RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

I voted yes without reading the whole thread, but my vote is dependant on you running an honest, well kept, helpfull operation.
You may have some trouble getting over the "hump" that most new businesses face, but if you offer better service and a better atmosphere you will get the business.
The trouble is it may take word of mouth to convince people that you're better than where their going now (signs don't carry the same weight friends do), and that may take some time. You have to be able to stick it out till you have a loyal customer base.
I still give my business to the small guy that spent an hour helping to tune a bow that I didn't even buy from him, instead of the bigger and cheaper brand new BassPro, he earned my business.

Heres a tip, even tho they might not be blowing their wallets, help out the young guys that ask stupid questions, you can help them out huge, and gain there trust, thats how my guy got my business.

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

all good points Ts and Youngfart
This isn't just a whim, I have been working on,tweaking and adjusting my business plan and goals since May

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

I would not have a problem driving there. I say build it!

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

I haven't read all of the replies. Driving to the place isn't the big issue. I think a bigger issue is no drive by traffic. You have no idea how big that is. Advertising is very expensive because it has to be done repetative and for a long time. You may find it's better off locating next to a major highway or atleast get a billboard on a major highway. If you could locate some how in between the town and a major public hunting ground it would help some. Also, network your A$$ of with the hunting stores in you area where you don't compete. Contests and such may help.

I wish you luck. Sounds like your thinking a lot on this. Remembers to try to plan for everything in your business plan and follow it. You also want to make sure you re-do / adjust your plan every six months while your starting out. The last thing I will add is make sure you have it planned out for 5 years. Banks require business to be open for 3 years before you can realise substainable income. That's because most don't last over 3 years because of poor planning and/or poor adjusting.

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

I wouldn't have a problem driving, but I do agree with Fieldmouse about lack of drive by's being a concern. I've watched my local bow shop grow by leaps and bounds once they relocated to a better location.

I wish you well in whatever you do. It takes a big set of stones to get cut your own path.

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

Thank you Fieldmouse for your thoughts.
Believe me, I have dwelled on these same things,spent sleepless nights planning,brainstorming,writing and re-writing plans.

I understand the "drive by" advertising and the lack of that this location has.
I still feel the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I realize and am prepared for a substantial decrease in income for the first 2-3 years(I do pretty well right now $ wise). I want to get the startup loan paid off ASAP! I do not need to borrow that much money to get up and running, even with a "cushion" for unexpected things(there are always unexpected things) I am already apporved by the bank for a line of credit so I only use the money as I need it, instead of getting one big lump sum and then have to make payments on the whole wad right away.
The good thing is my wife and I do not live "Big" by any means. We have very little debt,no credit card debt and our home is just about paid off,6 more years! We bought it 7 years ago.
My wife has a good job as a nurse with great benefits and I will be able to be on her health/dental/vision insurance for about 100.00 per month.
I am 43 years old, so old enough to know, and still young enough to get it done! I am at the top of my game and what better time to move forward?
I am a workamaniac and am used to 60 hour +weeks and working hard. I wouldn't have it any other way.
My track record is good. I make things happen. My past promotion ideas have had great results.

Ooops, gotta get to work!
Thanks again to every that voted and posted comments
You guys rock!
Keep it going, I meet with my banker on Monday!

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

Good luck dude.

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

Sounds like a great deal, wish I lived closer. Best of luck and keep us posted as to your success.

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

The best shop i know was about 12-15 miles outside our town not really close to anything, But it was the best Archery shop around,
On saturdays it would be hard to find a parking space ,durring the week the place was alwaysbusy even in the off season!,
The owner was a great guy very knowlegeable and was willing to help you with anything, He would take as much time as needed to make sure you were happy when you left,
The help he had in there was pretty much the same as him, Just a great bunch of guys to hang around Even if you didn`t want anything it was just fun to hang around laugh, and joke, with other folks that came and went.
The owners name was Jeff Jackson.
Jeff past away 7 yrs ago due to cancer his hole faimly was involved with the shop But after jeff`s passing the shop was not the same.
It stayed open for a while but soon closed his wife simply couldn`t keep everything running as it should.
Jeff`s death was a shock to us all that new him.
You see jeff didn`t even know he had cancer untill one day durring the middle of hunting season he was loading his 4-wheeler on to the back of his trailer, When he felt something pop in his side with a lot of pain?
Jeff went to doctor the next day and the doc ran a few test, A couple of days later he found out he had cancer and it was so far advanced the there was nothing anyone could do? 3 weeks later jeff pasted away He was 36yr young.
I guess what i am saying Buellhunter we are gaurenteed nothing in life. Roll the dice And take your chances.
If you are worryed about folks riding a few extra miles outside of town to get good service? Don`t worry If you treat people with respect and have Idea about what you are doing? They will drive much further than you mite think!
Jeff had folks driving for hundreds of miles.

RE: Bow shop/archery range, in town or out of town? Please read my post before you vote.
 

That be a great building, have a bit of advertising here and there, plus your getting the better deal.