store front

[johnqbs]

I have been thinking about opening a store front pro shop here in anderson sc. The more I think about it may a big waste of money.
Anderson is not a big pool playing town. Most people that call me about a cue or case they want a 5 or 6 hundred set up for 50.00, and not to mention the economy is so bad. I allways say if you second guess your self it is a good idea to forget about it and keep your money in pocket.
Just looking for some real input about this. Most things I may hear I have already thought about. But all opinions and input will be appreciated very much. Thanks, john

 

[cueman]

Unless the rent is dirt cheap and you have nothing else to do with your time, I would say do something else. Now if you have a national market for some shipping orders and could use a little extra walk in business it might be a good idea.

 

[johnqbs]

Unless the rent is dirt cheap and you have nothing else to do with your time, I would say do something else. Now if you have a national market for some shipping orders and could use a little extra walk in business it might be a good idea.

Thanks for your reply. Yes you are right overhead is a deal breaker. High rent good location dirt cheap not a good location. Thanks, john

 

[Mr Hoppe]

Begin by running it out of your basement or garage until your revenue stream can sustain the increased overhead of a retail location.

 

[RackemBilliards]

Store front

Store fronts have a tough go these days. The internet takes a bigger and bigger piece each year, and the big box retailers (costco, etc.) are taking table sales. A combination internet/storefront business can probably do well if the rent is cheap.

 

[johnqbs]

Begin by running it out of your basement or garage until your revenue stream can sustain the increased overhead of a retail location.

My thread ask for some real input .It looks like you are a expert on name calling. You must know a lot about dipsticks. That remark you made was uncalled for. If you can't say something nice don't say at all. john

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

I had thought of the same idea as yourself in the past. When league is going strong, a guy might break even.

Better to do what Mr. H suggested and what I do for the most part, work out of the basement. No over head there.

Around my neck of the woods, you just about have to give things away to get people interested.
I tried cues, cases gadgets and in the long run I just blew everything out the door at cost or next to it so I didn't have to sit on anything. I just stick to tips and repairs.

 

[Mr Hoppe]

My thread ask for some real input .It looks like you are a expert on name calling. You must know a lot about dipsticks. That remark you made was uncalled for. If you can't say something nice don't say at all. john

Take it easy buddy, that "dipstick" comment is just a funny quote in my signature, and it has nothing to do with you. Notice that it appears in quotes, and has a person's userID at the end. Welcome to the Internet...

 

[johnqbs]

Take it easy buddy, that "dipstick" comment is just a funny quote in my signature, and it has nothing to do with you. Notice that it appears in quotes, and has a person's userID at the end. Welcome to the Internet...

NO problem at all. Read that from my end. I am sure you could do a better signature than that. Yes that is what I am doing now working out of my garage. take care no harm done,
john

 

[Trent]

i had a pro shop for a while in a bar that had 6 tables and a ton of league teams i just rented out a small office and did my work there for a while, you might to look for something like that opening a store youd better do table sales ans moving and leesons also in order to keep it afloat.

 

[ShootingArts]

free advice

I have been thinking about opening a store front pro shop here in anderson sc. The more I think about it may a big waste of money.
Anderson is not a big pool playing town. Most people that call me about a cue or case they want a 5 or 6 hundred set up for 50.00, and not to mention the economy is so bad. I allways say if you second guess your self it is a good idea to forget about it and keep your money in pocket.
Just looking for some real input about this. Most things I may hear I have already thought about. But all opinions and input will be appreciated very much. Thanks, john

Look for a group called SCORE. They can help over the net but usually have an office reasonably close. This is the Service Core of Retired Executives. They work for free and all know about running successful businesses. Also most importantly they know the questions to ask before starting a business and can give you a framework to work with. They will ask you questions that may be tough to answer and ask you to fill out some forms. Several times I have built the information for SCORE or just some of it and realized that the math just didn't work for the business. Talk to the Small Business Association too. There are various free services in the area that can help you when considering going into business.

A brutal truth when the economy and business climate was far better than it is today, according to the people encouraging small businesses, 85% fail within five years of start-up. Almost all fail because they are undercapitalized. Basically if you need the income from a small business you can't afford to start one!

This isn't to tell you not to do something you really want to do but do look long and hard at what you are getting into first including all of the real costs of doing business. Insurance is a must for a storefront. Licenses, permits, a lot of things get in your pocket. Two sets of utilities and such can be a pretty good bite. Yellow page and other advertising ran me over twenty thousand a year in a fairly small market back in the mid-eighties. No reason to spend that but you may be spending a hundred or two just on yellow pages each month.

If possible setting up in a large pool room or rotating through a few who are already covering most of these expenses can be a good way to start. They will take a hefty bite but probably not as much as your overhead would be with a storefront.

Good luck, and remember that nobody succeeds without trying. Those that are well prepared before they try fair best.

Hu

 

[poolhustler]

Signatures at the bottom of a person's post have NOTHING to do with their comment to YOU!!!

Mr Hoppe's advice to you was "spot on".

I think you would make more money opening a Lemonade stand on your corner than you or anyone would opening a pro billiards store nowadays.

Good luck!

 

[johnqbs]

I had thought of the same idea as yourself in the past. When league is going strong, a guy might break even.

Better to do what Mr. H suggested and what I do for the most part, work out of the basement. No over head there.

Around my neck of the woods, you just about have to give things away to get people interested.
I tried cues, cases gadgets and in the long run I just blew everything out the door at cost or next to it so I didn't have to sit on anything. I just stick to tips and repairs.

I started online store as a hobby. As you said, the same here I have sold at cost or lower most of the time.
This hobby is getting expensive. With hosting, selling and paypal fees
not to mention ebay, it looks to be a money pit. I think about that movie
with Tom Hanks. Thanks for your reply. john

 

[johnqbs]

Signatures at the bottom of a person's post have NOTHING to do with their comment to YOU!!!

Mr Hoppe's advice to you was "spot on".

I think you would make more money opening a Lemonade stand on your corner than you or anyone would opening a pro billiards store nowadays.

Good luck!

Yes I replyed to mr hoppe and said no problem about that. I did understand mr hoppe's explanation. Thanks for your reply. take care,john

 

[johnqbs]

Look for a group called SCORE. They can help over the net but usually have an office reasonably close. This is the Service Core of Retired Executives. They work for free and all know about running successful businesses. Also most importantly they know the questions to ask before starting a business and can give you a framework to work with. They will ask you questions that may be tough to answer and ask you to fill out some forms. Several times I have built the information for SCORE or just some of it and realized that the math just didn't work for the business. Talk to the Small Business Association too. There are various free services in the area that can help you when considering going into business.

A brutal truth when the economy and business climate was far better than it is today, according to the people encouraging small businesses, 85% fail within five years of start-up. Almost all fail because they are undercapitalized. Basically if you need the income from a small business you can't afford to start one!

This isn't to tell you not to do something you really want to do but do look long and hard at what you are getting into first including all of the real costs of doing business. Insurance is a must for a storefront. Licenses, permits, a lot of things get in your pocket. Two sets of utilities and such can be a pretty good bite. Yellow page and other advertising ran me over twenty thousand a year in a fairly small market back in the mid-eighties. No reason to spend that but you may be spending a hundred or two just on yellow pages each month.

If possible setting up in a large pool room or rotating through a few who are already covering most of these expenses can be a good way to start. They will take a hefty bite but probably not as much as your overhead would be with a storefront.

Good luck, and remember that nobody succeeds without trying. Those that are well prepared before they try fair best.

Hu

Very good points you are right on target. I have thought about
everything you said. thanks for your reply. john

 

[CueCaps]

Friends

I opened up a Pro Shop in a Pool Room.
My Friends were the worst customers.
They all want good deals, discount on the cue, free shapper/tapper, discount on the cue case and no sale tax.
Some begged me that they promise to pay me later. They never payed to this day.
Best to hire a salesman, so, they can say, "I can't give a discount, I will get fired..".
But, you gotta pay the salesperson, so, lose again.
There will be the guys that will come in to see the product you have, then, go home and order it on the internet..
One guy told me that when I was showing him a cue case..

Hope this helps..
Alton