A Brooklyn based manufacturer is hoping to conquer Canada and beyond with a new product line and a fresh approach to their business.

Parlee Manufacturing launched their Versatile Integrated Packs (VIP) as a customizable, off-the-shelf solution that can be tailored for any situation.

Glen Parlee, president of Parlee Manufacturing says the product was born from the close relationships with first responder agencies in Nova Scotia.

“Actually seeing how the product is used and talking to the people on the frontlines, not a purchasing agent but the person on the front lines that’s using it and asking the question, what would make your job easier? What would work better for your particular application? That’s the information that we need to make a product that’s always up-to-date and ready to go,” said Parlee.

Members from EHS Lifeflight and the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables were on hand at the product launch to demonstrate how the modular system has been adapted to their particular uses.

Even before the pandemic hit in 2020, Parlee Manufacturing was looking for ways to better connect to the customers.

With the help of Nova Scotia Business Inc and Digital Nova Scotia the company has rebranded and refreshed their websites and will be selling the new products direct to customers, online.

Parlee says by cutting out the middleman they can not only reduce costs and stay competitive against offshore producers but give the customer what they want.

“Maybe the set up that they see online, one of our sample ones that maybe a local organization is using doesn’t fit with their needs,” said Parlee. “We can help them decide, okay, if we change some of these, with these accessories, this might work for you. Then we can customize a pack without making a custom pack.”

Parlee and his wife Kathi started selling adventure products in 1985 and rebranded the business to Parlee Manufacturing in 2003.

With a full-time workforce of nine people, they still produce everything in their shop in Brooklyn, just outside Liverpool.

Parlee says when dealing with a larger order the family business can bring in up to 15 people.

Despite issues in other sector, he doesn’t see his company having an issue finding labour.

“Our average employee is not the average employee,” said Parlee. “Most of our seamstresses are folks that, their kids have gone back to school or they may be folks that have kids in school, so we’re very flexible.”

Parlee says their products are already in use across Nova Scotia and with the new product, new business model and new online presence, the goal is to have Parlee products in the hands of first responders across Canada in short order.

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