Hello to all you shooting friends out there! It has been a long time since I have written anything and honestly I will have to say that I have never actually written a “Blog” post before. It seems as a New Year is upon us there is no time like the present to start something “new” and try this blogging stuff…..
Bring on 2018! The last year was full of changes for me. First big change of 2017 was that someone came and wanted to buy my house we had been in for three years. It was in a very trendy neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia with excellent public schools and close proxemics to the private schools in the area. I had decided with all the travel I was doing with work and dating Will that a townhouse would be a much better choice anyhow. I accepted the offer and commenced to looking for townhouses in Richmond. What I did not realize was that I was about to change not only my marital status but my state of residency as well. Shortly into my search Will proposed, we ran off and got married and of course that changed the momentum and led me to South Carolina.
The next big change for me was kind of a natural progression of sorts. After almost 10 years doing business as Lanier Shooting Sports I was at another crossroads. Keep our businesses separate or merge them. After great deliberation, we opted to merge them and formed Fennell Shooting School. This was not an easy choice for me as I had worked very hard to create a business model and a reputation in the industry as Lanier Shooting Sports. Though it was not an easy decision to move my residence to South Carolina AND let go of my individual business identity, I am thrilled to be challenged to build a better business with the two of us in it together. We share common values and teaching philosophies, really value our clients and students and are looking to offer far more than just individual lessons.
At Fennell Shooting School we are wanting to create individual experiences with lessons and also offer anything form corporate entertainment to family “get (shooting) togethers”. We have the facilities and ability to create anything from beginner lessons to wing shooting to FITASC layouts and more. With two shooting fields, a collective 19 traps in South Carolina, several on lifts, and a “Claybot” on each of our two fields, we have great target flexibility, including the ability to throw driven clay birds. We also have a small pavilion, several fire pits for those colder days or just plain ambiance in the late afternoons, a lounge and a shotgun shop. We believe your experiences should be comfortable, happy and memorable!
The hardest part? Letting folks know I am in South Carolina! We made a decision to continue to maintain the Virginia teaching business, formally known as Lanier Shooting Sports, to remain faithful to the many wonderful students and friends we have in Virginia. When I am available in Virginia I am sold out most of the time. Now to develop that reputation and a new wonderful clientele in South Carolina! I realize this will be a work in progress and I certainly am keeping myself busy by continuing to develop our facility in the mean time. I am also working to build a Southern Carolina GRITS chapter, encouraging more women to get out and shoot for the sheer fun of it!
Though the last 6 years of my life were in a bit of a conundrum, putting it lightly, I am feeling a wonderful sense of purpose and happiness in our new venture/adventures together. Fennell Shooting School is growing and looking better by the day. When I sit back and think that less than one year ago most of it was deeply wooded and unusable for our purposes, I now smile and know in my heart anything is possible if you just believe in it and work hard for it!
I have seen lots of talented instructions but am always amazed at Will and his genuine passion for teaching and his ability to convey and deliver. I am just so happy we can share this joy together and with those we teach. It goes without saying that we both have so much respect for our teaching peers and so happy we are a part of the teaching and shooting community! With more than 5 million shooters in the USA, we have lots of opportunities to help grow this sport!
So, in summation I guess I can say “out with the old, in with the new!” We are ready for 2018!
Happy New Year!!!!
Elizabeth Lanier Fennell
Bring on 2018! The last year was full of changes for me. First big change of 2017 was that someone came and wanted to buy my house we had been in for three years. It was in a very trendy neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia with excellent public schools and close proxemics to the private schools in the area. I had decided with all the travel I was doing with work and dating Will that a townhouse would be a much better choice anyhow. I accepted the offer and commenced to looking for townhouses in Richmond. What I did not realize was that I was about to change not only my marital status but my state of residency as well. Shortly into my search Will proposed, we ran off and got married and of course that changed the momentum and led me to South Carolina.
The next big change for me was kind of a natural progression of sorts. After almost 10 years doing business as Lanier Shooting Sports I was at another crossroads. Keep our businesses separate or merge them. After great deliberation, we opted to merge them and formed Fennell Shooting School. This was not an easy choice for me as I had worked very hard to create a business model and a reputation in the industry as Lanier Shooting Sports. Though it was not an easy decision to move my residence to South Carolina AND let go of my individual business identity, I am thrilled to be challenged to build a better business with the two of us in it together. We share common values and teaching philosophies, really value our clients and students and are looking to offer far more than just individual lessons.
At Fennell Shooting School we are wanting to create individual experiences with lessons and also offer anything form corporate entertainment to family “get (shooting) togethers”. We have the facilities and ability to create anything from beginner lessons to wing shooting to FITASC layouts and more. With two shooting fields, a collective 19 traps in South Carolina, several on lifts, and a “Claybot” on each of our two fields, we have great target flexibility, including the ability to throw driven clay birds. We also have a small pavilion, several fire pits for those colder days or just plain ambiance in the late afternoons, a lounge and a shotgun shop. We believe your experiences should be comfortable, happy and memorable!
The hardest part? Letting folks know I am in South Carolina! We made a decision to continue to maintain the Virginia teaching business, formally known as Lanier Shooting Sports, to remain faithful to the many wonderful students and friends we have in Virginia. When I am available in Virginia I am sold out most of the time. Now to develop that reputation and a new wonderful clientele in South Carolina! I realize this will be a work in progress and I certainly am keeping myself busy by continuing to develop our facility in the mean time. I am also working to build a Southern Carolina GRITS chapter, encouraging more women to get out and shoot for the sheer fun of it!
Though the last 6 years of my life were in a bit of a conundrum, putting it lightly, I am feeling a wonderful sense of purpose and happiness in our new venture/adventures together. Fennell Shooting School is growing and looking better by the day. When I sit back and think that less than one year ago most of it was deeply wooded and unusable for our purposes, I now smile and know in my heart anything is possible if you just believe in it and work hard for it!
I have seen lots of talented instructions but am always amazed at Will and his genuine passion for teaching and his ability to convey and deliver. I am just so happy we can share this joy together and with those we teach. It goes without saying that we both have so much respect for our teaching peers and so happy we are a part of the teaching and shooting community! With more than 5 million shooters in the USA, we have lots of opportunities to help grow this sport!
So, in summation I guess I can say “out with the old, in with the new!” We are ready for 2018!
Happy New Year!!!!
Elizabeth Lanier Fennell