Its all ways been a dream to own and operate a local gun shop. Now is starting to look like the time. We meet with the family attorney on Monday. It would be a family run business. I would like to be a class three dealer. Any one have any advice?
Looking to sell only quality stuff no junk! Lots of black rifles and quality hunting rifles and shotguns .

Any one gone threw the process and want to have lunch some time I will pay you $100 for your time and buy you lunch.

PM sent.  

Sorry, this isn't all that helpful, but when and if you get up and running, just simply do everything opposite of the Gun Room and you will be fine!

Sunnyside, I think you already own a business, correct?  If so, that’s a definite plus in your column, because you won’t jump into this thing naively.  You already know that when running a small business, “If something can go wrong...it will.”  That’s an important lesson that too many small business owners learn too late.

That said, I would offer a few generic pieces of advice. (And this comes from my background of having a MBA and doing some consulting for small businesses in the manufacturing sector.)  

1.  Spend a LOT of time doing market research before opening your door for business.  Figure out what people want, that isn’t being readily offered in the marketplace right now.  

2.  Figure out what your pricing strategy is going to be, and how that is going to translate into your cost structure.  

3.  Make financial assumptions that assume the worst, and build your plan from that.  

4.  Figure out how you intend to market your business, so that you actually have enough customers to make the venture worth your while.  

5.  Figure out how you’re going to leverage the Internet (where most people start these days when searching for services) to market your business.  For example, I can’t imagine opening any local service business these days without dedicating at least $6,000 to a six-month, professionally-managed Google Local campaign.  You can do this yourself, of course, but you had BETTER know what you're doing.  It is very easy to spend a lot of worthless money on Google ads if you don't know what you're doing.  A pro will use tools like Google Analytics to fine-tune your ad campaign for maximum impact.  Also make sure to leverage local forums like northwestfirearms.com.  A well-placed ad there, offering some crazy bargain (see #7 below), will serve you well.

6.  Speaking of the Internet, today it's ALL about "social media".  Will your business have Facebook and Twitter accounts, and a regularly updated blog?  In 2011, it better.  (And yes, even "gun guys" use these tools.  You might be surprised.)  

7.  When you first start out, don’t be afraid of money-losing promotions that serve the purpose of introducing your services to firearm owners.  For example, maybe for your first six months, you can offer $5 transfers for routine, non class-3 guns. (Plus the required $10 state fee, of course).  While you won’t make any money doing $5 transfers, you WILL get a lot of traffic in the shop.  The idea is that these people will be so impressed with your customer service, pricing, selection, etc., you will be their new go-to-guy for all gun-related business.  The point being, you gotta find some creative ways to get your name out there, and you have to give people a compelling reason to come to YOU instead of the guy down the road.    

I know this all sounds basic, and I don’t mean to insult the experience you already have as a business owner.   But I’ve seen plenty of businesses fail because they got one – or all - of the above pieces wrong.  Too many would-be business owners simply adopt a “build it and they will come” mentality, only to find out too late that opening a business, and finding paying customers, are two distinctly different tasks.  

I might use Dual Smoking Guns as a case study here.  They’re no longer in business, I believe.  Even though they were close to my house, they never gave me a compelling reason to go there.  Their prices were not good, they weren’t offering any services I couldn’t get elsewhere (and usually for less), their customer service wasn't particularly good,  and in a nutshell, they had no unique value proposition.  

I think there’s always room for a new business in any industry, provided that new business is based on a sound business plan, and that it offers some sort of value proposition missing from the current marketplace.

sell everything for $1 over cost

and free NFA transfers

Thanks for all the advice guys. I wont forget it.  Everything is moving along we are currenty working on Inventory and a good location in the SE area . Any one know any good locations ? Need to see what it takes to service the Police . We are pretty good at Google and face book. Our web site is going to be great. And well spend alot of time bloging and on facebook etc. We do all these things for our current shop. Our #1 goal will be customer service and having a fair price.

We are going to start small with 250k invintory . And hope to move up from there. Cant wait for this next years shot show.


Checkout my shops web site www.sunysideautomotive.net

WOO an even more local xfer dealer !!!

When you get it I will 100% do some business with ya.

We need a location in the Pearl District! There are a ton of open retail space thanks to 66 and 67 passing!

As for class III, once you get your FFL, it's just a matter of paying the extra SOT tax to be able to deal title ii items. I'm sure you've received this via pm already though.

Good luck and I will say it's nice to see someone trying to start up a business in Portland during these economic times...

someone probably already told you this, but everyone says get your O7FFL or which ever one allows you to MFG firearms and cans and such.  That way you can has some fun if you have the equipement or want to buy it.  But even with an auto shop or any shop for that matter having a mill and a lathe (and knowing how to use them ) can be a god send.  Its really nice to be able to make what ever you need when you need it.

There used to be a couple of police servicing businesses in the SE area.  The first one was SNC that started out inside the old Larry's sporting goods at the Oregon City shopping center (now Fisherman's Marine).  Then SNC split up, and Gordon started a shop over near Johnson Creek Blvd, and I-205.  There seemed to be quite a bit of business at SNC, a bit less at Gordon's shop, but I couldn't tell you what the difference was.  

Gordon was a great guy and I was sad to see him close down, perhaps the economy just hit him too.  Anyhow, maybe something north of where the Gunbroker in Clackamas is, and near by the Public Safety training Center across from Toys-R-Us on S.E. 82 and Sunnyside would be a location to consider.

Are you talking about 911 over near johnson creek?
I LOVED that place!! Got my glock there and my duty rig for when I was doing armored work.
There is a cop shop supposed to be in the area I think extreme something, also wolf something which took over the majority of 911s stock.  Last time I spoke with the guy who took over the old 911 inventory it was around that area and cops only.

As much as I loved 911 a bunch of the stuff was letterhead only and not outside LE.

How'd I miss that post?

Hey sunnyside I think I found a cool spot.  Ballastic teller glass and reenforced door.
Not sure on the rest or space but was an old check cashing place.

probably too busy hangin out with cockfailer in your closet would be my guess

Please, for the love of God... carry reloading gear... especially Ramshot, Hodgdon, and Winchester powders in bulk sizes...  (at reasonable prices, of course).



If you do this, I promise to be a regular customer!!!

Whats the Footage . Thanks

I need an idea of what you guys buy ? Such as reloading supplies and rifles and hand guns. No junk!