Has anyone started a traditional Shop at your home? What was it and how did it go? I would really enjoy it, but not sure what it be like to get started. There is just very little as far as shops that even understand traditional equipment where I live. I even thought about finding a small shop in the area and see if they would start stocking equipment, and offer some knowledge to help them out. I'm no expert buy any means, but I sure know more than any of the shops I go to. The closest Traditional shop from me is about three hours away.
sure would be nice as even we don't have a trad shop around here anywhere . almost everything we have here is for new archery so it's either make it or order it .
.
even a small shop would be nice . anywhere
jus my 2 cents.
Scott
well i hope you have the shoppers to justifie the product overhead.the only one i know of around here is three rivers,and its like 4 hrs away.i always wanted a shop of my own and im not wanting the overhead right now.the shop here in town can order everything i need next day and what i dont need right away 3 rivers gets a call.i live by cinncinati and would love to find a shop close that was trad friendly,i just dont have alot of trad shooters around here to justifie my own shop,my mother passed in augest and told me before she left us that she took out a larger insurance policy for me to start a shop,gonna hold out for a little bit till i see what the economy is gonna do....good luck to you wish you all the luck
I think you would really have to offer something special. A small shop that also does mail order at low prices might do alright. An indoor shooting range, even if it's just one target in the back of your garage or pole barn might help draw in a small traditional only league or something. Just depends on the size of your town and how much business you think you can pull in.
We had one bout an hour from here but it must have folded because I can't reach him anymore. He was a real nice guy to. I have a good friend who had a compound shop in his house and he said he did not make much money doing it but he liked it. The fella below me reminded me I should say that both of the shops mentioned above where supplemental income.
Brock at Bull Mountain Archery has a successful home shop. I get all my archery stuff from him as do a bunch of other folks around here. I think you need to ponder how many customers you will have and how you will bring more to your shop. I don't think your going to make a living at it. I think it will be supplemental income.
From what I've seen and researched , about 10 to 12 percent of archers shoot traditional equipment...I have a very small trad shop (with a store front) here in CO. It's a tough market here but is probably better back east. Definitely not a get rich quick business...to be honest ; for me it's more of a hobby...I do like meeting and talking to traditional archers though...never met a trad guy I didn't like...good luck ; Doug
I was warned by a person I admire greatly that making your hobby a job is always a mistake.
I am trying to do exactly the same thing, but, as already stated here, a traditional shop might not be a life-changer. I intend to carry toys for the training wheel set, too.
Possible problems:
Many trad guys are "do it yourself" types.
Then there's the cost savings (real or imagined) of non overhead shopping (the internet and or mail order).
Potential converts to traditional are often hesitant, trust big hunting stores more than small shops (after all, in their archery catalogs they do have some trad gear).
Starting out, no name, word of mouth is gonna take a while.
Tough gig.
I too have thought about it, since I wprked at a gun/bow shop for a while.
But I learned quickly that customers come in all shapes and sizes..........rude, mean, stupid, dishonest etc.
Not enough good ones to make me want them (open invite to the general populace) coming over to my house or calling me on the phone.
It's fun to make and fix stuff, the backroom workbench is a Heaven. The front counter is Hades.
I'm thinking about this as well,but I want to do wheel archery too.(Gotta have what sells)
If you're going to do trad only you MUST do internet orders and have a website,otherwise you'll never make any money.The trad market is terrible small around a given area.The use of a website would increase your customer base largely.
I think Hookeye summed it up great. I do believe you weed out some of the crazies by going with a trad only shop, seems to be more genuine people involved with trad archery.
When you start out its not only the problem of not selling much but the buying as well. It will take years to find the best places to buy your product and when you start out you can't buy it cheap enough to make any money at all, it takes time to build up to the volume of business that you can buy at the next level. You must buy in volume to get it at a good price or you are simply trading dollars.
There expences in starting up a business as well, some costs will be a one time deal others will come all the time. The first five years are tough it will seem like all you do is work for the shop with no time or money for you and you will have to put a bunch of your own money into the business the first few years unless you have a huge start up amount.
The main thing I guess is that you can't make it simply by buying product at dealer price and selling it, you have to buy it at the next level to make it and you have to offer something they can't get just anywhere.
The next thing is if Traditional Archery isnt a way of life for you and not just a neat little thing you do a month or so a year it wont work either. You have to love it because if you dont it wont be long before you hate it.
Mike
Good Luck Have thought of doing the same thing. But so far have talked myself out of it. Like to hunt to much to get tyed down.
There are at least two great trad shops in MN - a big one in the SE at Rochester and another up north I think near Bemidji.
I did it, it worked and I'm glad I gave it up! I will probably do it again in a couple of years but this time all I want to do it break even and maybe get some extra cash for a hunt now and then. If you want to make a living off it I'd say try the lottery you'll get further faster. Every successful one I know the guys wife has a great job and benefits or they are retired.
How much of your own hunting time are you willing to give up? Seriously...that's when guys want stuff and want it NOW!
Rick I would not get involved with the wheels, every day there is a new gadget,you can't afford to carry all of them and the tech guys all want the latest and greatest. I have found my trad guys want a place away from all of the hoopla, also there is abig differance in the 2 personalities. Just a thuoght from one that is there.
QuoteOriginally posted by Canyon:
I was warned by a person I admire greatly that making your hobby a job is always a mistake.
:clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by NancyVTAS:
Rick I would not get involved with the wheels, every day there is a new gadget,you can't afford to carry all of them and the tech guys all want the latest and greatest. I have found my trad guys want a place away from all of the hoopla, also there is abig differance in the 2 personalities. Just a thuoght from one that is there.
My thoughts exactly. just thinking outloud here, but I'm thinking an indoor and outdoor range, woodstove and perpetual coffeepot should be a part of the mix to make it. Note: there's a profit to be made in coffee... Sell the lifestyle, not just the hardware.
Everyone I bet has thought of doing it - Hard to do if you don't make bows, arrows or something to sell and you better count on online sales as the bulk of your business. You'd go broke paying someone to design, update and promote your website so you better learn that yourself. I do have two in my state as Shaun stated. One he does it full time and the other I think just after he gets done with another job (not sure about that). Keep your current job, you'll need it. Hate to sound negative but it is what it is.
I agree ; WAY too much "crap" in the compound market..no matter what you have they want something else...and it's nearly impossible to compete with the mail order companies...I can't tell you how many guys want me to cut arrows OR fletch arrows they bought from some discount place ; it gets discouraging at times..
QuoteOriginally posted by rp65:
Has anyone started a traditional Shop at your home? What was it and how did it go? I would really enjoy it, but not sure what it be like to get started. There is just very little as far as shops that even understand traditional equipment where I live. I even thought about finding a small shop in the area and see if they would start stocking equipment, and offer some knowledge to help them out. I'm no expert buy any means, but I sure know more than any of the shops I go to. The closest Traditional shop from me is about three hours away.
there is one shop not to far away from you that is starting to stock a few things. gloves, rests, 2 blade broad heads, brush buttons. everything i have asked him to order for me, he trys to keep on hand. he also bought a recurve earlier this summer, so that should help. he is running the shop (wheelie stuff mostly) out of his house. It is on Lake Sarah. If you do open one, can i set up a charge account?
It would be helpful for others, but I doubt you would make much cash. Most traditional items are inexpensive w/ little mark up. But I bet the locals would appreciate it very much! All I would need is a sign, I already have the goods piled in my bow shop!
There is a million ways to make a buck-try one of them instead!
There is a million ways to make a buck-try one of them instead!
I was in the business of supplying retailers with shelving for 35 years and most of these type businesses fail quickly. The problem is too small of a market and too much competition on the internet.
If you can find a litte niche that may work like making arrows and selling on the internet or buying and selling used bows, equipment, making quality leather goods, refinishing or restoring bows, etc. Something the stores don't sell and hard to come by on the internet.
Thanks for the replies. I would never think it would be a full time job, but I think it would be very cool to have a shooting range and just sell a few things to help pay electric and heating. This is mostly a pipe dream, but maybe some day. I go through a small town in Nebraska that had a indoor range and a few supplies and taxidermy mounts they where offering and a couch and T.V. with DVD player. I have never been able to get inside while it was open to talk to the owner, but sure looked like a place I would love to hang out at. I was told he only opens at night or weekends when he has time to be there. I could live with that.
On the fixing of bows........you'll be surprised at how grandad's or dad's bow is such a treasured item to a customer, so valuable that most folks won't spend 20 bucks to have the limb twist taken out, nicks repaired and an overall basic cleaning (you know, get that white or yellow garage event paint splatter off it).
On the "hang out" thing, yup, fun place to spend time. You'll get quite a few reitirees and regs who will hang out and never spend a dime.
If you want to have a hangout and make money, it's called a bar ;)
One thing about your business though.........what can you write off? Is a hunting trip, your truck (with advertising on it) or your new machined riser bow you designed........can part of that stuff be considered a business expense?
It might lessen the cost of having some fun. But at what other expense?
Dunno, just tossing that out there.
Had a shop and got out of it several Years ago. Hard to compete with the catalog prices, They buy in bulk, Be prepared for the shoppers who tell you they can get it else where for less, Then want all your free advice to set up the Bow or product for them for free. You will get some Loyal customers no doubt, But Most out there buy where it is the cheapest. And where they can get it right now. Everyone including myself I quess expects the most bang for the buck, But there is something to be said for good old fashioned customer service.
I have considered opening a shop after I retire. That is still a long way down the road though. I figure that if I can get the business to pay for itself, and it gives me something to do I will be happy. It will be more of a service to other Trad Hunters, and I will go to my mailbox every month and collect my pension. Then again, by the time I retire the Compound Bow may be considered "Traditional." :biglaugh:
Tom