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Posted: 11/7/2018 3:59:48 PM EDT
[#1]
Akron and youngstown (as well as a few other places) have the Fin. It’s a fun place, but they have a Dicks style pricing structure. So if you’re not charging list price for everything move on in!
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Posted: 11/7/2018 4:06:27 PM EDT
[#2]
I think you would have a tough time competing with Vance's in Columbus so that is probably out.
Fin Feather and Fur seems to be taking over Northern OH with 6-7 locations currently. Although I do not believe they have indoor ranges. Point Blank has several locations in Cincinnati/Dayton but I don't know much about them. They just opened a location near Columbus also. I'm always for more gun stores but I don't see any massively under served areas. |
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Posted: 11/7/2018 4:42:57 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Akron and youngstown (as well as a few other places) have the Fin. It’s a fun place, but they have a Dicks style pricing structure. So if you’re not charging list price for everything move on in! |
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Posted: 11/7/2018 5:12:00 PM EDT
[#4]
Northern Ohio has the Fin now, central Ohio Vance's.
I was going to say Perrysburg when I read your post but noticed Fin has opened a store in the area. I still think it's ripe for business though as you can be near the 80/75 interchange. What the situation between Cincinnati and Dayton looking like? Maybe the Dayton area around the 70/75 interchange? |
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Posted: 11/7/2018 7:52:32 PM EDT
[#5]
We go head to head with Field and Stream locally, so we do have experience sharing a market with a big box. I’ve personally never been to a Fin, so I’m not sure how it compares to Field and Stream.
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Posted: 11/8/2018 12:24:36 PM EDT
[#6]
I would go towards southeast Cuyhoga / Northern Summit County. Twinsburg, Solon, Macedonia would be the cities to look at. They would be considered suburbs of both Cleveland and Akron. There is money there to be spent.
You are not going to find the same population density you would on the east coast, but those areas would draw from a wider area of relatively affluent people with good freeway access. They would also draw the hunter crowd as they are on the edge of where people would go to hunt. Hunter tourism is growing here with people skipping the Poconos and just coming to eastern Ohio. You would also be far enough away from other such shops that you would siphon off customers who don't want to drive 45 minutes to get there. |
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Posted: 11/8/2018 12:25:37 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
We go head to head with Field and Stream locally, so we do have experience sharing a market with a big box. I’ve personally never been to a Fin, so I’m not sure how it compares to Field and Stream. |
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Posted: 11/8/2018 4:54:21 PM EDT
[#8]
I-675 corridor.
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Posted: 11/8/2018 5:18:19 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I would go towards southeast Cuyhoga / Northern Summit County. Twinsburg, Solon, Macedonia would be the cities to look at. They would be considered suburbs of both Cleveland and Akron. There is money there to be spent. You are not going to find the same population density you would on the east coast, but those areas would draw from a wider area of relatively affluent people with good freeway access. They would also draw the hunter crowd as they are on the edge of where people would go to hunt. Hunter tourism is growing here with people skipping the Poconos and just coming to eastern Ohio. You would also be far enough away from other such shops that you would siphon off customers who don't want to drive 45 minutes to get there. |
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Posted: 11/8/2018 10:42:43 PM EDT
[#10]
Lancaster/Circleville area imo
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Posted: 11/9/2018 10:14:57 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Lancaster/Circleville area imo |
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Posted: 11/9/2018 12:27:33 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This. Nothing down here, even in Chillicothe. If you want to buy anything, from guns to reloading supplies it’s an hour drive to Columbus. Oddball shops here and there, but nothing to write home about. Mostly pawn shops or small mom and pops with zero inventory. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Lancaster/Circleville area imo Must have a large enough population base to support such a store/range, a high enough median income, and generally close to major interstates and other retail (car dealerships, malls, chain restaurants) to ensure adequate consumer traffic so as not to be solely dependent upon the immediate communities. |
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Posted: 11/9/2018 4:40:31 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:Nothing against Lancaster or Circleville, but it doesn't really fit what OP requires |
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Posted: 11/9/2018 4:43:10 PM EDT
[#14]
Cleveland Heights. There's an abandoned Walmart building really convenient to my house
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Posted: 11/9/2018 4:50:11 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I would go towards southeast Cuyhoga / Northern Summit County. Twinsburg, Solon, Macedonia would be the cities to look at. They would be considered suburbs of both Cleveland and Akron. There is money there to be spent. You are not going to find the same population density you would on the east coast, but those areas would draw from a wider area of relatively affluent people with good freeway access. They would also draw the hunter crowd as they are on the edge of where people would go to hunt. Hunter tourism is growing here with people skipping the Poconos and just coming to eastern Ohio. You would also be far enough away from other such shops that you would siphon off customers who don't want to drive 45 minutes to get there.
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Posted: 11/9/2018 5:31:34 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If Cleveland Heights doesn't work out, this is a good idea |
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Posted: 11/9/2018 5:59:46 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Do the cops still carry revolvers and drive green cars? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
If Cleveland Heights doesn't work out, this is a good idea |
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Posted: 11/9/2018 8:50:48 PM EDT
[#18]
There's no public ranges that you can shoot more than 100yd at around Springfield AFAIK.
Mad River Armory and Range does fair business and has a decent facility, but it's only 20 yards indoor IIRC. Vandalia has an excellent selection and good range facility but can't support rifles on anything but their 100 yard range. Fox seems to have a nice place, but I've never shot there. To get my business you'd have to get me some distance with benches, but also allow me to shoot in regular high power positions, rapid fire (at least high power style), and/or offer a facility where one can engage multiple targets, move, etc. E.g. action shooting practice. Most people in my area can easily get access to private property to shoot less than 50 yards with pistols or throw some clays up in the air. I hear WPAFB has an excellent clays range, so that market may be cornered. |
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Posted: 11/9/2018 11:50:50 PM EDT
[#19]
I don’t know if Boston heights would let you set up a range, but the Boston heights Costco was supposed to have a bass pro next to it, but it never happened supposedly due to the merger with cabelas.
There’s land all around there, only a Costco and a hotel currently, but right next to the turnpike (Rt 80) and Rt 8 freeway. The money demographic has to be there though. |
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Posted: 11/10/2018 2:08:59 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don’t know if Boston heights would let you set up a range, but the Boston heights Costco was supposed to have a bass pro next to it, but it never happened supposedly due to the merger with cabelas. There’s land all around there, only a Costco and a hotel currently, but right next to the turnpike (Rt 80) and Rt 8 freeway. The money demographic has to be there though. |
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Posted: 11/10/2018 7:48:54 AM EDT
[#21]
Chillicothe (South East Ohio) is really underserved. I know people in Jackson that drive 2 hours for reloading supplies.
Chillicothe is the hub for about 4 counties. It would be a good location for a decent store. It has plenty of restaurants and shopping, easy access on 35 and 23. It doesn't have the income or population density of southern Delaware county, but it is really underserved. |
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Posted: 11/10/2018 5:39:49 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Chillicothe (South East Ohio) is really underserved. I know people in Jackson that drive 2 hours for reloading supplies. Chillicothe is the hub for about 4 counties. It would be a good location for a decent store. It has plenty of restaurants and shopping, easy access on 35 and 23. It doesn't have the income or population density of southern Delaware county, but it is really underserved. |
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Posted: 11/10/2018 7:09:27 PM EDT
[#23]
There is a derth of outdoor ranges open to the public from Cuyahoga county (cleveland) all the way until you get to delaware county just north of columbus.
It was bad enough that I ended up joining a gun club 45 minutes away from me so I wouldn't have to drive 1+ hour to the nearest public outdoor range. An outdoor range located in summit county with an attached small shop might do VERY well for itself. How I would set it up: Indoor 25yd range for rimfire and centerfire pistol cartridge Outoor 50yd general purpose range; pistols, shotguns, SBRs Full auto, blasting dishwashers, etc... Then a line of rifle benches with target stands at 100, 200, 300 & 500 yds. |
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Posted: 11/10/2018 8:54:49 PM EDT
[#24]
There are few public ranges (that I know of) between Cleveland, Toledo and down to Mansfield.
Most are private clubs / conservation leagues. I think there are two small indoor ranges in Lorain. The Fin moved in down in Milan, and Shelby has the Sportsman's Den. Neither have a range. Perrysberg has a Finn and Basspro near each other along 75. Rural King is in Norwalk, Fremont and south of Bucyrus. Lake Erie Arms is east of Huron. Of course the area really doesn't have the population density to justify it. How about a full service range and a small store? |
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Posted: 11/11/2018 8:48:39 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Anywhere in the Chilli/Circleville area could be decent in my opinion. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Chillicothe (South East Ohio) is really underserved. I know people in Jackson that drive 2 hours for reloading supplies. Chillicothe is the hub for about 4 counties. It would be a good location for a decent store. It has plenty of restaurants and shopping, easy access on 35 and 23. It doesn't have the income or population density of southern Delaware county, but it is really underserved. Circleville has a really nice club in PCSI, but they want something like $200/year now. Circleville is closed enough to Columbus that you may be competing with Vance's as well. |
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Posted: 11/11/2018 9:43:41 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Point Blank has several locations in Cincinnati/Dayton but I don't know much about them. |
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Posted: 11/11/2018 10:51:47 AM EDT
[#27]
I say move into the Wilimgton Pk/I-675 vicinity.
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Posted: 11/11/2018 1:42:50 PM EDT
[#28]
I wouldn’t waste my time in Chillicothe, Portsmouth, or Circleville. The population density is too low.
Columbus is a big market, with Vance’s being the powerhouse. |
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Posted: 11/11/2018 4:46:12 PM EDT
[#29]
Come to Warren county, access to both 71 & 75 and ever-growing population.
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Posted: 11/11/2018 9:20:17 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I wouldn’t waste my time in Chillicothe, Portsmouth, or Circleville. The population density is too low. Columbus is a big market, with Vance’s being the powerhouse. |
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Posted: 11/12/2018 1:03:58 AM EDT
[#31]
I don't believe any of the local stores you mentioned can compete with Vance's on price. Aside from MAP pricing on a few brands, it's difficult to get anyone to price match them.
My reference point is a recent purchase of an LCP II from them. I don't know if OP just wants to exist, or actually move the volume to compete with Vance's. The Southern towns mentioned are "underserved" because there isn't enough demand. The reloading segment is fractional, and shelf space dedicated to those items collect more dust than my treadmill. |
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Posted: 11/13/2018 11:29:38 AM EDT
[#32]
Lake Erie Arms is building a huge new complex just north of the Fin on Rt 250. It is reported to have indoor pistol range, 100 yard rifle range and a skeet/trap range.
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Posted: 11/13/2018 12:05:03 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don’t know if Boston heights would let you set up a range, but the Boston heights Costco was supposed to have a bass pro next to it, but it never happened supposedly due to the merger with cabelas. There’s land all around there, only a Costco and a hotel currently, but right next to the turnpike (Rt 80) and Rt 8 freeway. The money demographic has to be there though. |
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Posted: 11/15/2018 3:23:48 PM EDT
[#34]
I live in Akron and we don't have much. the nearest big shop is Fin in canton. they have decent ammo prices and some good handgun sales, but their rifles and shotguns are over priced. Also forget it if you want to buy parts for AR's, they have very little and nothing reasonable. For something like a simple stripped anderson lower I have to drive all the way out to summit armory in medina.
Also Fin has no range. The only indoor rifle range I know of is great american shooting sports in canton. The range is nice but is only about 100 feet, and their inventory in store is tiny. I think i have as many guns as their whole shop. The only outdoor range less than an hour away is canton rifle and pistol club and you have to be a member. |
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Posted: 11/15/2018 4:52:47 PM EDT
[#35]
Northern Columbus/Delaware/Dublin area maybe?
There is Vance's, but that's on the south side, & Cabela's (which is iffy for shooting goods). The closer regions to this are mostly private. |
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Posted: 11/18/2018 2:53:47 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don't believe any of the local stores you mentioned can compete with Vance's on price. Aside from MAP pricing on a few brands, it's difficult to get anyone to price match them. My reference point is a recent purchase of an LCP II from them. I don't know if OP just wants to exist, or actually move the volume to compete with Vance's. The Southern towns mentioned are "underserved" because there isn't enough demand. The reloading segment is fractional, and shelf space dedicated to those items collect more dust than my treadmill. OP also look at areas that maybe underserved by public ranges are being served quite nicely by private clubs. |
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Posted: 11/18/2018 10:18:04 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I say move into the Wilimgton Pk/I-675 vicinity. |
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Posted: 11/20/2018 12:09:56 AM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Northern Columbus/Delaware/Dublin area maybe? There is Vance's, but that's on the south side, & Cabela's (which is iffy for shooting goods). The closer regions to this are mostly private. |
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Posted: 12/11/2018 6:42:37 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Nothing against Lancaster or Circleville, but it doesn't really fit what OP requires Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
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Lancaster/Circleville area imo Must have a large enough population base to support such a store/range, a high enough median income, and generally close to major interstates and other retail (car dealerships, malls, chain restaurants) to ensure adequate consumer traffic so as not to be solely dependent upon the immediate communities. |
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Posted: 12/29/2018 9:20:02 PM EDT
[#40]
@HiramRanger any update on this project you can share?
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Posted: 12/29/2018 10:11:46 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Are you kidding. Lancaster is perfect. It's the suburbs of Columbus. Only 10 minutes from downtown. Higher income people has been moving to this area for the last 10 years. Have you even been to Pickerington and Canal Winchester? They are building houses like there is no tommorow. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
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Quoted:
Lancaster/Circleville area imo Must have a large enough population base to support such a store/range, a high enough median income, and generally close to major interstates and other retail (car dealerships, malls, chain restaurants) to ensure adequate consumer traffic so as not to be solely dependent upon the immediate communities. |
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Posted: 12/30/2018 10:07:42 AM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Are you kidding. Lancaster is perfect. It's the suburbs of Columbus. Only 10 minutes from downtown. Higher income people has been moving to this area for the last 10 years. Have you even been to Pickerington and Canal Winchester? They are building houses like there is no tommorow. |
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Posted: 12/30/2018 11:10:53 AM EDT
[#43]
New Phila. could use something like this.
All we have is a Dicks that replaced Sears in the local mall a few years ago, and Wally World. Neither have crap for reloading. It would draw in folks from all around. Might even get some horse-n-buggies in the parking lot, those Amish are a frugal bunch
Just to give you an idea about draw from neighboring towns, the Wally World is one of the busiest in Ohio |
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Posted: 1/3/2019 10:04:33 AM EDT
[#44]
This is something I've been thinking about a lot recently, actually. Having formerly been an FFL, I've got a grasp on how the business operates to a degree. It's largely a volume game, and the bigger chain stores and the internet are gobbling up most of that. Gun shows and smaller shops are a dime a dozen.
What NE Ohio is missing, in my opinion (and I'm biased) is a well thought out indoor shooting facility. We've got terrible weather that forces us indoors more than half of the year, and all we've got is your average indoor store/ranges combos, and some small hunting/sportsmen clubs that have indoor facilities. In other parts of the country (or the world), there are seriously nice indoor ranges. We don't have that. If we're extrapolating anything form the average indoor gun range business model, it's that money is obviously made from the average person walking in the door and renting a stall for $15-20/hr. But with the right facility, you could do so much more. Ever been to Vegas? Nobody rents MG's here. Matches? Classes? Rifle stalls? Private ranges for members only? Ever seen European or Russian ranges? Kind of unfair, since they're shoehorned into where they can/cant shoot, but they have some of the nicest facilities I've ever seen. I'm assuming that building a range is probably a huge pain in the ass from the standpoint of legalities/insurances/EPA, not to mention the start up costs - but I think that it's the one thing that if you do it RIGHT, can't be touched by any of the competition in the area. |
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Posted: 1/3/2019 10:09:21 AM EDT
[#45]
double tap
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Posted: 1/3/2019 10:23:38 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@HiramRanger any update on this project you can share? |
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