Opening a new gun shop Feedback appreciated.

[unclejumbo]

OK, as many of you know I have my FFL and I sell online. One of my fellow Troopers and long time friend is retiring in January. His dream, like mine has been to have a brick and mortar gun store. We're full of ideas and plans but reality (financial) is always a downer.

We have an opportunity to get a turn-key gun shop. It's small but has regular clientele. No real estate investment, being a lease. One of the issues is that the current owner has alienated some customers in the past. If you've been burned by a local gun store, will you go back if you know it has new owners?

How far will you travel for realistically priced guns or just to "see what they have"?

Besides guns and ammo, what do you want to see in your local gun store?

We'd love to be able to become the next Trop's or Grice's but can only do that by slowly building it. There's no way financially we can be a big player out of the gate.

I'd like to hear as many opinions as possible just to get some ideas to help make this thing successful.

[ShooterInPA1]

I had a bad experience with a LGS and have never been back nor have I thought of looking back. Cabela's for me every time.

[ungawa]

Yes, I'd give it a shot.

The question is, how many people would know about the new ownership?

[unclejumbo]

Yes, I'd give it a shot.

The question is, how many people would know about the new ownership?

We'd definitely get the word out in the local paper. We're also planning on a website (his wife's field of endeavor) as well as whatever other creative marketing ideas we can come up with. We want to maintain a presence on Gunbroker to move stale merchandise.

[comsubin61]

Yes I would go back to a shop if they had new owners. Sometimes things don't change but one never knows unless he gives a try.

Things that most gun shops don't have are accessories. Things like glock trigger packages, sights, springs, other gun parts. I said glock but I would include others as well, at least the ones most popular.

Rifle accessories,we all know that those Ar15 are not well made and they need to be upgraded and accessorized. ;-)

A couple lines of holsters, some low level but also high end holsters.

Lots of mags.

Ammo is also big, not just target ammo, but specialty ammo also, of all calibers.

A nice selection of knifes. possibly not the usual made in china stuff.

Novelties like stickers, t-shirts, hats, mugs, etc.

I know it takes a lot of money to do all that, but you asked.

I had a scuba shop in the past, and the previous owner once told me that if I wanted to be a millionaire, I just needed to open a scuba shop with 2 million dollars and soon enough I'll have my million. Gun shop are not much different.

[Gunsnwater]

I went from reading area to slaghtinton to check out afboyers, but I had read some good stuff here. Still haven't made trip to Ed's in tamaquwa but made it to sarco and shidas. Where are you thinking about? Forgive the errors on place names please.

[unclejumbo]

Yes I would go back to a shop if they had new owners. Sometimes things don't change but one never knows unless he gives a try.

Things that most gun shops don't have are accessories. Things like glock trigger packages, sights, springs, other gun parts. I said glock but I would include others as well, at least the ones most popular.

Rifle accessories,we all know that those Ar15 are not well made and they need to be upgraded and accessorized. ;-)

A couple lines of holsters, some low level but also high end holsters.

Lots of mags.

Ammo is also big, not just target ammo, but specialty ammo also, of all calibers.

A nice selection of knifes. possibly not the usual made in china stuff.

Novelties like stickers, t-shirts, hats, mugs, etc.

I know it takes a lot of money to do all that, but you asked.

I had a scuba shop in the past, and the previous owner once told me that if I wanted to be a millionaire, I just needed to open a scuba shop with 2 million dollars and soon enough I'll have my million. Gun shop are not much different.

I hear you. An area where I think a shop like ours can compete with the big boys is the unusual. We can't buy 10000 units of a blister packed knife and compete but we have a hook-up with some custom builders of muzzle loaders and accessories that includes blades. I'm also thinking that some collectible vintage firearms might go well. It's one thing to buy a NIB gun off the internet, it's something else when it's an antique.

[Breadman03]

I like to have a good selection of a variety of stuff. My favorite LGS has a few of most types of firearms, a good selection of powders, a decent selection of reloading components (aka, typically has 9mm, 38, 7mm and a few others in stock, with more only an order away), and an onsite gunsmith.

A good LGS must have a good attitude.

If I was you, I would take over operations silently and work all of the kinks out for a few weeks to months, then start pushing out the news aggressively.

[thefirstndsecond]

Let the word get out under new management and explain the policies when you deal with people in the store. Word will get out if you are good.

[streaker69]

Suggestion, wear your jack boots every day. But hey, if you do open it, I'll make sure to stop up and give you a critique.