Whitebridges Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Good luck with your new venture. Try good quality game bags, gunslips and wellies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigpigeonshooter Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Cheap cartridges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babs2020 Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 website to sell all your stock online as well bigger market out there on the web offer discount to pw members Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bull Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 The cheapest cartridges you can get your hands on and some then some other more expensive options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 a decent online website, good cartridge prices, not a huge profit margin but a huge draw to get people into your shop another big draw would be country & hunting clothing in mens sizes.. its suprising how many of us are porkers and cant fit into the little boys sizes a lot of shops sell for me the best draw would be a shop that catered for left handed shooters not treating them like outcasts.. i know lefties only account for 10% or so of the population so carrying a big stock would be financially restrictive due to the turnover compared to right handed items but it is next to impossible where i live to walk into a country / gun shop and find suitable guns, clothing & accesories. somewhere that catered for left handers would be a draw for me and one i would travel considerably further for and i know if i walked into such a shop id end up trying things and buying them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Cartridge pricelist on the wall... a simple but effective idea and of virtually no expence to a shop owner... ive yet to see this in any shop ive gone in but it would be very helpfull in making choices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan68 Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Thanks. And without wanting to start a furore, any ammo recommendations? Personally I use Hornady for 17, and either Federal or if I'm feeling a bit posh, Sako get some norma ammo in. lots of people in my area wont touch federal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Weldone on opening up your shop I hope it all goes well, one thing I always thought would be good was if country shops sold fishing tackle ot means people aren't running to different stores all the time i always thought it would be good for the shop as well you shoild get in touch with your local river club or trout fisheries and organise something where you could sell day ticket for them? It's just an idea killing two birds with one stone. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Weldone on opening up your shop I hope it all goes well, one thing I always thought would be good was if country shops sold fishing tackle ot means people aren't running to different stores all the time i always thought it would be good for the shop as well you shoild get in touch with your local river club or trout fisheries and organise something where you could sell day ticket for them? It's just an idea killing two birds with one stone. Good luck A bale and son in Cardiff do this tbh these days are more of a fishing shop that sells guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 a decent online website, good cartridge prices, not a huge profit margin but a huge draw to get people into your shop Agreed, a new gun shop opened near here recently but doesn't appear to have done any research, their cartridges are considerably more expensive than the agricultural merchants just a few miles away. I'd much rather buy from a gun shop and know the prices before I made the journey. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillips321 Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 One bit of advice. Price consumables he same way tesco does for milk and bread.Ammo should be cheap, don't plan to make money on it, all it does is get people through the door. Once they're in the shop they pick other bits up and that's where you make the money. People always need ammo, just like they always need milk and bread. And when someone comes in for a look around, say hello (they already know to ask for your help should they need it) but leave them to look around peacefully without rushing them. Thats how sales are made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckman91 Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Cartridge pricelist on the wall... +1 that is a brilliant idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 One bit of advice. Price consumables he same way tesco does for milk and bread. Ammo should be cheap, don't plan to make money on it, all it does is get people through the door. Once they're in the shop they pick other bits up and that's where you make the money. People always need ammo, just like they always need milk and bread. And when someone comes in for a look around, say hello (they already know to ask for your help should they need it) but leave them to look around peacefully without rushing them. Thats how sales are made. Very good post !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 a simple but effective idea and of virtually no expence to a shop owner... ive yet to see this in any shop ive gone in but it would be very helpfull in making choices So frustrating not to know the prices. Any other shop they display prices. Can't be that hard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Weldone on opening up your shop I hope it all goes well, one thing I always thought would be good was if country shops sold fishing tackle ot means people aren't running to different stores all the time i always thought it would be good for the shop as well you shoild get in touch with your local river club or trout fisheries and organise something where you could sell day ticket for them? It's just an idea killing two birds with one stone. Good luck Second that! Fly fishing and shooting for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 A dealer told me regulations stopped him putting a price list in view for ammo, he had his round a corner out of free public view..... is this true? I like wee nik naks, knive sharpener, flasks, ear defenders, socks, face veils, camo gear. A good price is very important. Have a loss leader to get the punters in. Theboffer of a cuppa and chat is good. Maybe a notice board for shooting wanted, offered etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Lived in Leighton for over 20 years myself, there used to be a decent gunshop there ( Tom Lindars) but he closed in the early 80s. Good luck with the venture. As a new business I would think cash is likely to be tight and you dont want it sitting in unsold stock. Clothing is what sells steadily and margins are pretty decent, try and avoid brands that are heavily discounted on line. Try to do a deal with your suppliers to return any unsold products after a given period, its not in their interest either to have your shop stuffed with slow moving items. As far as I am aware the nearest decent gunshops to you are Bletchley and Markyate so you should be able to access whatever brands you like. The area is pretty wealthy so stocking higher quality products as well as a budget brand should cover both ends of the market. The very best of luck. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acsimmo Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) Good luck on the new venture. One thing I always struggle finding is decent clothing for the kids. I would love to get my 9 year old a nice clay vest but can't find one at a decent price. Also you could get the female shooters in with pink vests/ear defenders etc. all the best And a free coffee machine - keeps me in a shop for longer. Edited June 29, 2014 by acsimmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustFieldsports Posted June 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks for all the feedback guys; fabulously helpful. Happy to say that I had already adopted a great deal of your idea, and plan to adopt lots more. And a free coffee machine Yep, that would be me! Completely agree about the loss - leader (although going more for a break-even leader) and quite rightly that will be the pellets, cartridges and section 1 ammunition. As was pointed out, this is the bread and milk of our sport. Please do keep the ideas and suggestions coming. PS Obviously there is a discount for all PigeonWatch members ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 PS Obviously there is a discount for all PigeonWatch members ;-) 50%? only joking, once again good luck with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingo15 Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Cartridge pricelist on the wall... An up to date one at that. Good luck in your business. Ill Google your address as you cant beat businesses that offer free drinks haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Well done and good luck with your venture. If you do not already know, I feel sure you will quickly find out, the problems with selling clothing. One company will have large at say 40" chest, that will be a medium by a different manufacturer. I did have an account with Musto, when I was connected with a shooting ground. Their clothing was always listed by chest size, 40" 42" 44" etc. etc. Then they changed things and started sizings in S,M,L,XL etc. The only way to buy clothing is to try it. Be prepared to have to order and re order to get the correct sizings. I recently bought the Musto brogues, I take a size 8 shoe, I ended up with a Musto 9 1/2. I have NEVER worn a 9 1/2 shoe. The Clay shooting waterproof jacket, again by Musto, is an XL, which is actually a 42" chest. Problem is returning wrong sizings is at your expense, or it sits on your shelf until it ends up on Ebay for sale at cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustFieldsports Posted June 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Well done and good luck with your venture. If you do not already know, I feel sure you will quickly find out, the problems with selling clothing. One company will have large at say 40" chest, that will be a medium by a different manufacturer. I did have an account with Musto, when I was connected with a shooting ground. Their clothing was always listed by chest size, 40" 42" 44" etc. etc. Then they changed things and started sizings in S,M,L,XL etc. The only way to buy clothing is to try it. Be prepared to have to order and re order to get the correct sizings. I recently bought the Musto brogues, I take a size 8 shoe, I ended up with a Musto 9 1/2. I have NEVER worn a 9 1/2 shoe. The Clay shooting waterproof jacket, again by Musto, is an XL, which is actually a 42" chest. Problem is returning wrong sizings is at your expense, or it sits on your shelf until it ends up on Ebay for sale at cost. Helpful info. Many thanks. Did you find that sizing was consistent across a brand of did it even vary by product? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustFieldsports Posted June 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Ill Google your address as you cant beat businesses that offer free drinks haha Good stuff. You're not a million miles away - Used to live in Bozeat for many many years! Bit further than that now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingo15 Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Good stuff. You're not a million miles away - Used to live in Bozeat for many many years! Bit further than that now though! No it well. You didnt happen to have a major gun room in your house in bozeat did you? Only reason I ask as one of dads old customers used to have one? Liked your facebook page for you aswell ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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