West Michigan Traditional Archery Shop

[BassBow]

This is great. I appreciate everyone's honesty. I knew this would be a great place to ask this tough question.

I think you are all correct regarding big box stores, internet. That is pretty obvious.

I think BDO has the right idea and is a great store. Good location, great service, and quality products.

Purchasing on the internet is convenient, but I think trad shooters want something more. Something tangible. BUT, in this day and age it might not be possible to support a brick and mortar store for trad shooters. Unfortunate. But true.

I applaud BDO and the others for keeping it together and offering us a place to go and actually touch and see the item in person.

Unfortunately, you can't avoid the big box infiltration. They are convenient and do offer rock bottom prices. That will be hard to compete against.

We will see.I am going to continue to stew upon the idea. If anything, I am happy to meet all of you and appreciate the insightful advice. I hope to see you a a shoot sometime!

Mike

[DennyK]

There is also Connies'Custom Arrows in Jenison Mi. Google search for the location and ph#. Great gal to do business with

[Bladepeek]

You know, it's kind of funny that the very thing that makes America great, makes it difficult for the little guy to survive. I spent at least 20 years in Germany (and loved it). All the towns were full of "mom & pop" shops. Germany forbid any store from staying open later than 6:00 PM (or maybe it was 6:30?)and they could only be open past noon on Saturday once /month. Mr little guy couldn't afford to hire multiple shifts of employees at German wages/benefits and could not compete with a big box store if they needed a second shift.

That, of course has changed and its getting harder to find small shops over there now. Progress has its costs.

I do try to favor local merchants for the same reason I don't like to use the self checkout at the grocery stores. That's one less employee with a job, and if the big box stores do their marketing research right (and they usually do) we get very little selection. They stock what sells big. Forget the "nice to have" items that you find only at a small, specialty store.

It's great that there are still entrepreneurs who are willing to risk it all to make a modest living. It takes more guts than I have, but I applaud all who do their homework and then still decide to give it a go and actually succeed.

[Mojostick]

The catch 22 is, while you may not use "self checkout" because you think you're saving a low skill/low pay job, some other company and workers designed and installed the self checkout lanes and probably have to service them quite frequently.

The reality is, the world economy drastically changed starting in the 19th century with the idustrial revolution, then with all the changes in the early 20th century from available phones, electric lights, auto's, manned flight, etc, to the post WWII boom when the US was the only super power not in smoking ruins.

Everything changes. Now with the internet, social media, smart phones, etc, the small businessman has to constantly update and adapt to stay out infront of the hounds that are always just behind him.  

The old model of "good customer service" isn't enough. Now you have to think about how you're going to break thru all the noise. How will you use social media? What organizations will you be active with? QDMA? TU? DU? All of them? None of them? What outdoor writers or outdoor TV people can you contact to use your store as a base for a story or show?

[Bladepeek]

The good news for the prehistoric types is that there are enough old fossils like me - retired electronic engineers who designed systems for Motorola who like a personal touch instead of a keypad stroke.

Yeah, I know. I'm saying that in cyberspace using a keyboard. Doesn't mean I wouldn't prefer to sit down with you over a beer and talk about the same thing  

[Izzy]

Look into selling some wildlife art as well if your in such an outdoors mecca. There are many non hunters and hunters alike who would buy fine prints and sculpture that could add a considerable amount of draw to your shop as well as increasing your income.

[Tree Rat]

I gotta say the best idea I have heard to survive is open up within spitting distance of the new cabela's and sell everything they don't. Look into the shop/land now before the prices get too high.

[Mojostick]

Tree Rat,

While I suggested it, I was thinking along the line of already established stores perhaps moving that way.

The problem is, that horse has left the barn over there as far as prices being "too high".

At this point, a well funded and very well run shop could do something, but a mom and pop startup is swimming in very deep shark infested water over there.

Unless one has worked in a retail sporting goods store for a while, and knows the ropes, they're looking for trouble.

Think of it like opening a restuarant. If you've never cooked in a restaurant, never waited tables, never bartended, never did the weekly ordering for all the food, never scheduled staff to where you aren't overstaffed or understaffed, never established a "brand", never decorated a restuarant, etc and then you decide to open a restaurant, you'll likely find a closed up restaurant within a year.

I realize many have the dream of doing something in the hunting and fishing industry, be it retail or guiding or being a sales rep for a company. What I'm saying is that it isn't anything like what most think it will be.

In my case, we had out best sales during salmon and steelhead season. And that's all great. But if you love to steelhead or salmon fish, realize that if you want to do well in the fly fishing business near a migratory fish river, you'll be in the store during the steelhead and salmon runs while everyone else is out fishing. That's when you make your money. The same if you want to be a full time guide. If you aren't guiding at least 6 days a week during the busy periods, you'll never make enough to survive the slow times. And then, if you do get a day off, you'll find that you won't be fishing either because you'll be cleaning your boat, shopping for lunches, getting your gear straightened out, doing piled up laundry, getting some sleep, etc, etc.

Like I said before, I don't want to pour cold water over a dream, but I do want to make sure people know exactly what they're getting into before they risk and more often than not lose money on that risk. For example, I've seen probably hundreds of guys attempt to break into being a fly fishing guide. The reality is, very very few can make it a career and most drop out after 3-5 years with nothing to show for it but a boat payment.

[Tree Rat]

I know all of the headaches you speak of. Personal experience, and friends in many different business'

[BassBow]

Ttt?

[tuscarawasbowman]

What about not going into it full time and only part time? I know several guys that are able to survive by running a part time business out of their homes in the evening. May not be what you want but it is a heck of a lot easier to stay in business. Also I believe Primitive Archer had a article years ago about running a small business out of your house...

[BassBow]

Great advice. Start small and develop a foundation for a good business. Common sense. Thanks!

I am definitely not looking to get rich. I do have capital to invest, and would like to put it toward something good, an honest that I can feel a peace about at the end of the day, ya know?

As always I appreciate your knowledge!

[stringstretcher]

If you are looking to get into a business , although it would include other styles of archery, but you might consider building a reputation on arrow building.  Especially a business to recondition arrows.  A lot of the big box stores do not want any part of that because of osha and all the things that go with fumes, cutting, etc of arrow materials.  I retired from a store that would not allow us to re condition arrows.  So one of the employees started a business just handing out cards when people would ask, and he was able to quit his job there and do it at home part time, and make the same money doing so.  You would have an investment in paint, wraps, vanes, feathers, glue, etc. but could cover a larger area of peoples wants for a lot less cash than a full blow store.  And build up and inventory along the way, always adding something to your line.

[stringstretcher]

On another note, I just heard the other day, that there is a guy in NJ I believe it was, who is getting out of the bamboo bow backing business because of his age.  As of last week, no one had contacted him about getting info to take over his business.  Lot's of bamboo backed bows being made today.

[tuscarawasbowman]

Originally posted by BassBow:
Great advice. Start small and develop a foundation for a good business. Common sense. Thanks!

I am definitely not looking to get rich. I do have capital to invest, and would like to put it toward something good, an honest that I can feel a peace about at the end of the day, ya know?

As always I appreciate your knowledge!

Hey don't forget either small or part time doesn't mean small money either. Buddy  of mine does skull mounts and he brings in 5-6K extra a year doing it and charges lee than 100 for a mount. 6 grand ain't nothing to sneeze at if your a poor country boy like me