Author Topic: Gun shop!  (Read 1021 times)

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Offline tbull55

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Gun shop!
« on: January 15, 2005, 11:14:16 AM »
My town is in need of a good gun shop!!! We need a place that has plenty of guns on hand to hold and look at. I also believe that we need a complete stock of holsters, accessories, ammo, knives, lights, and a big selection of concealed carry items (shirts, vests, holsters, handbags, etc.....) for people to look at and try on. I think the shop would have to stay competitve with internet prices, by competitive I mean 10-20 dollars more or right even. Most people would rather go to a local shop and buy a gun for the same price they could order one online. By the time you order a gun online you have to pay shipping and you have to pay the FFL who you have the gun sent to, you have paid at least as much if not more than you could get it at the shop I'm talking about. I think this shop should offer a wide selection of reloading supplies. I also think that the most important part would be having a freindly and helpful staff. We have a shop that is kind of like this about 30 minutes away but they barely have any concealed carry items. They are always full of people buying guns. Many of the shops around my area are not near as busy as these guys. They do stay very competative with the internet. I think people would seek out a shop like I am talking about. A good size appliance building is going to be up for rent in the near future, a perfect location!! I was wondering what you guys thought a great gun shop should have. I was also wondering how in the heck to even get started opening this kind of shop. How do you contact the gun manufactureres about these things, what does it take to get hooked up with the local police dept. for thier trade ins. I believe this is a great idea, I also believe it is a lot of hard work. If anyone can help me please ltet me know!!

I am going to post this in a couple of other places.

Thanks, Tbull55
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Offline Catfish

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Gun shop!
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2005, 12:57:26 PM »
What you need to do is start going to afew gun shows. No chance of memorizeing all the inventory because there always different. Went to a gun show today, traded 2 Contender barrels that I didn`t want for 2 that I did, It did cost me $ 10 to get the tradeing done. I also picked up 2 Leupold Vari Xlll`s for alittle over the price of 1. I hit alot of gun shops over a pretty wide area, but goun shows are where it`s really at if you like to shop.

Offline Dusty Miller

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Gun shop!
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2005, 01:42:57 PM »
Don't even consider opening a gun shop if you don't have business experience.  Fifty per cent of all small businesses fail in the first year.  It sounds to me like you'd have formidable competition just thirty minutes away.
When seconds mean life or death, the police are only minutes away!

Offline raynor

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Gun shop!
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2005, 03:21:06 PM »
Thing to do is get in touch with Davis Custom Firearms, they have a link on the web. Just can't remember what it is.

Buy their FFL kit, which includes an FFL application and all the help you need to make sure it's filled out right. With the kit you also get a list of 100's of the biggest firearms wholesalers in the USA.

Think the kit was around $20 when I bought it.

Don't think it's a quick process, took better than 6 months for me to get my FFL.  That's from the time it was sent in until I received it.

If it's something your really interested in, that would be something you might want to get started.

Offline redneckd1

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Gun shop!
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2005, 06:06:49 AM »
You can get the FFL application without having to buy a "kit", I don't remember where I got mine, but it was way before the internet, so I'm sure you can find out where to pick one up easily. Once you get an approved FFL, the dealers will send you tons of catalogs, since they want to sell you stuff.
Where do you live in FL, I'm in a similar situation here in Fort Walton, we have Wal-Mart, Several pawn shop/gun shops, but not a 'real' Mom and Pop run, not trying to price gouge, actually know something about guns and will tell you for free, kinda place.
Anyway, good luck!!
Cheers,
R

I'm not broken, but you can see the cracks :eek:

Offline cnTndr85

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Gun shop!
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2005, 10:42:48 AM »
Just contact yor local ATF office and ask the to send you ATF Form 7, Application for License.
Mark
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Offline Lawdog

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Gun shop!
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2005, 11:58:49 AM »
tbull55,

Getting a FFL isn't the problem.  Starting the store isn't either, all it takes is some money.  The real problem is going to be trying to compete with the large retail outlets price wise.  More Mom/Pop Sporting Goods stores have went out of business due to Wal-Mart, Cabela's, etc., than any other reason.  They can sell their products cheaper than you can buy them.  Lawdog
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Gary aka Lawdog is now deceased. He passed away on Jan. 12, 2006. RIP Lawdog. We miss you.

Offline mr.frosty

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Gun shop!
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2005, 01:48:52 PM »
The more I see this post it makes me want to do the same thing.
Theres gun shops around here but the closest one is about 15 to 20 miles out which aint bad. Just wanted to say go for it and all the luck to ya!
" People should say what they mean and mean what they say. Life is too short to be lead down the wrong path."

Offline Special Ed

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Gun shop!
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2005, 01:00:55 AM »
Lawdog's got it right.
I used to have a license. People want cheap guns, period. Anything similar to a Rem 870 express (just an example) can be bought at the box stores for less than your cost. Shipping is the next killer, 2nd day air for handguns, ordering 1 or 2 guns will kill your profit margin.
It's all about quantity, sadly the little guy has a very difficult time competing.

Offline tbull55

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Gun shop!
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2005, 01:20:38 AM »
Thank you, everyone!
I appreciate everyones information!  I certainly do have a lot more research.   You all have given me plenty to think about and look at.

Tbull55
Duct Tape is like the force!
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And it holds the universe together!
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Offline rockbilly

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Gun shop!
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2005, 07:29:21 AM »
I looked into this a while back.  It's a lot diffrent today than just two years ago.  Now you must have a "Store Front" operation, no more "home business".  The cost of a place to operate coupled with the cost for upgrade to ensure security, cost of insurance and stock will require a rather large initial investment.

Just something else to think about :D

Offline ktw

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Gun shop!
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2005, 08:20:37 AM »
Quote from: Lawdog
tbull55,

The real problem is going to be trying to compete with the large retail outlets price wise.  More Mom/Pop Sporting Goods stores have went out of business due to Wal-Mart, Cabela's, etc., than any other reason.  They can sell their products cheaper than you can buy them.  Lawdog
 :D


So don't compete with the big box stores on low end new guns.  Take them on where they are weak: used and high-end firearms, reloading supplies, indoor range, etc.

Offline 30.06 abolt

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Gun shop!
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2005, 04:40:11 AM »
I am with KTW on this, if you give them something else that the others can't you will do real well. In Sioux Falls, SD we have Scheels, Sportsmans Warehouse and Gary Guns. Gary's has an indoor range and there aren't that to many times that you go in there and the range is empty. You need to get people in the door with something. If you have indoor leagues chances are good that before they leave they will buy ammo or componets. I had my FFL for a while and Lawdog is correct, I bought a Mossberg 500 cheaper at Wal-mart then my cost as a FFL dealer. Some wholesalers will give a discount if you order 20-25 guns at a time. Hope this helps.