What would be the top 10 products you would always keep in stock or you think would be the best sellers, including specific gun models.
Only caveat is you are in a ban state so only compliant ARs can be sold.

I have found this to be regional. What sells well in our Ohio store, sits in our Florida store and vice versa.

Also, there is no such thing as keeping the hottest items always in stock. The hot products are always difficult to get and keep on the shelf.

You will want to keep the basic bread-n-butter products, like G19, G43, P226 9mm, P938, Shield, a Ruger and S&W revolver etc., a couple of shotguns, featureless AR's if you are in a ban state. I am sure I left out several others, but, you get the idea.

I have found tastes to be regional as well. A wide selection of interesting used firearms creates a draw around here. Most of the old guard gun shops have closed, and the same 20 new firearms are at the next Uber-Sparta-molon-guns-r-s has won't draw customers. A cheap transfer is another thing to draw people in.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Voshterkoff,

quote:

Originally posted by rjbaal:
Only caveat is you are in a ban state...

Sorry, you lost me there.

I worked for a ban state gun store owner for a couple years here in CT. He closed shop and moved to Texas a few years back.

I used to track stuff using a form of excel that some business group provided him as a point of sale software.

What we sold the most of was Handguns, specifically used trade in guns.
After that it was high quality 1911's. That maybe because we had one of the largest inventories of them around. People like to feel and inspect a high price purchase before they buy.
Then new handguns from the major brands, sig/hk/glock/kimber/colt/s&w. Glocks predominantly due to the price. New guns were marked up 10% sometimes less just to be competitive with buds gun shop type dealers.

After that it was the little things that sold the most. Like Magazines, holsters, accessories, and ammo. It's funny because those things have the highest markup.

However, bar none, the highest sale item was compressed air. Everyone came in for tank fill-ups, 10 bucks a pop, and it was basically free money.

Eventually we had to open 3 window counters full of airsoft/paintball guns and accessories. The profit was as good if not better then guns.

The things that sat in inventory the most was exotic rifles and shotguns, their price is too high and only serious collectors would buy them as opposed to the more common long guns, which sold less then pistols.


I don't know if this is all still true today, I'm going by what I tracked 10 years ago.

quote:

Only caveat is you are in a ban state

candy and Ice cream, ( preferably Thrifty brand)

Beef jerky. Definitely beef jerky.

-Rob

Deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste available at the front door.

I'd also have a barber on site and trucker showers available.

For all the obvious reasons.

Beer, condoms, nilla wafers, french bread.

Cheetos, Monster drinks, Snickers Bars, Boiled Peanuts, Diet coke.

Beef jerky, old Nazi memorabilia, and local homemade holsters and stale hot dogs. A bunch of beat to hell rifles at 200% cost of new.

Wait, I thought you said gun show, not shop.

While I appreciate the answers I was looking for something a little more specific.
What products a good sellers at an LGS
Please specify brand etc.
Thanks

Well, I guess that went sideways on you...

The whole Ban state will get you in trouble every time.

I would sell
Shotguns
pistols
revolvers
rifles
bows
arrows
ammo - lots of ammo

I got lost at "ban state" and "compliant AR's"

But that said, Ruger 10/22 for sure.

What is your point.

I live in a "ban state," and I don't have patience for this.

So, out with it. What are you on about?

I give zero fucks what they peddle in ban states (firearm wise).

But I'm sure they would make a killing selling Alpaca rugs, cheap Benchmade knockoff knives, Uncle Mikes holsters...

Oh, I'm sure if the counter was staffed by some of those "Marriage Minded" foreigners, you couldn't keep em away!

I know exactly what they sell, and I'd just like to not have to fumble under a sweater.

Are we going to flirt, or get down to it?

What I think your asking doesn't work.

You have to have multiple brands, multiple models, if not the full line up of those brands. Across all item types.

What I like, isn't what you like, what can afford isn't what you can afford.

If your going to have a storefront then you have to have inventory. Not just the "best" but the mid range and low range of items. You have to cover your bases for the customer coming in, whether hes a big shot or a tire kicker.

Now if you want to specialize in a few specific brands or items you can do that, but your limiting yourself with opportunities lost.

I don't think most gun stores can cherry pick which brands they can carry. There are minimum commitments and buy ins to carry a brand. If you can't swing a distribution agreement with a manufacturer, then you'll likely have to get your wares from a distributor, and getting the good stuff from them depends on what they carry, and how much you can sell--they'll funnel the most desirable stuff to their most successful retailers to keep them happy.