New gun business in CDA Idaho area

[Elmer]

I am down to the short strokes of my long planned move to Couer d'alene Idaho, from the wretched place my beloved California has become. Though Californians are pissing Idahoans off, my politics and outlook on life fit very well there.

I am considering opening a firearms business in that general area, and wondered if any members here had any thoughts. Do you think the area could support another gun shop/tactical accessories business? Any recommendations on finding employees? (Hint, any THR folks interested?) Suggestions for a location?

I've been in the industry for more than 30 years, in one form or another, and have plenty of capital to do it right.

Post here with your thoughts, or PM me.

 

[longdayjake]

Im an Idahoan but I live about 10 hours away. I will say one thing about opening up a gun shop here in Idaho. If you can make a clean, well lit, and provide kind informed staff you will most likely win in the business. There are too many of those gun shops in Idaho that are run by fat hairy grumpy old men that seem to know everything about nothing in particular. I buy all of my guns and ammo online or at Sportsman's warehouse because I got sick of going into gun shops that smelled like the owner's cigar smoke or because I knew more than the clerks that thought they knew more than me. I am still waiting for a clean, reasonable, and friendly shop for me to spend my money in.

I would be interested in working for you if you paid $50,000 a year. In CDA you would probably need atleast that just to pay for the cost of living.

 

[Dookie]

I work in CDL and most of the gun shops are well run and smoking is not allowed, the whole it being illegal to smoke indoors thing.

I think if you were into class 3 you could do well as Idaho is very liberal (not in the political sense, look up the word) when it comes to guns, not even a waiting period for pistols. I know Spokane has one class 3 store and he is quite expensive, but very well run.

You would have to fill a niche, being well run of course, but being open decent hours, being in a good location, fair prices. If you do these things you will be fine, just don't mention you are from California. But people are also quite loyal to their own gunshops and might not visit yours for that reason. Once you build a good reputation and regular customers you will be good to go.

In CDL might not be a great place to start, commercial land is spendy, but go north to hayden or athol (no, it's not next to butte), or even in between CDL and Post Falls.

I am not sure where longdayjake is getting his $50,000 a year to make it, but it is a fairly reasonable place to live, and TONS of hunting and fishing in the area.

If you come up and want to take a look around let me know.

 

[bonza]

We are planning a move to Spokane in the, hopefully, not too distant future. I've only been to a couple of gun stores on my visits to the area, one in the North Valley that wasn't too bad as far as selection goes, but seemed to be a bit of an ol' boys club. The other was a real old, somewhat run-down place on a hill off of Argonne, they had a whole bunch of old 'not for sale' guns on the wall & in the owners office that he let me look through. I know there's a Sportsmen's Warehouse at the Spokane Valley Mall, & a Cabela's just before you get to Post Falls, ID, but what else is in the area?

 

[Pilgrim]

I live about 20 miles north of CDA in Athol. I think the area can support another gun store.

I am a CA refugee. I have been living here seasonally since 2003.

I worked part-time in a CA gun shop for several years. I'd love to work in a gun shop again.

Pilgrim

 

[Dookie]

bonza, the place on the hill is the gunnatorium, and they really don't give a crap, he is just doing it to get extra income as there was a death in the family, the owner I believe, and they are selling off their stock.

North valley? didn't know there was such a place.

Red White and Blue, bad selection, over priced, Northwest Pawn, great place, very nice people and good prices, All American Arms, almost a joke, they rely solely on repeat customers and make new customers not return, not great prices but can come across a few deals, good for cowboy action, White Elephant, not a bad place, usually has good deals and at least one of the guys knows what he is talking about, Axels, not axels pawn, he is our class 3 guy, knows his stuff, and you pay for it, Daves guns, baah, a 10/22 mag is not a 17 dollar item, Double Eagle, decent trade in, a couple of knowledgeable people, the one in Deer Park, not division. As for N. Idaho, the only places I go to are Black Sheep, probably the best place around for knowledgeable staff, and great prices, Center Target Sports, Very smart people, more of a range that sells guns, and Cabelas.

 

[rfurtkamp]

I buy all of my guns and ammo online or at Sportsman's warehouse because I got sick of going into gun shops that smelled like the owner's cigar smoke or because I knew more than the clerks that thought they knew more than me.

Sounds like my favorite SE Idaho shop, right down to the smoking.

And yes, smoking indoors is illegal in Idaho. I have no idea where the smoke might come from, I think it just sort of wafts in from out on the street. ;0

 

[Elmer]

Lots of good info, thanks and keep it coming!

As far as not mentioning I'm from California, I won't be wearing any I "heart" California T shirts, but really, half the folks I've met up there are from California. I think it's kinda like the New Yorkers that moved to California. The ones that wanted to make CA more like NY pissed us off.... the ones that came here to escape NY got along fine.....

As far as gun shop descriptions, pretty much par for the course everywhere. Most shops are run by hobbyists, not business people. Biggest challenge is getting folks to shop at a local store, instead of the chain store that's 5 bucks less on something. I think the most successful guys try to handle stuff they can be competitive on, because as much as everybody says they want knowledgeable folks to deal with, if something is cheaper, most guys will buy it from the 17 year old at MartMart.....

And longdayjake, the manger of this store will be making more than 50K, so pm me if you think you're qualified.

 

[scrofcheck]

Well I see you have had a few replies. I live in Hayden, Id. just 6 miles north of CDA. There's alot of competition in CDA. Quite a few gun shops, then you have Sportsman warehouse, Cabela's in Post Fall's, and of course Black Sheep who has been here quite a few yrs. and usually beats all competion.
Another store Tri State, and the Pony Express. Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

[lonegunman]

Nothing personal but the migration is ruining the place. For every pro-gun immigrant we get more than our share of anti-gun, anti-shooting, anti-hunting migrant who arrives checkbook in hand and pays three times to much for a house.

Since you will probably come anyway, they the White Elephant Stores in Divison(in the city) and Sprague(in the valley). All you have to do is ask, they are the dealers for every major brand of firearm in the country.

NW Pawn and Collector's in Spokane Valley has a really great selection and customer service.

There are a few good local stores in CDA. I try and avoid the "big box" stores unless they have sales going.

Center Target Sports is a decent indoor range in Post Falls with Quite a few activities.

Couer d'Alene Rifle and Pistol club has a 200yd range and monthly pistol matches. They are inexpensive as well.

Fernan R&P has IPSC in the summer and 300yds for rifle.

Spokane has the Spokane Rifle Club. They have 100 and 200 yd lines and a 25yd pistol range. They club is basically controlled by shotgunners and blackpowder wheezers. The facilities are nice but the board is not friendly towards organized NRA type matches.

The Spokane Valley has the Valley gun club out near Mica. They are opened after 2pm daily and have 1000yds for rifle. I think it still costs three dollars a day to shoot there.

In Spokane, AAA guns on Sprague and Dave's Guns are generally the least honest and highest priced. In my experience.

Idaho is class III friendly and if you really want to open a store, you need to beat the internet and big box stores or have something cool in stock for a decent price.

 

[Elmer]

Nothing personal but the migration is ruining the place. For every pro-gun immigrant we get more than our share of anti-gun, anti-shooting, anti-hunting migrant who arrives checkbook in hand and pays three times to much for a house.

Well.... I understand how you feel..... these days, almost everyone in California is from somewhere else, and it's changed here pretty radically over the last 50 years..... I'm old enough to remember when this was a pretty conservative state. Ronald Reagan was our Governor before he was your President.

But as far as home prices, remember who's selling those overpriced houses. And if it's any consolation, a lot of houses here have dropped in value as much as 50%, so I don't think you'll see as many Californians coming up with fistful's of cash to overpay for real estate. Lord knows I'm trying not to...

 

[Dookie]

lonegunman, you said it perfectly. I was almost trying to be polite.

We do have lots of ranges, except most are for shotguns and pistols.

 

[RONSTAR]

I love it up there I have spent alot of time in Couer d'alene and Sandpoint lots of fun outoors activities to partake in there. If you started a shop there I would for sure stop buy and send some money your way. Im always in the need for new firearms and stuff.

 

[Elmer]

Thanks Ronstar..... hopefully that'll happen soon...

Another question. Would a store in the CDA area draw customers from Spokane? Especially if the store carried hard to find stuff? I haven't even looked at what kind of contiguous state arrangement WA and ID have as far as firearms, but obviously ammo and accessories would still be viable regardless.

 

[TallPine]

Would a store in the CDA area draw customers from Spokane?

Well, not for handguns

 

[GrizzlyGraves]

I miss that side of Washington/ north Idaho.

Is Sharp Shooters still around up there on Freya? I used to take the EWU criminal justice club there to shoot. They seemed to have a nice store and moderatly helpful staff.

Is the General Store ever going to recover their FFL or should they?

So, Elmer, are you offering a sweet discount to THR members??

 

[Elmer]

So, Elmer, are you offering a sweet discount to THR members??

Well of course........

But I still need some help making it happen..... so help me find a manager, location, etc....

 

[rainbowbob]

I you're interested in building your dream home in the most beautiful spot in North Idaho - check out my shameless promotion of this view acreage for sale (just East of Bonners Ferry).

www.twinriverheights.com

By the way...there are lots of sportsmen and hunters up on this end of the Panhandle, and the closest gun store (that I know of) is the Wal-Mart near Sandpoint.

 

[Dookie]

sharpshooters is still there, nice place but way to pricey.

General store should never get their license back, they lost paperwork on firearms sales. Guess some of those "cash" sales did not work out.

Yes, you will get business from Spokane, but that won't be your big market as we can't buy pistols across state line, rifles are fine. If you market to the hard to find firearms, you will get business, but if the parts are hard to find, so are the guns, and therefore the owners.

You would still have to be very much into hunting gear but any kind of parts house that supplies any of the major stuff, Mauser, Savage, Ruger, Remington, AR-15, AK, ect... will make money as we don't have a great one store for all here.

 

[rfurtkamp]

You would still have to be very much into hunting gear but any kind of parts house that supplies any of the major stuff, Mauser, Savage, Ruger, Remington, AR-15, AK, ect... will make money as we don't have a great one store for all here.

The hassle of keeping that level of gun parts on hand isn't worth the sales IME. There's a reason Numrich et al exist- it's becuase unless you're going to specialize in parts, the organization and upfront investment for small-ticket items that are not fast movers is *large*.

If you don't cover every conceivable variation of those brands, you don't have enough parts to be a good parts source, and people will stop coming when you don't have what they need on hand. It puts you back to ordering from the usual suspects, which is fine in 99% of cases, but this stuff isn't like car parts where a relatively small selection of things is useful in hundreds of makes and models.

Ar parts were the only thing that moved in quantity, along with the usual 'scope rings for everything on earth' bulk case with index.

A good repair guy who can fabricate some stuff and is an actual smith is better than a huge investment in parts IMO - you'll make more money as well and offer an invaluable service.

That said, my experience in the SE part of the state is that I wouldn't expect to move in, set up, and be running a business quickly. The locals here take a long, long time to trust you and give you the time of day. CA pedigree just adds to that. I suspect it's very similar up there.

The gun store regulars you want are very cliqueish, if you don't know them and their particular wants, needs, and whatevers it'll be basically impossible to get their favor back later. That entails enough market research, getting known et cetera to not exactly be a fast turnkey operation.

Hiring a local manager with those connections *will* help...but people are going to want to know who the owner is too in a small to midsized area.

Again, ymmv but from what I've witnessed going up north it's not a whole lot different than down here.

 

[Elmer]

Good points, I appreciate it all.

People are cliquish here as well, just kinda human nature I think. I don't have any illusions that I can set up and be the biggest thing since sliced bread in a week, but I think if you treat people right, you can win them over pretty fast. And Californians are fun to hate anywhere, but the reality of it is, there's a whole lot of escapees there already, including quite a few of my friends, and they seem to do just fine. Good people are good people....

 

[longdayjake]

That said, my experience in the SE part of the state is that I wouldn't expect to move in, set up, and be running a business quickly. The locals here take a long, long time to trust you and give you the time of day. CA pedigree just adds to that.

I disagree. Here in Pocatello, most people know enough about guns to recognize when someone is being dishonest. If they don't know enough about it then they don't really care anyway. The first impression that someone gets of your store will probably make or break it. If the first impression that customers get when they come in the door is that you have cheaper guns, nicer staff, and cleaner atmosphere then regardless of how "loyal" they are to their favorite shop they are going to keep coming to you for their toys. As far as moving in, setting up, and running quickly, I think that a new gun store is one of the things that most people would rush to visit the second it opens to compare it to the other crap in town. As long as you can compete you will be successful. Thats how business works. People want good prices, good service, and convenience. Offer those three things and a little advertizing and you will dominate the market. The gun shop owners around here wonder why they lose business to Sportsman's Wharehouse while they sit behind the counter watching people browse their over priced guns and then groan and complain when a customer asks to see a gun. They don't advertise because they have become dependent on the same "loyal" customers. Whereas Sportsman's asks you if there are any guns you would like to see and they don't claim to know everything about their guns but would be more than happy to put a snapcap in for you and let you function them all you want. Their stores are well lit, clean, and fun to be in. Compare that to what most gun stores look and feel like and it is obvious why they lose business to Sportsman's even though they don't barter on prices. Regardless of whether you come from CA or not people will respond to how you run your business and not so much as to where you come from. I think most people would agree. My loyalty is to those that treat and serve me better, not those that were born where I was born. Just because you may be from Idaho doesn't mean you are going to please me more than someone from California.

 

[rfurtkamp]

regardless of how "loyal" they are to their favorite shop they are going to keep coming to you for their toys.

Wasn't my experience in the business there at all, the old boy clique was pretty well impossible to break into.

For every person who claimed that they wanted clean, well-lit stores with knowledgeable staff, etc. there were far more that weren't.

Smoking was a Mormon v. non-Mormon issue here IME - nothing more.

That said, I worked out here for 6 years - you're not the typical local customer.

Sportsmans wouldn't have hired who they did here for management in the gun department if the old boy network wasn't 100% essential.

 

[longdayjake]

Smoking was a Mormon v. non-Mormon issue here IME - nothing more.

Oh, I guess that could be true. I always just saw it as unprofessional. But then again, the mormon population is about 50% here so why would you want to have business practices that alienate 50% of your potential consumer base?

For every person who claimed that they wanted clean, well-lit stores with knowledgeable staff, etc. there were far more that weren't.

Or maybe the more that weren't going to your store were going to other stores or online to purchase their guns? If the gun shops in town were fulfilling the wants of the consumer base here, you would not have people flocking to the new Sportsman's instead.

you're not the typical local customer.

Or maybe I wasn't your typical local customer. I was buying guns, ammo, reloading supplies, parts, etc. My point is if a gun shop targets only one specific type of customer, then that is all that they can expect to continually come back to their store. If you have the facility, the product, and the ability to serve a broader demographic then why in the world would you not do all you could to reach them? I don't care if you are mormon, catholic, fat, skinny, 21, or 85 years old, if you have money to spend on something that I have for sale I am going to do my best to make you happy. I understand that what I like is not really what others may like, but the evidence that the typical local customers were not happy with the "typical" local gun shops is plain and clear when you go to the gun counter at Sportsman's. That said I have only bought one gun at sportsman's and decided never to do it again because they required all kinds of crazy identification on top of my CWL that the local gun shops did not. Atleast they had that going for them.

 

[Dookie]

All good points.
The truth is that starting a new business in a new town will be hard, especially a gun business because so much of that is word of mouth.
As was mentioned, keep it clean, keep is smart, and keep the prices fair.
Repeat business is where the money is, loyal customers who buy a gun a month keeps you going, but walk in newbies have to be impressed in just a couple of looks.
And by all means, if you get to the area go ahead and look us up, we can take you around to show you ALL the gun stores and ranges, like we need an excuse.