Extra things you do to attract customers.

[77luke]

I thought it might be interesting to find out what other things you guys do to attract customers. Some of the things the shop that I work at does is take passport photos and do notarys. Both are pretty cheap to do- and I would say that 60-70% of people who come in to get a notary or passport photo also get a key cut while they are here. What do you guys do?

[WOT]

I thought it might be interesting to find out what other things you guys do to attract customers. Some of the things the shop that I work at does is take passport photos and do notarys. Both are pretty cheap to do- and I would say that 60-70% of people who come in to get a notary or passport photo also get a key cut while they are here. What do you guys do?

How about offering a mini glass door fridge and sell soda, juice, granola bar, etc. etc etc at vending machine like price? That'd be instantly give you the profit of one key being cut and people tend to buy these things when they see it before their eyes. I know I'm guilty

[77luke]

I have suggested that- but there is such limited space available that that is difficult. Another thing we do is offer laminating- I am surprised at how many people actually get things laminated once they know that you do it.

[Raccoon]

I don't have a shop, but selling money orders via western union seems to be profitable for many shops.

[77luke]

Hhhmm, that is an idea I hadn't heard of before. Ironically, the building right behind ours is a Money Center/ Check Cashing place. I'll have to remember that though.

[WOT]

What about fax sending/receiving service? It isn't that expensive or space consuming to replace that landline phone with a fax machine.

[Raccoon]

If I ever open a lock shop, it's going to be both a gun shop and lock & key shop. It'll even have a miniature indoor firing range. There is a lot of retail margin with firearms, and people looking for home security are usually in the market for self-defense tools. It would, of course, also promote my agenda on gun ownership for self-defense purposes.

There are lots of similar retail/catalog items that are easy sellers, such as batons, knives, etc etc. This would bring in a steady flow of customers over a wide spectrum of interests which are interconnected and easy to up-sell. And since knife shops aren't all that common these days, there is a nice demand if you do it right.

[jimmyboy]

word of mouth is your strongest ally -- do something "extra" for each customer and make sure to bring it to their attention that you did this free of charge.. people tend to remember things like that.. it goes a long way..

[dab]

other security stuff like security photo id's on pvc or hid cards, bathroom or security signs, and stickers on all doors you work on

[fsdhy]

We do saw sharpening.

[lancelot6840]

If I ever open a lock shop, it's going to be both a gun shop and lock & key shop. It'll even have a miniature indoor firing range. There is a lot of retail margin with firearms, and people looking for home security are usually in the market for self-defense tools.

I've got several friends that are firearms dealers who were going to help me get my Federal Firearms License and open a shop. They've all told me that there is not a huge mark up on firearms. They make most of there money on all the extra's (ammo, holsters, cases, range bags, sights, etc.). They also tend to sell other things (fishing rods, hunting and camping supplies, etc.). I could be wrong, but that is what I've been told.

There's a joke with gun dealers:

How do you make a million dollars selling firearms? Start with 2 million.

[dragonriot]

If I ever open a lock shop, it's going to be both a gun shop and lock & key shop. It'll even have a miniature indoor firing range. There is a lot of retail margin with firearms, and people looking for home security are usually in the market for self-defense tools. It would, of course, also promote my agenda on gun ownership for self-defense purposes.

There are lots of similar retail/catalog items that are easy sellers, such as batons, knives, etc etc. This would bring in a steady flow of customers over a wide spectrum of interests which are interconnected and easy to up-sell. And since knife shops aren't all that common these days, there is a nice demand if you do it right.

You and I are of like minds, Raccoon... =) My shop will be called Waterloo Gun and Lock, which is the same name as the original gun shop in Waterloo, WI that has since closed down... I'm going to need to get a downtown storefront though, the shops are about 40 feet wide and at least 100 feet long, which is perfect for a full length indoor pistol/archery range. With the bullet trap and shooting stations, there should be about 25 yards of range to play with.

The only difference is my guns will be of the collectible/military surplus variety, rather than catering to the home defense crowd. I'm all for being secure in your home though, and I will of course do anything in my power to get a customer what they want.

[dragonriot]

If I ever open a lock shop, it's going to be both a gun shop and lock & key shop. It'll even have a miniature indoor firing range. There is a lot of retail margin with firearms, and people looking for home security are usually in the market for self-defense tools.

I've got several friends that are firearms dealers who were going to help me get my Federal Firearms License and open a shop. They've all told me that there is not a huge mark up on firearms. They make most of there money on all the extra's (ammo, holsters, cases, range bags, sights, etc.). They also tend to sell other things (fishing rods, hunting and camping supplies, etc.). I could be wrong, but that is what I've been told.

There's a joke with gun dealers:

How do you make a million dollars selling firearms? Start with 2 million.

That's a joke with pretty much any self-employment situation... Being in the gun business, I can tell you in the right hands, gun shops can make amazing profit. Being a gunsmith is not so profitable if that's all you do, but I can buy a rifle for $100 today, and sell it for $300 tomorrow... Just depends who you know, and where you get your "deals".

[lancelot6840]

Like I said, I could be wrong. That is just what I've been told. Being in the business, you would obviously know more than I would.

[maxxed]

The shop that I first trained in did lock and safe servicing, alarm installation and monitoring, sharpening, made signs, sold drafting supplies, and repaired appliances.