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01-01-2007 | 08:51 AM

#1

Len in Maryland

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 1,385

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From: Baltimore Maryland USA

Define a PRO Shop

Here are some interestingquestions recently asked by a tournament archer. The reasons presented were bothvalid and misguided; but, the substance of the subject has a lot of merit. I thought a thread here might interest and stimulate some viewers - and especially some shop owners. He wrote (with slight editing for clarity):[/align]
Quote:

Why call it a Pro Shop ? Why don't these shops just go by the name of Archery Hunting stores, they really just sell about the same stuff as your local Dicks or Gander Mt. It is all about Deer hunting, as the Deer populations and land decline so goes the archery shops. I went to three different so-called Pro shops trying to find Woody's arrow lube or just any lube. Target stablizers, don't think so, only hunting stablizers. Need a target sight or lens for a scope,don't think so. Then the owners ***** and complain when people order from places like Keystone archery! If they are going to put all their eggs in one basket with the Deer hunters they are going to loose. Deer hunting, Deer population and hunting lands are on the decline,these people are going to leave Archery and take up
golf.[/align]

My initial response is this:[/align]Some PRO Shops do exist. I do agree with you that a lot of shops shouldn't use the name PRO. It annoys me as much as you because they give the industry/profession a poor and misleading image.

I try to carry the items that aren't carried by the big merchants or those that they usually run low on at times during the year. I also carry the higher-end items that they can't/won't. I have to keep my eye on inventory levels, however, because of the manufacturers changing things from year to year.

For instance, I have Woody's in stock and many targets including 3D, but I won't stock target stabilizers, only a few target scopes, and no bows in colors. And there are many reasons why.

First, in the State of Maryland and especially around urban areas, bow hunting is on the rise. As more and more large tracts of land are being developed/divided, smaller parcels become very attractive. Deer, shoved off large parcels, are forced into the smaller ones and into peoples' back yards. The gun hunters can't get at those deer which become overpopulated and overbearing. To the rescue, the Bowhunter.

When I first started my business, I tried to cater to tournament archers. They used me and abused me. Used my facility and tried to use my tools/equipment, but returned little. When it came to buying their sundry items, they would purchase them from Lancaster or at the shoots. After all, the vendors/manufacturers at the shoots would sell them the products for my cost and they usually had their entire lineup there.

I soon realized that 95% of the industry was hunters and tried to cater to that market. I was a lot more successful. I did, however, have to control the cliques or the 'bubba' image. I didn't put all my "eggs in one basket," but I did have to capitalize on the more advantageous market.

It took years to develop my expertise. Many didn't realize that I was bringing my engineering talents from the last 30 years into this business, which is my retirement business. As time went on more and more tournament archers began to find out how well I could tune their bows in many aspects. I still don't get the 'hardware' tournament business, but I get a goodly amount of 'make it shoot better' business.

Maybe I'm unique, but it took a lot to survive a double '9/11'. Right after the economy took a dive due to the WTC bombings, a bomb called Bass Pro Shops moved just 7 miles away. Combine that with a Dick's just 1 mile away and several Wal-Marts, and it was tough for a lot of years. Even those at BPS wonder how I've survived.

If I had depended on the tournament business back then, I wouldn't be here to service their needs right now. While I wouldn't mind a bigger tournament market, it's just not in the cards for me. I told many a Dealer in the PA area that they'd see an exodus of small shops once Gander Mountain and BPS move into central PA. Those smaller shops that survive after 5 years will/should benefit; but, they may have to change their ways of doing business. I think right now I could probably write a survival book on this issue.

Don't be too hard on some of them. They won't change and will go under. The ones that are willing to change, however, support them so that they'll be there when you really need them.

Good luck and good shooting to all, and a Happy New Year.[/align][/align]

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