Banning Officials Reach Out to Poison Spyder Customs: Business Retention

Banning elected officials and the city's Economic Development Department reached out last week to owners of Poison Spyder Customs, a manufacturer of after-market off-road accessories, as part of a business retention program launched in March.

Poison Spyder Customs Inc. owners Larry and Cheri McRae have been in Banning since January 2011. They employ 17 people and manufacture "hard-core off-road equipment" for Jeeps, Banning economic development director Bill Manis said.

Poison Spyder Customs offers products including front bumpers, front fender armor, rocker armor, rear corner armor, tube fenders, rocker knockers, crusher corners, trail and comp stingers, body armor, and more, Manis said in a statement.

"Larry & Cheri met is 1992 and both have had a lifelong love for wheeling and the outdoors," Manis said. "Larry’s daughter Cortney works for the family business and recently completed her business degree at the University of Redlands. Cortney oversees the office and accounting function at Poison Spyder."

Poison Spyder Customs' customer base extends across North America and around the world, with clients in Australia, South Africa, Japan and Europe, Poison Spyder marketing rep Dusty Sharp said Tuesday.

The McRaes have enjoyed off-roading recreation and competition for years, and they recently took first place the "King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge Race" in the Modified Class, Sharp said. The competition was held in February this year in Johnson Valley.

Poison Spyder Customs is at 1143 W. Lincoln St., Unit 20, in Banning.

For more information about the and services for the business community, and for information on how to relocate a business to Banning, contact Manis at (951) 922-3181.