What would your ideal gun store be!

[RustyShackelford]

trained staff, clean, secured firearms

All the best to your efforts to get an FFL and set up a new gun shop/range.

Here are some important points to think about;

1 Train your staff and hire employees who understand guns, ammo, holsters, etc. I've been in many sporting goods/gun stores where I knew more than the sales clerks, . The staff should understand basic state/local firearm laws and be able to answer simple questions.

2 Keep your property clean. I hate rental ranges that are dirty, firearms that have not been clean since Jimmy Carter was President and have no air/vent systems. A proper range should have fans/AC/vents and buckets/cans for paper/spent brass.

3 Be able to secure your products and weapons in off hours. In my area, several smash and grab thefts have occured at gun shops. Gangs steal a car then bust into the store to grab as many guns as possible. Some stores secure the handguns at night or in off hours. This is a good idea.

Rusty

 

[Geronimo45]

A store with a firing range - and a large variety of firearms, especially cheaper ones. If you let people shoot CZ, Taurus, and Bersa, and other CCW guns, they're getting a chance to see if those cheap guns are really any good. They find out they like 'em, and they'll get 'em (which means you get more business). A lot of ranges I've seen keep a stash of more popular weapons - 1911s, Berettas, Sigs. The cheaper the gun, the more likely it is that a prospective customer will be able to buy it.
Be willing to do FFL transfers, and make sure your customers know that you'll be happy to find them guns you don't have in stock, and especially magazines.

 

[STAGE 2]

1) decent prices

2) people that actually know something about guns or have the ability to say "I don't know let me check"

3) good selection (that means more than every make of glock and XD)

4) stock a couple boxes of wierd calibers

5) no commandos, spec-ops, ex-cia in laos or anyone else that is a legend in their own mind

 

[Manedwolf]

Free coffee is always a good idea. If I had a gun shop that had an area to sit a spell and BS with others I'd most likely drop in more often and get what I need.

Qualify that. Free coffee, fresh, good quality, in an airpot.

Not a 1978 flowered Mr. Coffee with a glass carafe that's never been cleaned, with rancid-with-old-oils coffee that's been in there all day.

And the BSing people are actually a turnoff for me. I walk in, I feel like I just barged into someone's living room, and quickly feel uncomfortable and leave.

 

[junyo]

It would cost a small fortune, but having a really well stocked try it area would be a huge draw for a lot of people. A lot of the "this is what you need" lectures that happen at gunshops come from the fact that you're expected to make a fairly large purchase without trying the product first. I get to test drive a car before I buy; no reason to not have a well rounded selection of classic and current guns for people to try and compare. And not beat to heck range guns.

I like Manedwolf's idea of a clean, modern, store. Too many gun stores seem to wallow in this nostalgic, forced, old fashioned-ness. I'm a Internet era buyer, if you're not going to help me by letting me experiance the gun, then at least don't draw out the purchasing experiance any more than you have to. Also +1 on making sure all the people behind the counter are knowledgable; or at least train them to not just shoot off at the mouth if they don't know. The correct answer is, "I'm not sure, but I can try and find out for you."

And personally I could care less about hunting/fishing/outdoor gear. A lot of gunstores seem ashamed to be in the gun business, so they're "outfitters" or "sporting goods", or whatever. I'd think there'd be a niche that can be staked out when you're the best genuine "gun shop" in town. Be the guy who either has it or can get it and people like me, who are willing to pay for reduced hassle will constantly be in your shop.

 

[Axman]

Everyone keeps mentioning ranges, did you read the OP?

Leave ranges out, because if we were to go through with this, we plan on shooting for an area near the new Clark County shooting park.

 

[PCGS65]

I think service would be #1 to me. Knowledgeable people that will sell me a gun I want and not what they want to get rid of. People that leave me alone till I ask for assistance. As well as good variety or availability of firearms/ammo and accessories.

 

[joab]

The most successful gun store in Florida (that I know of) is located in Orlando. They chose a fairly good location, built a large store with good lighting and tasteful decoration (as well as dozens of mounted game animals), an indoor range for pistol and rifle (and full auto) with rentals, and then stocked it with a large selection of firearms, and a large staff of decently knowledgeable salespeople. Beyond a doubt it's the best store I've ever seen.

Now if they would just get a decent gunsmith in there that could mount a scope in less than 4 months and turn the AC on in the range

 

[.45FMJoe]

The most successful gun store in Florida (that I know of) is located in Orlando. They chose a fairly good location, built a large store with good lighting and tasteful decoration (as well as dozens of mounted game animals), an indoor range for pistol and rifle (and full auto) with rentals, and then stocked it with a large selection of firearms, and a large staff of decently knowledgeable salespeople. Beyond a doubt it's the best store I've ever seen.

What store? I enjoy the ocassional drive to Orlando and will actually be there this weekend. I'd love to see this store!

 

[joab]

What store?

ShootStraight Apopka, where the range double as a sauna, is the one Im thinking of

 

[ctdonath]

I keep thinking (albeit unlikely) of opening a Glock-only storefront. Every kind of Glock handgun in production, every kind ever made (used if need be), every part, every option, right down to marine cups and entrenching tools. Since I'm near Smyrna GA (home of Glock headquarters), it seems to make sense. Want to have a shop that is the DEFINITIVE store for that brand - and you can peruse & fondle the merchandise.

Guess it would be nice to see such a brand-complete store in close proximity to any major brand's headquarters.

 

[.45FMJoe]

ShootStraight Apopka, where the range double as a sauna, is the one Im thinking of

Oh. That jackass is at every Tampa gun show on his Segway thingy. He always has the guns marked at retail and when you ask for a real price they still try to screw you. My co-worker wanted an AR-15 so I was looking at the Bushmaster M4. The kid tells me oh I can do, IIRC, $1150. I laughed, put the rifle down and wakled back over to Gun Country's table where he had the same rifle marked for $9something ($960 maybe). I don't remember exactly what it was. But he ended up buying it from Ira at Gun Country. If that's how he wants to run his business, all shady-like just because he is always the largest vendor, then more power to him. I'll take my money elsewhere, and I have...I've bought 4 guns from Gun Country in the past year at the shows.

 

[phantomak47]

Come to Houston and open a gunshop, with 8 million people around here, there isnt a decent deal in the whole town.

I could buy guns CHEAPER in Massachusetts than Houston, what is that telling you?????

 

[Nightcrawler]

FBMG

 

[SolaScriptura139]

What would your ideal gun store be?

One that gives out 2 for 1 sales!

 

[redneck2]

Problem with opening a storefront today is the incredible overhead vs someone buying off the internet. If you do tranfers for $15, you'd better do a lot because you're not gonna sell your inventory. Remember, you're buying one at a time and selling against Wal-Mart, Cabell's, etc. that get huge volume discounts. They sell stuff cheaper than you can buy it.....then you get guys that complain because you're too high priced.

Most of the ideas so far just increase your overhead and don't make the cash register ring. Things like having a coffee pot draw a lot of guys that want to BS, take up space, and not spend any money.

While you may want to get opinions from customers, I'd STRONGLY suggest getting ideas from existing dealers. I have a good friend that owns and runs a shop. If he had to depend on guns, he'd starve. He works maybe 80 hours a week and makes considerably less than I do in 40.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have been in a bunch of gun stores in my life, but only a couple of them truly exemplify quality. Too often, the customer at the average gun store is seen as either a nuisance or a "mark".

The two that stand out were Steck & Sons between Radcliff and Elizabeth Town, KY and a small store that was on McCombs road in El Paso, TX. Both made you feel at home when you walked in, and the owners and staff were truly friendly and helpful. This was especially important in Kentucky, when this young soldier was away from home, and finding himself in a new environment that seemed pretty strange. Both stores had a good selection of just the right stuff, didn't try to sell you something you didn't want or need, didn't pass judgment on your choices, and didn't try to impress you with their endless supply of shaggy stories. Both had fairly decent prices, at least you didn't leave feeling like you had been ripped off.

If I could find a store with all those qualities I would patronize it exclusively.

 

[Manedwolf]

I keep thinking (albeit unlikely) of opening a Glock-only storefront. Every kind of Glock handgun in production, every kind ever made (used if need be), every part, every option, right down to marine cups and entrenching tools.

And an official Glock branded set of...

*flees*

 

[Waitone]

Subject was discussed here http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=74789&highlight=soup+sandwich

My advice is to design a store around the expectations of women. Clean restrooms. Well lit facilities, clean smelling, potted plants, female stuff on the walls and surfaces. Clean, well-groomed employees. A big ol' store dog is advisable as is a cat that owes the place. It is a fact of nature that the female of the species is the primary cause of civilization. Samuel Colt did not settle the west. Women are responsible.

If you want a good go-by for comparison between other sports and current state of the art gunshops, camp out in a golf store. Yeah, they sell clubs but they also everything else the golfer will need. Unless I miss my guess, margins on clubs are lower than on the logo shirts and hats.

The advice to go to school is sound. My suggestion is to get a good academic background in retail management as will spending time wandering around golf shops.

 

[snewbie]

Definatly sell mil-surp stuff. Have an internet business as well and charge the same price.
Have friendly, knowledgeble staff that tolerate people who dont know much/as much about guns and take pleasure in educating people(Ive stopped shopping in many stores over this).
Arrange all of your ammo by caliber, not manufacterer(the reason I dont shop at sportsman's wharehouse).
Charge a fair price on guns and ammo(obviously, but sportsmans wharehouse is more expensive than my local shop).
Have some parts and accessories.
Have a good selection of holsters and cleaning supplies and allow people to try holsters where possible.

J and G sales in Prescott, Az is an example of a really good gun shop.

 

[OEF_VET]

Good one, Manedwolf. lol

<covers Manedwolf as he runs>

 

[Seancass]

i'll add/repeat some stuff.

well lit, clean, visible price tags on everything, its really anoying to have to ask. i like the idea of refreshments, some kind of food would be good that wont be greasy when they touch the guns.

i went into a gun store for the first time this summer in a town near me. wasnt too well lit, which detered me, wasnt easy to find as the sign was small and it wasnt obvious which building it pointed to, this also detered me. went inside and there was a wall of long guns and a counter of hand guns. a small selection compared to the big chains, but nice. The gentileman behind the counter was cheery looking, the first good sign of the experience. Then i saw the young lady behind the counter. yowsa, she was a cutey. i bought a shotgun. and she's now a friend that i hang out with weekly or so. also, the prices on guns where good, ammo was expensive compared to walmart but average for gun stores. I later found out the service/repair guy was so slow its almost kept me from going back, but i liked the place enough that i will atleast continue to shop there.

basically what i meant to say is its all about the people.