Help me build a better mousetrap.

[kframe357]

Hello all,
I am starting up a shooter supply type business and will be doing the gun shows to start. I am doing this because I never find what I'm looking for when I go. What I would like is if you guys can tell me what it is that you go for, but never find.
I'm only doing supplies (ie. holsters, ammo, cases, optics...) for now. My father is applying for his FFL and I may as well, but that is niether here nor there.
This is sort of marketing research. I appreciate any info you guys can spare.
Best Wishes,
Randy Gagnon

 

[V4Vendetta]

Here's my mouse trap.

 

[BozemanMT]

specialty stuff
lots of this stuff you can never get anywhere but online and you can't look at it.
examples, I shoot a lot of shotgun clay games.
things like wad knockers, snap caps, specialty pin grease, etc
nothing expensive, but they seem to be hard to come by.

more thoughts.

You cannot compete on items that are everywhere, you can't make the margins and buy at a low enough price to compete with the biggies. and you should never compete on price anyway, because someone can always undercut you.
Carry stuff that you can't get anywhere else.

 

[taliv]

at last weekends' gun show i bought:

all the corncob media at the show (1 bag... i would have bought as much as i could carry)
a couple ar15 disconnectors (i've worn another one out )
a verticle forearm grip with a sealed compartment to hold a copy of my $200 stamp collection

i would have bought had it been offered:
a decent case (hard or soft) for a subgun (i found nothing but cheap crap)
some vhitavouri powder had they not wanted $160 for 4 lbs
some quality BDUs in the USMC pattern
good holster for a FHN 5.7 pistol or any 5.7 ammo
any good books

my friend went with a couple grand in cash, looking for a stainless 1911 in officer or commander size of any reputable make (colt/kimber/wilson, etc) but we couldn't find anything close.

 

[Spot77]

I'm a sucker for a good deal on hard to find mags; like for my cz40b, Marlin 25 or Norton's wierdo Smith 22 semi.....

Thing to remember is that it's HARD to make money selling specialty items at gunshows - too many items to take and not enough buyers for all that stuffto be real profitable.

 

[lawson]

leather holsters for revolvers! my local shops have rack after rack of holsters for automatics, but i rarely ever find good leather for revolvers anywhere other than online.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Try getting licensed as a dealer for specialty items that are hard to find in most gun stores (safariland, blackhawk tactical, etc.). most of what I find at gunshows are either low quality used/surplus or common, everyday equipment that I can find at any gunstore (uncle mike's, galco, fobus). If you want people to flock to your booth and buy your stuff, carry what they can't get unless they order it off the net.