I am planing on opening a paintball store, need suggestions.

[Machina123]

just a thought

I was readin em all ratehr than like letting ppl shoot the guns at the shop y not just let em rent em and leave u a credit card number, then if they like hte gun they put the money they paid to renting it into buying it. Also i cannot stress how importnant it is to know wat ur talking about and to be honest. Id also try to keep a nice ratio goin like for every 3 low end guns have 1 high end gun ( THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO FIX) Also dont lean to one kind of gun(my shop is all angels, dont have an angel u might as well be throwin paint with ur arm)O and u should try to higher a younger person (like 16 or so) he will tell his friends and they will tell theres and then u get urself a nice business goin. I do wish you teh best of luck to you and hope to one day be reading about ur shop in the paintball magazines!

[Crazy]

Re: just a thought

Originally posted by Machina123
I was readin em all ratehr than like letting ppl shoot the guns at the shop y not just let em rent em and leave u a credit card number, then if they like hte gun they put the money they paid to renting it into buying it.

Did you honestly read the thread? there were like 4 post about why you should NOT shoot the new markers due to the loss in value...

[dinger]

I have been playing paintball for oh I don't know, almost 3 months now. Don't get me wrong as a noob to this stuff. Opening a business is a big decision in your life to do because of all the time and effort it takes to do it.

Anyways, Wooosh is VERY right about 98% of what he says. The thing about not having "high-end" guns on "display" would be, in my opinion, a good thing to have. Yet only do that if you have the dough to put them there. I'm 14 and I have a piranha core g3 in which I was ripped off at Dicks [hey, the name speaks for itsself]. I'm currently looking at a new gun to get next year, which is a ICD Bushmaster BKO. My brother wants a 03 cocker, but our good friend says "don't buy it 'til you have shot it." Which I find that very much true. If you pull an un-gased mags trigger, its all floppy and has no "life" to the pull. Which is simply because there's no air to keep it pressureized. The point being that if someone walks in, and after 2 months of decision making, makes that decision to buy that outkast cocker. But then 3 days later when he's with his buddies to play paintball, realizes that... well he doesn't like the trigger pull on the gun, and that it feels awkwards to his usual stance on holding a gun. I highly doubt that you will take back a used paintball gun, so this kid is going to blab to peopl he knows that "hey that new paintball store sucks more than a tornado." You of course don't want that. What Wooosh said about having his gun lying around so be shot so that a customer can feel what the gun is like is a very good idea. Sure shooting the gun does put a TINY bit of wear on it, and the gas is usually not too expensive [depending on where you buy it]. Conclusion of this in being that guns look pretty cool when you see tourny players shooting them, and when a customer can almost do the same thing in your store is even more cool for them.[this is how me and 3 of my friends plan on choosing what gun to buy later on]


My next point in a good store would be the visual effects of it. On the outside of my local pro shop they have their name, phone #, etc. and they have a few products in the window. I find that appealing that you can even give people passing by a glimpse at what you have to offer. The owner of that pro shop has a timmy that he usually has with him, and has some items that would be considered "exotic" in the world of paintball. Such as these guns he has on the walls of his store that are not like normal paintball guns, but are heavily modified and look cool. Noones obviously gonna buy a paintball gun with a 4 foot long barrel, hence he wouldn't have to worry a whole a lot about them. Me and my dad enjoy looking at those funky guns, and the various posters that are put on the walls. The place is well-lit and this makes things easily seen. Have the best lighting by your markers because its those that are the highlight of the store: Good Markers at Good Prices. Sure they don't sell the fastest, but the first thing someone thinks of when they see something is either "oo that looks awesome!" or "uhh that thing looks like crap." And if you plan on selling the variety of markers, try not to put it on the wall near a corner, because corners are less looked at. I know it sounds retarded, but it's my personal opinion.

If you have space on the floor like right when you walk in, put something catchy there. Like the array of different paintballs that are being sold, and make it like a pyramid or something cool. Plain containers with a variety of pods in different colors would also be good.


I cannot emphasize how much a dealers personal opinion is influencing. If people know you, and know you're a good honest person that will tell the blunt truth and opinions, they will tell their friends [which is actually the case for me]. This would most likely create more business for you . Our local shops dealer is extremely influencing on me. He looks at my brothers Spyder Shutter because the reg is messed up, and straightly says "well, i personally think that spyder regs are just pure $h!t." That is what I like to hear; a good honest opinion will greatly influence kids/parents. Plus, having years [or howeverlong] of experience to back up your opinion also helps. Knowledge of the product being sold is extremely important to know too. If a customer looks at a gun and goes "hey, whats this little silver thingy do?" and you reply "I have nooo idea.." you wont look like you know what you're doing, so incase you dont, you can hire a friend or someone who knows the tech about paintball. I have asked many many many questions about various things in the store, such as how the trigger adjusts, what makes this more efficient than that, whats the difference between these two tanks to make this 160$ and that tank 300$? Sure those seem like common things to know, but maybe not to everyone.


One problem about personal opinion that I found in my local shop, what that he uses an Evo2 and not a HaloB because its cheaper and he doesn't outshoot the evo2 so he thinks that halos are just overpriced wastes of money. Therefore since he things they are overpriced wastes of money, he doesn't even carry them, and there more things he doesn't carry simply because he doesn't like them. But ya know, tough crap, some people like evo2's, some people like HaloB's. It all just comes down to preference sometimes. Even if there is a product that you are not particularly fond of, ALWAYS be willing to order it no sweat for a customer. Which is a put-down for my local shop... the place is SUPERB, but he TOTALLY refuses to even order HaloB's.



I hope you use this info if you do open up your shop in the end , and I wish the best of luck to you. If you dont open it, then oh well :\

And I have a suggestion for a name for the shop [if it opens]. Im thinkin Millenium Paintball [or is that out-of-date?? lol]. If you don't use that, then use something with a few Z's trust me, Z's are catchy and people will remember the name haha


GOOD LUCK!!

~dinger

[dinger]

Re: Re: just a thought

Originally posted by Crazy


Did you honestly read the thread? there were like 4 post about why you should NOT shoot the new markers due to the loss in value...

I read every single word of every single post on this thread, and the 50-60 minutes I spent making my post was all thought through. But I was contesting that if you had the dough to put a few markers up on the wall that could be held or even shot, you should do it. And then maybe raffle off the guns later for like 2$ a ticket or something. Or you could even sell the display guns that maybe have been shot 100 or less times with a little discount due to being used. I'm perfectly fine with buying a used marker, as long as I know what it has been through and its condition.

[Wooosh87]

Re: just a thought

Originally posted by Machina123
I was readin em all ratehr than like letting ppl shoot the guns at the shop y not just let em rent em and leave u a credit card number, then if they like hte gun they put the money they paid to renting it into buying it.

Know how many phony credit cards, licenses and documents I can get my hands on faster than I can type this response? I bet I could get your birth certificate in less than 24 hours! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER let a product walk out of your shop unpaid for. That is just asking for punishment.

Oh, could you please use a spell check, this is just horrible grammar and spelling. It looks like you just don't care about your self image with typing like that. Not meant to be rude or insulting, just friendly criticism.

[dinger]

^^^ what he said ^^^

use them, not 'em

[Wooosh87]

Re: I am planing on opening a paintball store, need suggestions.

Originally posted by Tack
My wife and I have decided to open a paintball store in Columbia Missouri. This area is growing as well as the number of players. There is a lot of outlaw players in the area as well as established players who need more than one pro shop to help them out.

My question is for anyone but especially for those who have opened their own stores, fields, or both.

1: how much capital did you need to start? (If you do not feel comfortable answering here, PM me. I really need to know where to start at)

2: Where did you get your starting supplies? local distributors, National Paintball Supply, I&I sports etc.

3: How did you survive the first several months of business? was it successful, or did you almost starve until things got going?

4: Which companies would you as store owners suggest I get in contact with for dealership info. Which ones should I stay away from.

5: This one is really for everyone: What do YOU the players look for in a pro shop? stock, equipment, tools etc.

6: Any suggestions for store names are welcome. Perhaps if I like one enough, there may be something in it for the person who suggested it.

Thanks
Tack.

Tack, the thread has been a bit off topic, so I thought I would answer each of your questions.

1) Total investment was just under $65,000.00. From inventory, rent, accounts, insurance, security, sign's, expenses, construction, computers, tool and equipment, other expenses.

2) I always purchased brand items from the manufacturer if possible. Better support, service and you will get to be on a better relationship with the people behind the products.
Always helped when you called a company with a problem with one of their products, that they knew who you were. Sure some of the big suppliers like NPS is easy to make one big order from, it saves you shipping on multiple brand name and they ship fast. But never depend on one company for everything.

3) Survival, hummm. well, it was not easy. I never spent more than I could afford. That is easy enough you say? Well, unexpected bill and debts always hit you when you can't afford them. Biggest problem I had was with insurance. You have to have insurance, but it's hard to get for a paintball shop. It falls under the same premium as real firearms do. So the way around that is a bit unethical and kinda wrong, but it had to be done for me to keep insurance. I closed my shop after 2 years. I was tired of paintball being my life. It was fun, but fun doesn't pay the mortgage on my house or pay for my truck and cars. I just wanted to get back to being a regular player and not part of the business. Basically, I got tired of it.

4) This answer could be a novel if I had the time to write it! Who is good, and who is bad. The major suppliers like NPS, PMI and Diablo direct are good for some things, but not as your sole supplier. Going direct is preferred due to the relationship you will build with your sales rep.
The number one company to never, ever do any business with is System X/X Enterprises. They are horrible. I had set up my account with them and placed a few small orders here and there, nothing major. I go to place an order and my sales rep tells me he will not do business with me any longer. His reason is that I don't do enough with him. He has the nerve to ask if I really was a pro shop, or if I was just trying to scam him. He was being a total jerk. I told him to go do something unpleasant and never carried their products again.
American Paintball Supply is another to stay clear from. They like to substitute products that you ordered. The sales dept. doesn't know what they have in inventory at any given time. You could order a black Cocker, and you'll get a green one. Every other company knows what it has in inventory, or they will place it on back order. They also try to get you to purchase on "Terms." Bad idea. They give you a set credit limit, and you have a set amount of time to repay it. Well, you pay on time, but they bill you late so you pay a nice late fee. Or, they forget to bill you and then try and collect months later. They also go through sales rep's like I change my underwear. They are bad. The are also more expensive too.
Probably the single best company to deal with is Shocktech. My sales rep was always there when I called, or he called back very quickly if I left a voice mail. He knows the products and was willing to take care of his customers. Out of all the sales reps at any company, he would call up just to say hi and see how I was doing. He never tried to push anything, he just was personally interested in me and my business. To this day I will always buy Shocktech over any other product. They make good stuff too.
Another company that I was not to fond of was Diablo Direct. My sales rep could only be reached on his cell phone. I placed a few orders with him while he was driving his car! Got the shipment, but it was just weird how they did business. Then again, the only things I ordered from them were the V Force goggles and the Matrix. Those can now be purchased through other suppliers, so you really don't need Diablo unless they are cheaper or closer. Like I said, they were weird, not bad, just weird.
Another weird one is Kingman. Friendly sales rep, she was cool, but I would know about their new products before she did! Their prices fluctuated weekly. One week you pay $100 for something, yet next week it's $55 and you get a free gearbag too! That really pissed me off. They also had a problem with supply and demand. Too much demand, not enough supply. At least one item per order was placed on back order. That could takes months to get. I remember ordering a specific gun and it was placed on back order. 13 months went by and I get a call saying it's ready to ship. That was funny.
What ever company made the Black Dragun was one to watch out for too. They tried to charge me for replacement warranty parts!
Everyone else seems to be on the up and up when it comes to service and support.
AGD has problem with the supply and demand issue too. Other than that, they are good.

5) What to look for? Location, location, location. the three most important things you will ever need to know.
The rest is...
Knowledge. You have to know everything about everything that is paintball. I always wanted to be one step ahead of any given customer. You have to know more than they do or you look bad. You better know how to diagnose every gun, and be able to fix every gun too. Sometimes you just have to send it back to the manufacturer, but you have to be able to know the systems. You have to know how every gun on the market works, down to the smallest detail. It's these details that show customers that you are knowledgeable in the stuff you sell. Do you know how to solder correctly? How about installing anti-siphon tubes into tanks? Ever set the dwell on a first generation Impulse? How about timing on a Shocker with pot switches? Ever set timing on a Cocker? Can you set the snap ring on an Angel? What's the proper method for adjusting the sear solenoid on an Eclipse E Blade? How about barrel theory? Know how to fill C02 correctly? Simple things that not everyone knows how to do. The PTI classes are good, but a bit long and drawn out. I did them just so I could get the little piece of paper to frame and hang in the shop. I have been in paintball for over 13 years. I learned everything from experience. That experience was priceless. If you do not have the experience, you might have a hard time. You need to be mechanically inclined. The proper use of tools and what tool is right for the job is a must. I was a GM technician for 15 years, so I have a little bit of mechanical ability. You'll need tools. Cheap tools are just that, cheap. Bu good tools. Snap On, Matco etc. Sears tools suck for anything other that the shadetree mechanic. For serious applications, good tools are mandatory. Good tools are no cheap either.
You better be a player too. Get a team together too if you don't already. Play in tourneys and get your name out there. One shop that I put out of business, the owner hated paintball. He just thought he could suck all the money out of the players. He went under in less than 2 months because no one respected him or trusted him. Having a team and playing in your area shows people that you are more than just an owner, but that you are involved at their level too.
Keep the shop clean and well lit.
A nice backlit sign out front is a must. Good parking too. friendly staff. Make the shop colorful. When a customer sees something new every time they come in it keeps it fresh. I reorganized my shop monthly just to keep it different. Selection is always key too.
There is never one thing, or couple thing that make you successful, it is everything. You have to make the customer want to come back. Always remember, you are in it as a business, so no one gets a better deal than the other. Be fair.

6) A store name... use a thesaurus and pick out some cool words. If you are going to have more than just paintball in your store, you better include that too. Like say...
"ABC" Paintball and wireless services" (If you did cell phones too that is).
The name doesn't matter one bit in the big picture. Whatever you choose is going to be good enough. Nothing like "Flower Power Paintball" though. Keep it manly, 99% of your customers are white males aged 12-35.

Best of luck...

(I kind of like "Flower Power Paintball." personally )

[Crazy]

Re: Re: Re: just a thought

Originally posted by dinger



I read every single word of every single post on this thread, and the 50-60 minutes I spent making my post was all thought through. But I was contesting that if you had the dough to put a few markers up on the wall that could be held or even shot, you should do it. And then maybe raffle off the guns later for like 2$ a ticket or something. Or you could even sell the display guns that maybe have been shot 100 or less times with a little discount due to being used. I'm perfectly fine with buying a used marker, as long as I know what it has been through and its condition.

Sorry, i think you misunderstood my post, i was refering to the comment that i quoted from Machina123.

[Wooosh87]

Originally posted by dinger


Anyways, Wooosh is VERY right about 98% of what he says.

Thank you Dinger, but shouldn't that be SAID, not SAYS?

Originally posted by dinger


One problem about personal opinion that I found in my local shop, what that he uses an Evo2 and not a HaloB because its cheaper and he doesn't outshoot the evo2 so he thinks that halos are just overpriced wastes of money. Therefore since he things they are overpriced wastes of money, he doesn't even carry them, and there more things he doesn't carry simply because he doesn't like them. But ya know, tough crap, some people like evo2's, some people like HaloB's. It all just comes down to preference sometimes. Even if there is a product that you are not particularly fond of, ALWAYS be willing to order it no sweat for a customer. Which is a put-down for my local shop... the place is SUPERB, but he TOTALLY refuses to even order HaloB's.

~dinger

That is the number one no-no in retail, not giving the customer what he/she wants. Not only is he loosing your trust and respect, but the sale. Personal opinion can, and often will sway the customers purchase only if you, the salesman, offer the facts first. Once the customer knows the facts on any given items, your opinion can then sway their judgment. I sold many Halo loaders to customers that initally were looking at the Evo II. They asked what my opinion on the two systems were, and I gave them my honest answer. You can never tell a customer that they are wrong for choosing a specific item. That is basically telling them that they are a moron. Bad thing to convey to a person willing to give you money. Sure, you may not keep an item in stock for a number of reasons, but it should not be because you do not like the product personally. There are the exceptions to this rule, but it is better to keep your personal judgment out of that selection process. Personally I hate the Spyder line of guns. I sold them quite well and always kept a very large inventory of them. They are popular and have a resonable mark up. If I allowed my personal judgments to make decissions then I would have been kicking myself in the proverbial butt.
There is a ba-jillion ways to screw yourself over, and only a handfull of ways to help yourself. Like the old guy in the cave from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade said, "Choose wisely..."

[akscubainst]

We got into paintball just about a year ago. As soon as our first orders arrived, it started raining (SE Alaska is a rainforest) we didn't sell squat until around March when spring break rolled around. Sales have been steady all spring and summer but with school starting in a few weeks we expect them to taper off until Christmas.

We have established dealerships with NPS, AGD, Kingmann, PMI and quite a few others. What you learn is that while there are those who are really into paintball and will buy a really good marker. Most people are only in it to play once in awhile and aren't willing to spend much money.

Paintball is a good compliment to our scuba business but we would never survive on paintball alone. We have a population of 30K no road in and out so 30K is what we have and about all we're going to get so diversification is key. Scuba is the primary focus and paintball is a bonus.

I enjoy selling paintball because I enjoy paintball. My wife on the other hand doesn't play, though since she's a scuba repair tech understands the basics of marker repair hates having to deal with placing orders and dealing with the lack of responsiveness of several of the bigger companies.

Feel free to PM if you want more info from someone who's jumped into the business and has experience with the different companies in the past year.

Dave