provide better work-life balance and peace of mind. Moving into the retail/sales sector, particularly in the firearms industry, fulfilled a long-standing interest of mine.

Before joining NIOA, my daily routine resembled that of many busy Store Managers. I would arrive at the store early in the morning, attend to emails and orders, manage stock, and operate the store with the staff until closing time. My day often extended well into the evening, finalising administrative tasks.

Taking on the role of NIOA’s Regional Sales Manager brought about significant changes. Now, my days often kick off as early as 4am, hitting the road for visits to remote rural dealers, or starting work from my home office at 8am to prepare for the day ahead and handle emails. The concept of a fixed “knock-off” time has become more fluid, as dealer preferences often lead to later calls. Additionally, long drives back to hotels or motels are common, particularly when the distances between stops are considerable.

Flexibility has become an essential trait in managing my plans as travel often entails dealing with varying airport hours and unexpected challenges. The ever-changing landscapes of different regions, public holidays and popular events require careful scheduling to ensure smooth operations.

Covering such an extensive territory allows me the privilege of meeting NIOA dealers and customers scattered throughout the region. Regular customers often drop by stores to say hello, seek advice, or engage in discussions about firearms, politics, or any other topic of interest while their dealer attends to other customers.

As I travel an impressive expanse of about 4,850,000 square kilometres, encompassing over 60 percent of Australia’s landmass, my journeys lead me from the southern reaches of Western Australia to the picturesque Peninsulas of South Australia, and further up to the captivating “Top End” of Kununurra and Darwin. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the chance to explore and embrace so many breathtaking facets of this beautiful country while tending to the needs of NIOA Dealers across the entire region.