Well iam taking the plunge

[justsomeguy]

Guys iam putting together a store and i need help with a initial order of stock. I dont have a unlimited check book but lets face it there are essentials every good gun shop should have can you help with this?

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Guys iam putting together a store and i need help with a initial order of stock. I dont have a unlimited check book but lets face it there are essentials every good gun shop should have can you help with this?

The stores that I frequent most all have reloading supplies. The basics is a good place to start. Brass, bullets, primers (popular item), and of course the popular powders (Unique, WIN 296, Bullseye, etc). I use Hornady products but I have to admit that RCBS seems to be the popular out of the bunch. If funds are limited I would stock mostly RCBS, but I would have the ability to get stuff overnight ed that I did not stock and as time progressed I would begin carrying more lines of products. Dillon sure is a popular brand. One thing I will add to that is Lee sure is affordable so I would try to carry their line because they are pretty commonplace as well.

Are you going to deal in buying/ reselling used reloading e.q. such as presses, and brass (guys will bring it in from the range and you can buy it in bulk and resale it).

Guns of course, but are you going to deal in used. That is another thing that brings me in probably more than anything else.

I would consider buying from you. I am excited for you.

[Appliancedude]

Yep, I'm with Jim. I won't go back to a store that doesn't have reloading supplies. No if I'm in a serious gun market I'll go back to check prices. But just to drool, nope. Only if they sell reloading stuff

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

Yep, I'm with Jim. I won't go back to a store that doesn't have reloading supplies. No if I'm in a serious gun market I'll go back to check prices. But just to drool, nope. Only if they sell reloading stuff

One thing that will drive me away from a store (I doubt you will do this because it is something that the big chain liberal stores do) is when they carry only long guns and no handguns. Oh ya, and when I see a cable through all the rifle's and locks on every gun I am out of their for good.

I am assuming you are a REAL gun guy so you will sell it all.

[Double D]

Prepare to spend a pile of cash and never have what you need. Its a tough business.

[justsomeguy]

I will defenitly have used firearms reloading is something i didnt consider much but now is a absolut must thanks.....This is why i posted this.

[justsomeguy]

Do ya think i am better with 70% accessories and 30% firearms or less or more and remember iam talking a just opening after i hope the sky is the limit.

[gvw3]

You need to know what folks want around your area. Around here they shoot a lot of trap and skeet. Handguns are also popular. You need to identify what people in your area want. Good luck...

[ozo]

And not to forget........
basic calibers of ammo........
AND A COUNTER DISPLAY OF ........
SBGO...... !!!!!

http://silverbulletgunoil.net/

A must have.......no worries....

[1969SS396]

Reloading supplies a big plus for me too. Cables through guns suck too, let customers handle guns, I walked out of the local Gander Mountain a while back cause the "manager" didn't like it when I "racked" the action on a nice 870 I had money in my pocket to purchase that day.

I'm a fellow "Michigander" I'd be happy to stop in your store sometime when you get it up and running. Let us know where you're at.

[Double D]

I dont know what to tell you. Its a tough business. I stocked around 50 plus pistols at all times and never had what people were looking for. You have to have hundreds of holsters and a pile of ammo and then theres people looking for reloading equip, scopes, lazers, flashlights, and more. And most people have shopped the internet prices before they come to you. Good luck, I closed my store 4 months ago.

[ozo]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

I will defenitly have used firearms reloading is something i didnt consider much but now is a absolut must thanks.....This is why i posted this.

And you surely must have someone knowledgeable
who can 'cover' the reload area......
not just the 'stuff'.
Doesn't necessarily have to be any expert on ALL
calibers.......but...hmmmmm.

[ozo]

It's a fun and rewarding business.....
a cake-walk into town....
right, Dan ?

[76Highboy]

From what I have seen is the guy that has a lot of cash to throw into a LGS as a business does well provided that either he, or the guy that is behind the counter "Knows" gun values. A guy that does not know gun values can drive a LGS into "Red Tape" real quick if he is the one buying the used guns for the LGS. Then, the little guy who is putting every penny into a LGS who relies on immediate profits to put food on the table seem to fail the most.

That is why for me I would deal in used guns because if you know your values, know your guns, and you can hold your ground as opposed to selling everything low to make a buck you will have a better chance as opposed to just selling new. The LGS are held hostage (if you will) to the surplus demand that is manipulated by the bigger aggressive chain stores, but if you learn to deal honest with both buying and selling then you can make a used/new LGS work because you will always have access to picking up and flipping the new guns. The percentage of used/new guns I don't know. I knew a guy that had 400+ handguns so he decided to open his own LGS (this was around 1988 if I had to guess). So he opens his shop (I never saw it) with new and used guns. He was gone in about a two years and flat broke (this what a gun salesman told me that worked for Intermountain Arms and they went out of business too).

I currently have a friend that runs a very successful gun/pawn shop in Emmett, Idaho. He did very well and then moved to Marsing, Idaho. He got out of there before it tanked him. He went back to Emmett and as far as I know he is doing good again. He is a small guy in the gun world BUT, he always has a sweet used selection and people come to see that.

The morale is this, the guy that had 400+ handguns went out of business because he did not know gun values. Sure he had bought them new over the years, but any gun owner worth his salt in gun values will take a business owner in a gun deal quick. That is why he failed because he did not know values. As for my friend in Emmett, his name is Steve. He will look you in the eye, tell you the FAIR value, deal fairly with you and thank you for your business. He is successful because he knows gun values.


Hope that helps.

[cycloneman]

Your in Detroit and want to open up a gun shop?

[76Highboy]

I believe that one reason Cabela's is so successful is because of things like clothing, etc. There is a 400+% markup on clothing. The profits on the new firearms is minimal compared to other stuff in the store which is why they have the used guns and the gun library. One other thing about the gun library, there are some nice high end high values guns there, but the guys in there are pretty knowledgeable and can stand firm when dealing because they can get burned real quick if they overbuy or undersell a gun. I know because I now have a Ruger 41 magnum that was marked $200.00 too low. When I saw the gun I noticed the price and then asked to look at it. Once I had it and they saw the price they took the gun from me but another salesman said "No," they had to honor the price. So I got it dirt cheap. The gun is like brand new. Weeks later the salesman admitted that the gun was mis-marked. Cabela's can absorb mistakes like that but it is hard on smaller LGS. I didn't feel too sorry for Cabela's.

[TCoggins]

I don't have any opinions on what to stock, but as 1969SS396 mentioned, keep us posted on your progress. I am in Traverse City, MI, but make it to the Detroit area a couple times per year (Wings and Tigers). I would love to stop in and buy something else I just can't live without.

Best of luck to you (although we all know, the harder we work, the luckier we get).

Tim

[WHSmithIV]

Just a note: it will be helpful for you to have a room in the back set up with basic tools of gunsmithing. Workbench, vises, proper screwdrivers, pin setters etc. Get guides for drilling holes for scope mounts and taps. Also guides for drilling holes for sling swivels. You may very well find that being a quality gunsmith in the area may keep your place alive when sales are lower.

[68c15]

how about asking around at the ranges what guy would want? this would be best for your particular market. most gun guys drool at the thought of a new LGS in the area. while at the range observe what people are shooting and how. guys plinking with .22s, others with AR rifles throwing brass like there's no tomorrow, others bench rest shooting, or hunters sighting in large centerfires... you get the idea.

[Jerryboy]

if things were like they were before the 1934 NFA i would open up my own little gun shop. no stupid 4473 forms; you walk into my shop, give me money, i give you the gun, and you walk out, simple as buying a candy bar.

[goofy]

Originally Posted by ozo

It's a fun and rewarding business.....
a cake-walk into town....
right, Dan ?

Yea sure
Be prepared for ATF,Stupid questions,And lookers who just need a place to hang out and wast your time
As for doing gunsmithing get trained first.A bad job can cost you.
Scope mounting on some guns IS NOT EASY!!!even tho some people think scope mounting is a breeze it can be a bummer on older guns.
Keep your books rock solid.
Check the other gun shops in your area to see what they stock if they have been around for a while they know what sells in your area.
Be prepared to loose money for a couple of years or intill your name gets out.
Advertise and get your name out there. This can be tough especially if you are starting in a area that has other gun stores.
Mike

[Double D]

There are people selling guns online for less than I can buy them for. I got to the point that my profits were down to 15.00 or less per gun in order to be competitive. How many guns do you have to sell to make 100.00? Too many. How much cash do you tie up to make that 100.00? Too much. People say, get loading supplys, get clothing, get gunsmithing tools, get archery, and I agree...but the costs are enormous. And there is so much of everything to choose from, where do you start. You may stock all you can afford and it wont be what people are looking for. Thats why I say, I hope you have deep pockets.

[JohnHenry]

Where, in Detroit, are you going to be locating ? The market varies with the location .
Stop at the gun clubs in the area and introduce yourself .... see if they will allow you to
post some advertising.

Best of luck with the new venture .... I'm between Brighton and Howell.

[WHSmithIV]

Definitely be prepared to lose money for a while. I invested every penny I had when I opened my first computer repair business. After 12 months I was starting to show some profit but my first year showed a net loss. When I closed my company because my wife wanted us to move to the mountains my start-up costs here were much less because I didn't have the initial investment to do again for tools, some of the furniture and some of the basic spare parts. I moved them with us. Even so, this first year here is going to show a net loss. For one thing I have a lower population base around me which equals fewer potential customers by a whopping 60%. I have lower costs also though which balances that out to some degree.

[Blackshirts]

Is it possible to have an indoor range at your location? That will get people in the door.