New Gun Shop - You Pick the Hours

[Shootsomething]

Good Morning to all. Well, this summer I found myself with a job for the first time in 23 years. I fell victim to down sizing/right sizing, whatever they call it when they ulitimately replace their long term employees that make more money with kids right out of college that will work for whatever is offered. But I digress.

So, I have always wanted to own my own business and be my own boss. The wife and I talked it over and I have decided to open a Gun Shop (Stewart's Firearms and Collectibles - Pendleton, KY - between Louisville, Ky & Cincinnati, OH -Exit 28 on I-71) Shameless Plug

Here is the question - If you could pick the hours of operation for your favorite gun shop, what would they be? Include suggestions for the weekend.

Thanks and wish me luck.

 

[s&wchad]

Good Luck!

6am - 10pm Monday thru Saturday
12n - 8pm Sunday
Closed Christmas

… and I’d like you to have lots of really nice, used guns… cheap!

 

[duketbrd88]

Good Luck!!!! The local guy buy me opens mon-fri from 10:00am until 7:00pm and sat from like 12 noon untill 5:00pm and closed on sunday. Those seem like decent hours. I do sometimes find it annoying that he is closed on sunday, but you have to give yourself a break sometimes. I think open on the weekends a little longer would be better, but it's your time and you can always change the hours if you don't find them working out. I am sure you know as well as I that you want to catch the guys coming after work and on the weekends. Good luck to you and your family.

 

[mm6mm6]

Closed Mon-Tues, open Sat-Sun.

Read SHOT News magazine from the NSSF very carefully. Pay close attention to the gun shop reviews. They go into four local gun shops asking for the same type of gun and then they review how they were treated.

Every gun store I know that's still in business does what the good stores do.

All the ones out of business did what the badly reviewed stores did.

Pay attention to what the NSSF says.

 

[walnutred]

My favorite shop is open 11AM-8PM, Tue- Friday, 8-6 on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. His busiest time is Happy Hour 4PM-7PM. People stop by on the way home from work. Now that I think on it the local, non-chain pet store has very similar hours, so it must work in our area.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Good Luck on this venture!


Bullseye

 

[roarindan]

good luck on your new career!! the shops by me are open at 1 pm tues. thru fri. sat they open at 10 am close at 6pm. closed sun., mon (helps with the bankin)

 

[tomf52]

Local shop does 11 - 7 Mon through Fri, 10 - 5 Sat, closed Sun. Seems to be working for him.

 

[JTA]

For hours that would be convenient to me as a customer, I would pick 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Monday through Sunday. Of course, as an owner, you would probably not want to work seven days a week. Basically, I would suggest something that allows for those who work during the week (and sometimes work late) an opportunity to get into the shop without having to greatly alter our schedules.

I think two of the biggest turn offs to gun stores are condescending sales staff (or sales staff that ignores you all together) and a lack of selection. One of the best shops I ever visited actually sent me to another shop because as the owner said, "just because I don't have it doesn't mean you should not be able to." I liked that so much that I returned for other items. I think if you try to treat customers the way you would want to be treated then you will do well.

By the way, you should get a website (or at least post in the classifieds here) so that those of us not near you can check out some of your inventory.

 

[ldausmc1369]

Congrats on the shop

I live just down US 42 toward Louisville from you! There has/is a need for someone who has knowledge and experience in the firearms business in this part of the world. There is one small outfit in LaGrange that has the same old stuff time after time. The super duty range in Crestwood is nice, but so are the prices on firearms, ammo and range time. I sincerely hope you will consider carrying powder, primers and bullets, as no one in the area, including Glauber's ever has much, if anything. And, while being friendly, don't allow the hang arounds, like the Oak Room, and to an extent, Shooter's Supply does. I'll never darken the door on either again, due to the staff shooting the breeze with the good ole boys and ignoring customers.
For where you are located, I'd recommend your hours be 10-6 weekdays and 10-4 Saturdays and possibly Sundays. Spend some money in the local fishwrappers to advertise your presence, and spend some money to stage a Grand Opening. Perhaps get Smith to send Jerry Mickalic and/or Benelli to send Tom Knapp. There is money in this area, as you well know, and you can/will draw from Cincinnati South, Louisville North and possibly from Souther Indiana.
Look forward to meeting you and visiting the store!

 

[Engineer1911]

Business is all about data

Pick the hours you want and keep a data log of customer comments regarding business hours.

Open at 11 AM. do you get any negative comments about not being open earlier? Change to 1 PM opening. Customers want stuff Friday night for Saturday match? Stay open later on Friday.

Hunting season opener? Stay open later. Your customers will tell you what your hours should be by their comments and when you have the most traffic. You are open for your customers. Check the data.

And good luck with your new enterprise.

 

[NE450No2]

10 AM to 6PM, every day but Thur, stay open till 8pm.

Be closed Sunday and Monday, you deserve a life too.

 

[DWinter]

I know the hours question is what you asked, and that's important but being known for customer service will get you repeat customers more than the hours IMO. A friendly, knowledgable staff without the "I work in a gun shop so I'm a bad-a$$" attitude wins me over, most times, even more than prices, ( Okay there's a limit to that). You'll deal with your share of attitudes from customers, but a smile and a friendly helpful attitude and actually listening to what the customer is saying rather than immediately pushing your opinion of what he/she should or shouldn't buy goes a long way. You want to present yourself as an ambassador of our sport especially with new shooters but hey, that just my opinion. Best of luck to ya.