New retail store. what to stock?

[trickyasafox]

find a niche.

By me- I frequent 3 gun dealers. 1 guy is THE MAN for glocks. he gets the best pricing, does the most volume, and either has it or can get it in a couple days.

another guy has all things surplus. Crates of hard to find rifles and the ammo to go with them ON the shelf. Nothing to wait for to order.

the other guy is specialty, nothing in stock, but does good pricing and quick turnaround.

if you try to beat established shops at their own game you can get sucked into a pricing war. Try instead, to compliment an unfilled need by the store and build relationships with the other dealers in your area. if you pass on one sale of CAS stuff to a guy who was going to be a special order for you anyway, the dealer you sent him to might send you 3 glock guys.

 

[Crazy Fingers]

Yes, surplus is a great idea. I love to find cheap and interesting guns. $150 Makarovs, CZ-52s, K31s, Mosin-Nagants, Nagant revolvers... all fun stuff.

 

[glock_17_4U]

gun store stock

I shop primarily at a place called fort thompson, which is across the highway from a gander mountain(overpriced) and down the road from a academy sports(no used guns), this is a family buisness, and they only work 10-5 mon-sat, but they do well, they have alot of fancy high dollar guns, and they say on used guns they mark them up 50.00, which I think is fair to both parties.
But what I want to suggest is glocks should be bought used for 300.00-350.00 tops, then you mark them up accordingly, thats been successful for these guys, plus try to keep the blue book handy, so people can see you arent ripping them a new one, gander mountain keeps that book hidden, i have asked alot for them to say oh we cant find it=no sale.I would probably qualify as a poor person, as some1 previously stated you should styock some cheap firearms for, I can tell you hat if you keep your used guns that are lnib under 400.00-500-.00 respectively, that we poor people will buy them, lay-a-way is a must, something like 10% down and 90 days to buy.I think we poor people feel more of a need for guns than rich people because of where we have to live.And its nice to be able to buy some protection made by a name brand company, without breaking the bank.

 

[MikePGS]

I forgot cowboy guns. You need a few SAA guns.

Last night, I had a dream that there was a store that exclusively stocked Single-Action revolvers. It was called something like six-shooters, but in my head i knew it was exclusively single-actions. :Sniffles: it was beautiful...

 

[Seven For Sure]

Your list looks good. Glad to see Kahr's on there. If your store is in Florida, let me know and I'll stop in and buy something.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

Well it depends on your location and what are the bread and butter items in your part of the world. I've pondered this a lot myself as owning my own gun store is a bit of a dream. I think I would try to secure a dealership agreement with Remington first and foremost...carry as much of a variety of their rifle and shotgun line as I could. Then as for handguns I would get with Springfield, whom is a good company with a solid reputation that also offers a good selection (1911's and polymer framed XD's) Would also be interested in stocking their M1A line. Then if possible the third company I would want to do business with is Ruger, again a company with a variety of products that I wouldn't feel bad selling to friend or stranger.
If I could secure those three companies then that would probably handle my opening inventory...on to ammunition. I'd try to stockpile lots of variety in 9mm, 38 spl, .357, and 45acp, as those are the keystones around here. Try to get everything Federal would ship me, same with Remington and Winchester. Try to stock all the common American calibers in at least one choice from Federal.
On to the holsters and gadgets, for initial opening I would try to get Bianchi and DeSantis holsters for my carry gun stock, and a variety of slings from budget to premier for the rifle stock. Would probably try to get either Leupold or Nikon (one or the other) and deal in their scopes exclusively.
I would also get a photo copier in my office area and make my own targets for a very budget price, say 15 cents a piece.

Sorry for the long post, but like I said, I've thought about this some. My ideas are probably mostly suited for my own location, but they're what I could foresee giving a young shop a chance.

 

[oneounceload]

Carry all the guns and gear that your potential customers won't be able to get at walmart/dicki's/gander - style stores

inexpensive guns that fly out the door plus good and best quality that will bring in the hard-core folks

and in this day and age - reloading supplies - primers, powders, bullets, wads, brass, equipment

have gun safety and reloading seminars - even if someone else actually does them, you supply the location.

onsite, in-door pistol range, with instructors if possible

you want to be THE place to go to if someone needs something gun related

 

[shooter429]

It is all about the customer, 1st

Sure bets are quality defensive guns in moderate price ranges, black guns etc. I find that customer service is more important to most people I know than price. Take Cabela's for example. Their prices are high and their service is so-so. After taking a number and standing in line for 2 hours, the thought of going to a smaller more personal store is appealing. Their is a small shop that just opened. Because they treat their customers with respect, dignity and give real advice, I am switching my business to them from the big retailers. I would rather support a small, locally owned business that treats every customer like they matter, than a giant chain that employs ignorant high school kids and literally treats their customers like a number.

Also, to avoid having customer relations problems, don't stock the cheapo, junky guns that are gunna malfuntion Like Hi-Point, Taurus or Rossi, for example.

Shooter429

 

[[email protected]]

Opening right after Thanksgiving

Thanks for all the help. FFL came Monday, gun order in (over 130 total),ammo, cleaning, primers, powder,wads, brass ect. already stocked. Ready to rock.
Thanks Carl

 

[melikesguns]

where is your store going to be?

 

[[email protected]]

Store is in southeastern CT. The Outpost is located on Rt. 32 in Montville. It is in a new retail plaza called Gristmill.
Our first day of operation will be this Sat.,as we recieved the needed state lic. today. A big thanks goes out to the town officials,resident state trooper, and chief of the local pd. With out their support this would not have been possible. A great town to do buissiness in.
Carl

 

[Dogbite]

One case full of Glocks and XD. One case full of Springfield/Kimber/Colt/maybe a few high end 1911's. One total wheel gun case, have Smith/Ruger/Colt etc. Put the concealed carry/defensive stuff on top, and the cowboy and all single actions on the bottom. One case full of Walther/Sig/Cz and plinker 22's. They had one whole case full of different concealed carry small pocket pistols and a few better quality derringers. Put good quality/friendly people behind the counter, not condescending a-holes. Encourage relationship building with the customers, as they will come back and buy guns for years. This was the set up of one of the most successful gun shops i have ever seen. Hope this helps!!

 

[Blarelli]

In addition to the regular glock, xd, 1911's, etc., you should have a good selection of revolvers, and some of the more popular carry models (kahr, kel-tec, etc.). I would also get some of the more inexpensive decent guns, like Stoeger, Bersa, and EAA.

 

[Bubba613]

I was in very much that position 3 years ago.
Everyone has an idea, but few people have experience stocking and running a gun shop.
If you stock what everyone else has, you will be competing on price every time. Don't do it.
Don't give LE discounts. My personal experience is that cops always want something for nothing (preachers are the same way, btw). That will kill your business.
Ruger LCPs and other such goodies are good sellers, but you won't find any around.
You need to stock Smith J-frames, about 3 varieties. A Glock 19,new or used. It is the single most versatile automatic out there. I don't care whether you love Glocks or hate Glocks, the gun works better for more people than anything else.
Find out what's popular and/or approved for backups in your area. It might be Walther PPKs.
Unless you have specific experience with it, don't stock single action revolvers. They will be dead stock. Any cowboy action stuff, ditto. If you have an in with the local club or whatever, fine go ahead.
Same with reloading supplies, unless this is going to be a big store and/or you have lots of expertise with this. Serious reloaders order that stuff off the internet, cutting your price and cheating the state out of sales tax.
Beretta 92s and 96s are terrible sellers in my area. They are easy to pick up used so if you want some PM me for ideas.
Sign up with Auction Arms and Gunbroker as a transfer dealer. Offer a low price (e.g.$25) for transfers. They are a pain in the butt but will draw customers in at first. Later raise the price otherwise you will become the magnet for bargain seekers. And those people will kill your business.
Ruger 10/22s, Maverick by Mossberg shotguns, Ruger Mark II (with some allowance here), Rem 870s in standard types are all big box fare. Let them sell that stuff.
You'll need a good moderate line of holsters. At first I didnt want to carry holsters because you can never have exactly what the customer wants. Then I discovered people are happy with something cheap enough and serviceable. If they are serious, they will order off the internet anyway.
Magazines for 1911s, AKs, ARs, SKS, and Ruger Minis. Also depending on the area, magazines for Hi Points, Jennings, Lorcins etc. The latter are high margin items.
One line of target ammo and a good selection of personal defense ammo. You will never compete with WalMart or on line retailers for the shoot em up stuff, don't even try.
Targets, cleaning kits and supplies, red dot scopes, cheap lights are all pretty good items.

 

[Blakenzy]

1 or two .22LR conversion kits for the more popular autos might be good sellers too.

 

[Timradcliffe345]

Desert Eagles .50 cal

 

[nerfsrule2]

Don"t forget the targets......