Ideas for new LGS promotions

Advertise low priced transfers. So many gun shops want to charge a arm and leg for them to receive a gun for you, I give my business to those that don't.

If applicable in your state, get a CHL instructor that has a flexible schedule. One that can work off hours to meet the customers needs. If applicable in your state, offer Hunter education classes.

Do they have a range? If so run ladies nights, Appleseed shoots, vendor days, etc.

Vendor days and special days for ladies are nice. One LGS here had a day where vendors that specialize in shooting gear for women were the focus.

Talk to the local chapter of Friends of the NRA about handling their banquet guns.

Offer on site build help for AR owners. Got a local shop that specializes in ARs, they don't have a FFL just parts, lots of parts. The thing they do have is a work bench where the owner helps you assemble parts on your gun prior to purchase. He has all the tools, knowledge, space etc. to cater to this.


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Fair prices and good service is usually works to build a client base.

Become a Blue (LE/Mil) dealer if possible.

Consignment rates which are sane (10% or so) helps the sellers and helps them get inventory in the store. I know a local shop which is doing very well with a 10% consignment rate, shelves stocked and people come in often since they know things turn over fast. Tough part is to be able to get the seller to put things out at a fair price so it can sell. You do not want a $500 item priced at $1k since it never sells and makes the store look bad.

Accessories which sell in your market. Can be tough, but more profit there than on the guns these days.

Think about doing custom kydex holsters/sheaths.

Basic gunsmithing like scope mounting and bore sighting is good but I wouldn't get in too deep unless they have a real gunsmith on hand.

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Reasonable consignment rates would be a big plus for me. They can offer it for sale in the only in the shop only or for a little bit more have the option of listing the gun online at one of the auction sites. Not many gun shops want to even be bothered with doing consignment sales any more.

I have a couple of friends that own LGS. Low price transfers are great. They tell me that there really isn't good money in selling guns since there price can always be found cheaper on the interweb. They DO make money on ammo sales. If they can get prices in line to undercut the box stores and advertise it they might drag a lot of people in on things with good margins.

Consignment/used draws in a lot of people. Everyone has that Glock or S&W NIB and it becomes a contest on who can make the least amount of money. All NIB guns are the same. Every used gun is different. The profit margins on used guns is higher than new guns. If you get a reputation of having a nice, used gun inventory then there will be a lot of regulars who will stop by often to see what else has come in. Getting people to walk into your shop is the hardest and most expensive thing for a shop owner.

They also have to have blow out sales where they don't make any money. Grand Opening specials can go on for months. Brass case 9mm ammo for $8.99/50. .223 ammo for $30/100. Xtreme or Berry's 9mm bullets for $35/100, etc. Run a different special weekly for a few months. People will come in to cherry pick you but when they come in they can see all of the used guns for sale and the great service you offer. Loss leaders get people in the door and how you handle them dictates your success or failure.

Have a nice reloading section with brass, bullets, powder, primers, etc. Having a wall of holsters and spare mags ties up a lot of money for little return and Ebay is your competitor there.

Instead of trying to be all things to all people, try to specialize and do a few things really well. That is the formula of success. There is nothing more boring than another gun shop with Glocks and M&Ps and new plastic guns lining the shelves.

If you're new retailer has the smarts and a small library of price guides, offer free appraisals. This brings people in, and after looking around they may be interested in a trade, or placing what they have on consignment.

It also helps when someone is trying to value an estate collection, or looking into getting insurance. You may be surprised at what word-of-mouth advertising can do, and insurance agents/companies are often looking for accurate appraisals. So are smaller auction houses.

1. Free bunper stickers with a great slogan / saying. The name of the shop in small print beneath the slogan.

2. Punch cards, ten punches for purchases gets an hour of free range tIime or 20 percent. off the next purrchase.

3. Grand Opening! Lots of free foods. Hire a local station to host.

4. Knowledgeable ladies to work with female customers who don't want to deal with machismo of what men think that women should shoot.

5. Visit all the local VFW/AMVET/ AM Legion posts and hand oUT 15% discounts to them. Offer a regular 10% Active duty/Veteran/ First responder discount.

6. Table at the next gun show. For the $50 it costs for a table to sell a few guns, you and hand out a slew of business cards/flyers advertising you are local.

7. If you have a CCW instructor on staff for a state that allows CCW permits, waive the fee for the first class. Otherwise offer free gun safety courses for individuals, groups and families. Both are a gesture of good will and bring folks into your shop.

My new favorite LGS is a pawn shop of all places. . . because his negotiated cash prices are only about $20 higher than GunBroker. He offers pretty good trade value too; apparently he's content with a small cut per transaction.

Have a good-looking T-shirt made up and sell them at low price. Also give a free T-shirt with gun purchase. What you get is happy customers and walking billboards!

unlimited4x4 said:

Thanks for the ideas. Good service and prices they already have.

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....after that they have to listen to their customer base. I see new shops opening up all the time that fill their shelves with merchandise that sits there, while they shake their heads no when local customers continuously ask for something else. While gimmick promotions will work to get new folks into a store, it does not sell items folks don't want, nor does it make for a repeat customer. Good service, fair prices and products the locals want means for repeat customers, with positive word of mouth being the best promotion there is, especially for a LGS.

Factory armorers to do clean and polish on their factory's product.
A LGS had S&W and Ruger factory armorers to do action clean up on recently purchased guns from that shop.

Good prices and service are an excellent start but they need knowlegable and friendly, approachable sales people. Greet each customer with genuine friendly attitude.

Our LGS has been in business a long time, has two locations, and has pretty deep pockets. Most all inventory for any of this type store comes thru a jobber. From time to time the jobbers will have close outs at reduced prices

Most dealers go thru and pick one of these, two of those. This guy goes in and low balls the whole thing. Takes it all for maybe twenty cents on the dollar.

You can't be stupid and offer close to asking price. Gotta be a stupid low offer. Says he gets turned down more than he gets inventory, but when he scores,it is CHEAP. Stupid cheap.

So,it brings a lot of stuff into the store. People come from a LONG way off for deals. You don't see guys here in this forum asking "what's the best ________. It's nearly always "what's the cheapest _________

You gotta understand that you'll do real well on some, OK on others, and lose on the last little. But if you pay 20%, you can sell at 50% off retail and still do well

He ALWAYS has a close-out table.

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I second the suggestion that the shop advertise transfers at a reasonable price. With the huge volume of internet sales now days, I suspect there would be a steady flow of traffic through their shop if they did this. Who knows what other sales might be generated? As an example, for years I did business with a very high volume shop, with a great inventory. In addition to standard production guns, they always had a good selection of new limited production stuff and quality used firearms that interested me. So, while it was not unusual for me to buy from their inventory, they never balked or acted insulted when I asked them to do a transfer. I doubt they needed to do transfers, but they were always happy to do them for $30.00. The owner told me it was like free money.......ymmv

One other thing that always impressed me. The shop personal, no matter how busy, always greeted everyone that entered the shop. We've probably all experienced shops where the employees ignore potential customers unless you're one of their buddys. I've sure been in my share where personnel and their little cliques act as if you're are intruding by walking in the door.....

Maybe establish a local network of like minded folks to share knowledge. By that I mean start making local networks of bullet casters, reloaders, Class III, IPSC, IDPA, CASS etc. make them a hub of locals that are usually very willing to share info to help new guys. This can be as easy as an email group. Support local clubs like Boy Scouts and youth hunting programs. Best of luck to the new place. Wishing them much success!

Gun raffles are always fun, makes a little money and people gravitate towards them.

I had an idea at my old LGS to offer some free classes to get people through the door, one of us regulars would just talk about a topic for people wanting to know. Could be reloading basics, explaining the steps to get a CCW, discussing NFA items and how to get them, an AR building class, etc.

A "free limited edition shooters cap" with the store logo on it with every gun purchase !

1. +1 on reasonably priced transfers. Advertise the hell out of this.
2. Do special orders!
3. Print matches.
4. Get some of those magnet mounted mesh brass collecting bags to give away with the shop info on them.
5. Strict "No Gun Shop Blowhards" policy?

Inventory!