Opening a hunting/sporting shop? Have you done this?

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daniel craig

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I live in a "small town" with the only non-grocery store to get anything for hunting is Walmart, which has a crap selection. The next closest store is a farm store 30 minutes away by car.

There a gun shop in town but it doesn't do a lot of business.

I was whimsically day dreaming about buying one of the old abandoned buildings and starting a hunting/outfitter type store. I feel like this is a terrible idea though. Thoughts?
 
"small town

There a gun shop in town but it doesn't do a lot of business

old abandoned buildings

Keep on dreaming brother. Your description of the local market doesn't sound that promising. The internet has killed many brick and mortar stores in vibrant economic areas.

Do a business plan and consider your capital outlay for inventory, rent/mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, and whatever else you will need.
 
Keep on dreaming brother. Your description of the local market doesn't sound that promising. The internet has killed many brick and mortar stores in vibrant economic areas.

Do a business plan and consider your capital outlay for inventory, rent/mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, and whatever else you will need.
Yeah your right about that.
 
What is the trade area. You already have two competitive stores. Can you sell online. If you have a real job or other income and can do it as a hobby maybe. But as Daniel Craig said, there's more to it than selling stuff. I have seen many businesses fail in my professional life. Book keeping is the key to any business.
 
Just like where I live... Wanted to do the same... Thought about it for a year... A young man and his dad beat me to it... And they are doing ok and having fun... Ya snooze ya lose...
 
It's tough to compete with bigger stores and internet sales.

If I were to try I'd get a FFL and buy up some used guns. There is a much higher profit margin selling used than new. I'd advertise cheap transfer fees to get folks in the door. One guy locally does free transfer fees if you buy an hour at his indoor range or if you buy 2 boxes of ammo. I'd concentrate on buying/selling used firearms, or ordering new firearms for customers at 1st. This would have to be a mom-n-pop operation to keep overhead down even if you have somewhat limited hours.

The only small operation I've seen prosper did it this way. They started small. The only workers were a man, his wife, his kids and their spouses. All of them kept their full-time job until they got established but managed to keep the doors open most of the time. If they all had to work, the shop was closed.

They concentrated on sales volume instead of high profit margins on fewer sales. It took a few years, but they have firmly established themselves as one of the better gun shops in the area.
 
I always make sure to check with the "little" local shop first for everything... Cheap transfers are a great idea... I look for that also... And they always have something that others don't have... The new little shop here is the only local retailer of a hand made hunting boot made in Georgia... Expensive but it brings in the crowd that can afford another firearm... And ammo... He's expensive but always has what someone needs in a pinch... People don't mind paying extra for stuff when it's needed right then... IMHO... The hardest part is the begining... Just doing it.
 
You already know, "There a gun shop in town but it doesn't do a lot of business." Do you expect dividing that business in half is a good idea for anyone?
To be fair, the existing shop may do little business due to a myriad of things; poor service, high prices, low or incorrect inventory, poor marketing, difficult access, you name it. All of these things could push potential customers elsewhere. Another shop may do quite well in the area if they play their cards right. If they provide good service , good prices, and good inventory they would likely pull in business. I don't know any details of OP's area, nor have I ever owned a business, so it's hard to say anything with confidence.
 
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Another shop may do quite well in the area if they play their cards right. If they provide good service , good prices, and good inventory they would likely pull in business. I don't know any details of OP's area, nor have I ever owned a business, so it's hard to say anything with confidence.

To be fair, that's true.

But if there is a weakness in a small business plan, it is almost always the ability to provide good prices and a good inventory at the same time. The well known three things vital to a business (that's location, location, location) would make me think very hard about a location that already has a business that "doesn't do a lot of business". I actually feel quite confident saying that.
 
Small towns don't work well with non essentials stores unless you can draw customers from larger areas. If you have a large hunting area close it would be the draw for customers to stop in to pick up something they forgot.
 
Answer these four questions!

Why does the little gun shop not have more business?
Can you compete with Wal-Mart on the the stuff they sell to the average joe hunter?
Can you compete with the farm store on gun prices?
Do you have the passion for helping people with there hobby that you will reduce your time hunting and shooting?
 
I had a store in partnership with my brother for a number of years, large 3000 sq. ft. Hallmark card store in a busy area that also sold chocolates, school and business supplies, gifts, toys, sporting goods, lottery tickets, etc.

While the store was quite profitable, a retail store owns you. No such thing as calling in sick, you're either dead or you're there. Help feels no such compunction, and you wind up working unexpected double shifts when help calls in sick with very little notice. Forget days off. Wife wasn't happy about all the time I spent there, missing our children growing up.

Help also sometimes has sticky fingers which can put a hurt on a small business.

Lots of angst, I went to bed thinking about it, dreamed about it, and woke up thinking about it.

Customers, less said the better. I once had a customer complain to me for an extended period of time because he counted the paperclips in a box of 100 and there were only 99. I told him that's how we get rich, taking one paperclip out of each box. He nodded his head like he believed me.

I don't doubt people have had better experiences than I had, but personally, I could never recommend retail to anyone.
 
I worked n a sporting goods store for 3 years and had to work through hunting season every year while the owners got to go hunting. I’m sure those owners had to work through their fair share of hunting seasons in the past.

Moral of the story is your business is going to hurt your free time. That can apply to any business.

I have a two businesses that i have to actually work at. (Not passive income). I have structured those businesses to impact hunting season as little as possible. I also have a day job and it just happens to work the same way.

Basically, find a new business idea. Some may disagree with this but you don’t want a business related to the things you enjoy in life like hunting. You want a business for the control of your work choices, your money, and your time. Most especially, time. You need to find that business on your own. I’ll tell you what mine are. Lawn care and personal training.

Since I own hunting land now, hunting is more important than ever so I prioritize it before any other leisure time in my life.
 
Basically, find a new business idea. Some may disagree with this but you don’t want a business related to the things you enjoy in life like hunting. You want a business for the control of your work choices, your money, and your time. .

I agree completely. Don't do something you love for the money. It will rob you of the joy of doing what you used to love. Ask any hooker.
 
I live in a pretty large urban area. We have gazillion retail stores all the big names. lots of gun shops a couple that are big with indoor range
Yet, nobody sells any reloading supplies unless you drive 20 miles to a Bass Pro and they have very limited stuff. Lots of hunters and sportsman

Would I open a store that sells reloading supplies and ammo? Heck no, even though there is a probably a better market than where the OP is.

So for the OP who would be your customers??

There is no profit to be made

The Internet rules!
 
Another question to ask yourself:

Are you willing to put $250k into inventory and sit on it, putting every dime back into inventory, waiting 3-5 years to actually/ possibly become profitable.

There is a reason 98% of new businesses fail.

Wish you all the luck, but as someone who has had 4 businesses. Be ready to work 80+ hours a week and have no other life.

Don't try to compete with Wally, stock what they dont. Listen to customers on what they are looking for.
 
I live 20 minutes north of a town with a couple walmarts, academy, dicks, two bait shops, and a few LGS/Pawn shops. There is also a few FFLs out in the countryside. One of which advertises $12 transfers. Has his truck painted up in advertising. And here is the big one, he is a preferred FFL for both Brownells and Midway. Meaning people dont have to even contact him prior to purchasing an FFL controlled item and have it shipped to him. That is a huge incentive for getting those easy $$$ from transfers.

JoeBob Outfitters started small, in Hays, the largest town in the "desert" between the Flint Hills and Denver (400 miles). Now he ships stuff nationwide. He got into it full time about 12-15 years ago.

Down in Toronto, KS, there is a guy who has a bait shop at his residence. Its in a detached garage, and when someone pulls in, he goes in to help em. On Friday and Saturday nights, he and his good natured buddies can be found there drinking beer and BS'ing well after ten o'clock, still open for business. He obviously sells bait n tackle, but also necessities like TP, ice, smokes, snacks, drinks, and camping and fishing baubles. Another place sells all that, and rents movies, sells more food stuffs, and has a small deli/country kitchen. More of a general store really.

Just food for thought i guess. Absolutely get set up to sell hunting and fishing licenses. That brings in business too.

You should talk to outdoorsmen and women in your area. See what they use and would like to see. Specialize in that and add in more generic stuff as time goes on. Basic camping essentials have a nice profit if there is any of that going on. What outdoor activities are also going on? Things like kayaking, hiking, trapping, etc? Depends how much you want to focus on hunting.
 
Back in the old days a buddy an I wanted to open a bait and tackle shop then that morphed into having one out on the water!
Whats the worst thing when out fishing and you run out of BEER, ice or bait??:what:

So the plan was to get a old houseboat type vessel, get a beer and wine license and sell all the needed stuff.
Beer sandwiches, snacks, cigars cigarettes live bait you name it! We could float around to whatever was a popular at the time
Have a dedicated VHF channel daily specials and take orders in advance!

Have a thatched Tiki hut up top and play Hamburger In Paradise and other nautical songs!

Have the young wives in Bikinis lounging around to draw them in!:rofl:
The Wives were not so excited about it!:)
 
You already know, "There a gun shop in town but it doesn't do a lot of business." Do you expect dividing that business in half is a good idea for anyone?
I mean that's why I would sell more than just guns we live next to a body of water and yet there's nobody around that sells things like kayaks or boating gear. Even our local Walmart just sells fishing stuff.
 
I live in a "small town" with the only non-grocery store to get anything for hunting is Walmart, which has a crap selection. The next closest store is a farm store 30 minutes away by car.

There a gun shop in town but it doesn't do a lot of business.

I was whimsically day dreaming about buying one of the old abandoned buildings and starting a hunting/outfitter type store. I feel like this is a terrible idea though. Thoughts?
Lots of good advice her everyone, thanks!
 
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