Men-friendly gunstore, suggestions please.

[Eleven Mike]

I have just taken over the management of a gun store in a large metro area. Let's just say the previous management left a lot to be desired, and I've got to get the business back in shape.

I'm trying to attract the male market, which I think has been under-exploited with all the attention on female shooters lately. I'm looking for any suggestions to make my store more appealing and welcoming to guys.

I'm considering a name change, as the shop is currently called "She Shoots, She Scores!" Beyond that, we may need to scale back on the promotion of "Marksmanship Teas" and "Target Scrapbooking." Of course, we won't completely abandon those, as we value our female customers very highly. Also, we will be reducing our inventory of AR-15s and 9mm's, so we can also stock more masculine firearms. I'd appreciate any input on guns that would appeal to men shooters.

One of my ideas is to have a Superbowl Party at the store, with laser-equipped pistols we can use to dry-fire at the opposing team-members. Of course, I'll need to have my counter-guys brush up on their football knowledge, as they are more interested in show-tunes and such. I'll also be having some open-carry barbecues, so long as I can do so legally on the front sidewalk. Of course, my employees would rather go with fondu.

Suggestions welcome, just please remember this is a family forum. Thanks!

 

[boerseun]

A name change would go a long ways.

Ad's in local papers.

Very good and visible sign on the front-most gun stores are difficult to find because they don't stand out.

I wouldn't do the laser-dryfire thing - it could cause a PR nightmare if anyone finds out about it.

Have a good old fashioned BBQ on a Saturday - if premises allow it, in front of the store.

Whatever you do, don't scare away your existing clientele - they will drag boyfriends, husbands and kids along if they can. So keep that going, but expand your range of firearms, get the ads out and change the name to something a bit more generic like Bullseye or The Gun Store.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

The the name definately needs to go...Maybe something a little more unisex...As far as weapon selections, what do you offer right now?

PS. Don't do the dryfire thing though

 

[1911 guy]

Get "un-frilly".

I personally don't care if the place (any place I go) is "masculine", as long as I don't have an overwhelming urge to try on pantyhose when I leave. Eliminating the overt female draw will get guys into a gunstore. Keeping the "girl stuff" would be fine as long as it isn't constant and is at scheduled times for the ladies to attend.

 

[News Shooter]

Heh heh heh

 

[imprezagm4]

I'm considering a name change, as the shop is currently called "She Shoots, She Scores!"

Is that name a joke!?

That is the worst thing to do from a business standpoint, not to mention, just plain stupid. What was the repvious owner thinking......

 

[AndyC]

I do believe y'all are having your legs pulled...

 

[DogBonz]

Change the name

to "She Shoots... He Scores"

 

[imprezagm4]

It just hit me like a ton of bricks... only a few minutes too late I should have known, the second paragraph was a dead giveaway.

 

[mpmarty]

bonz you beat me to it

 

[dstorm1911]

dogbonz, ya got that reversed don't ya?

 

[kd7nqb]

I am suprised anybody fell for this. But it does illistrate a point, in the female thread. Somebody suggested cute guys working the counter, if I said I wanted hot blondes selling me guns then I am being sexually exploitive. Anyway fun thread.

 

[taliv]

trolling aside, there's nothing that will attract men to a store more than having women in there.

 

[19-3Ben]

Large sign saying "UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT".
New name.
Hang an AK-47 in the window. (maybe a bad idea. You want to be a gun shop. Not a paramilitary organization, but it would certainly go a long way to kill the girly image.

Are you stuck with these feminine counter workers? Do they exposed carry in the store at least? Could you possibly replace them with one woman who knows what she is talking about, and one real man?
There is nothing feminine about ar-15's, or 9mm's. Don't ditch them. Just put them in the right context.
Perhaps start getting in an NRA instructor to do CCW permit classes, or Hunter's Ed. Classes in the store. That's what my local shop does and it works out well. They get a cut from each student's tution, and during breaks form the class, you have a captive audience coming to the counter to oggle the goods.

Oh, and ditch the MossyOak high-heel slingbacks!!! Those were soooo last year!

 

[Texas9]

Hey, what's with 9mm not being masculine, anyways?!?!

 

[DogBonz]

Oh no...

dogbonz, ya got that reversed don't ya?

Thats what I ment. The range was my standard "3rd date"...

 

[pax]

Based on the suggestions in the other thread:

Filthy restrooms.
Tiny, cluttered store and poor displays.
Lotsa dead animals.
Surly and unhelpful sales people.
Complete disregard for safety.

That should do it...



pax

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

If you are serious about it, I would recommend taking a Marketing class at a local college. There are a lot of things you can do to attract your target demographic. Personally I'd try to make it appealing to both sexes to broaden your market share.

 

[GEM]

Fondue is make of various cheeses from Switerland - like Vacherin, Appenzeller, Emmethal, etc. Switzerland is the country that gun lovers drool over. Thus, fondue is appropriate for the manly gun store.

In fact, the other day I was on the way to take my daughter to the range - I stopped at Whole Foods and scoped out their great cheese selection - thus I would merge my gun store with a Whole Foods.

Love the thread - the girls could have called the store - Manstoppers.

I once had an intense female shooter describe why she carried a 1911 in her purse in case a data got fresh. She would shoot him once and then several times as she opined: One bullet won't stop a man!

I probably wouldn't have asked for another kiss after the first round hit, though.

BTW - I strongly encourage folks to carry for self-protection but it was a classic line.

 

[hso]

That was well done, but we don't have a humor forum.