10/14/08
Shop | Shooting Industry | Find Articles ... Bowhunting Sales 101: Gun
Bowhunting sales 101: gun shop | Shooting Industry | Find Articles ...
For years we've made the case that by adding bowhunting equipment to your product mix, you'll increase sales to your customers who already buy bowhunting ...
Here Are Five Basic Steps To Profitable Success! Gun dealers are likely tired, perhaps real tired, of reading in Shooting Industry that they should add bowhunting gear to their shops. For years we've made the case that by adding bowhunting equipment to your product mix, you'll increase sales to your customers who already buy bowhunting gear elsewhere. We've overwhelmed you with statistics showing that many of your firearm customers, who have never been bowhunting, will buy bowhunting equipment if you offered it. Time and time again, we've quoted gun/bow dealers who are enjoying extended-selling seasons and better margins, because they sell bowhunting equipment. Most Popular Performance Appraisal Form Online Jobs: Stop Commuting, Work From Home Skill Vs. This year, we're not going into all that, again. Instead, we're going to assume we've made our case, and you now believe adding bowhunting to your gun shop is a good idea. Such a task may seem overwhelming, but it is not. If you break it down into several steps, you'll add bowhunting to your operation with a minimum of headache and hassle. But, since you're in this business for the long run, by doing it right, you'll reap the long-term benefits of bowhunting. Step 1: Ask The Hard Questions Before you start down the path of adding bowhunting, invest some time evaluating your local market. If the answers to these questions aren't favorable, stop right now. First, how many bowhunters are in your area, and what's the bow season like in your state? In other words, what's your potential market? Spend some time studying the demographics of hunters in your area. Your state fish and wildlife agency can provide you with useful information. This will help you determine whether there's a real market for bowhunting. If there's an archery pro shop two blocks away, you don't want to add archery and bowhunting to your gun shop. If you're in an area where there's very little bowhunting and there's a pro shop 15 miles away, you're probably not in a good spot to add archery. On the other hand, if your state has a lengthy bowhunting season with a lot of people who bowhunt, and the nearest pro shop is 30 miles away, you should seriously consider adding bowhunting. They're not your competition, according to Milt Pittman, director of inland sales for Henry's. Rarely will anyone at a big-box store be able to do more than sell a customer a bow. You just need to be complete and have a knowledgeable staff, because a lot of your profit will come from setting up bows for other people." (See Step 5.) Third, talk to your current customers. Ask them, "Do you bowhunt?" If they do, find out where they buy their bowhunting gear. All of this will help you gauge how much interest your current customer base has in bowhunting, and what they're likely to purchase from your store. Remember, it's always easier to expand the range of products an existing customer buys than it is to attract a customer who's never been in your shop. How many of them will give the sport a try if you carried bowhunting gear? These are important questions to ask in determining if you should introduce bowhunting into your shop. Step 2: Educate Yourself Any time you add a new product line, there's a learning curve. If you've never been bowhunting or exposed to archery, the learning curve can be pretty steep. Minimize your learning time by attending a couple of archery trade shows and dealer-education seminars. Your purpose is not to buy product, but to get to know people, get a feel for archery and bowhunting, and introduce yourself to the major manufacturers. So why ...Which pistol caliber for self defense?
Labels:
bowhunting equipment
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment