Everyones opinion please

[XTfreak]

In your opinion what are some of the main things that you look for in an archery shop?
I like to see a few different manufacturers bows that I can try.
Lots of the most popular stock.
Friendly service.
A neat clean shop.
Bill

[woodstoka]

good variety
lots of bows
lots of arrows
always have plenty of stock
friendly block behind the counter
open all week days from 9-6
and good fast mail odering
jesse

[huddo0312]

Hey XT

If that's all you're looking for in an archery shop you and I are living in the wrong part of the world. Definitely an opening for a good shop in Cairns or surrounds.

Dave

[Blakey_boi]

ALOT of variety, especially in arrows and arrow ecsesseries!
I dont know about everyone else but i dont mind waiting a while to get something if you needed to order it in or they have ran out of stock, just as long as you get the right thing.

[hunt or be hunted]

good brands, for everything, hoyt, bowtech, mathews etc...the archery shop i go to now is a crap heap!!! the people behind the counter are pathetic i ordered in some inserts nearly two months ago and i went in ther yesterday and asked and all he said is, they arent coming and he walked off so i walked out. stupid shop. there not friendly there at all. anyway so there needs to be good service and friendly people and thats the maine thing i reckon.

dan.

[Piggy]

A variety of brands and a good range of gear from compound to trad, hunting and target.
The accessories to match and most importantly the staff to have good product knowledge and know how to implement their knowledge and give the right advice for both beginner and the seasoned archer.

Cheers Mate


Paul

[spiderbait24]

exactly what jesse said.

[Dale Furze]

Bill, I would like to see an archery shop that has a very detailed web site (like Archery Mart) and the knowledge to answer any questions that I may email promptly. Very rarely do I venture into archery shops to tyre kick any more, there is a variety of equipment to see at my archery club if I need to inspect something different. Good prompt service from shop staff for what they advertise is very appreciated.

Dale.

[cutthroat]

one thing that ticks me off are shops that are not archery shops.in other words
they get a catalogue and will get in anything you want but do not know how to set that bow or other pieces up.We at our club get it all the time

[NormGunston]

Too many to list, but the top two are an online store/shop inventory backed up by timely responses to email enquiries and prompt shipping and
a variety of demonstration bows in common d/l and poundage varieties that can be shot at the shop's indoor shooting range.

[Steven]

Definitly someone who knows what they're talking about, cos I sure don't all the time. Fast mail order service, and lots of hunting gear. Many shops out there have heaps of cool target gadgets and gear but not much to use for smashing critters. Also has to be quality bows and accesories.
Cheers, Steven.

[Evil Taco]

to be honest ive never bought anything from an archery shop and only ever been in one (and a crap one at that) all my equiptment is bought through my club so i get it at a cheaper price, i agree with people in the shops not knowing what their doing, i went into alpine country and theve got 2 bows there (no name brand and browning rage) with the bow quivers upsidedown, I happen to know a person who works there and when i told him they where wrong he couldnt tell me what the bow quiver was!

i know there not a proper archery shop but they should know somthing about it if there selling the product...

[Puk]

A dream, i know, but i would like to see an archery shop set up JUST FOR HUNTERS. So maybe not an archery shop in the full sense of the word: a Bowhunting Shop.

It could then be staffed by people who know bowhunting, not shooting the dreaded, elusive and dangerous game we call paper. and they then could give good bowhunting advice. Yep, it's a dream all right.

Puk

[Friar Tuck]

Unfortunately there is a limited market size in Australia to support specialist Archery shops and herein lies the problem for startup businesses.

Running one ourselves I can vouch that the money required to invest in a larger type shop with alot of stock does not pay the return. In fact I can make more money per annum by buying blue chip shares and going fishing.

I have run the numbers for a full retail store and average GP looks to be 30% (for the non-finance types that is total sales less cost of sales, before expenses) trying to keep prices down enough to stay within spitting distance of US prices.

Then if you have a shooting lane to test the liability insurance skyrockets etc.

Breakeven with a Manager being paid only $45k per annum equates to approx $300,000 turnover so it's not all apples people.

[XTfreak]

Thanks everyone.
There are many surprising answers.
Please keep them coming...
Bill

[Noakesy]

i reckon you need internet buying because its really convenient and good customer service. they also need plenty of goods

[hawkeye]

whether they adequately cater for recurves or not.

[XTfreak]

Come on folks. Any more???
Bill

[Timmsy]

A shop assistant who looks like this will help ;)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/exi1e/stibabe.jpg



Cheers

[ricochet]

Unfortunately there is a limited market size in Australia to support specialist Archery shops and herein lies the problem for startup businesses.

Running one ourselves I can vouch that the money required to invest in a larger type shop with alot of stock does not pay the return. In fact I can make more money per annum by buying blue chip shares and going fishing.

I have run the numbers for a full retail store and average GP looks to be 30% (for the non-finance types that is total sales less cost of sales, before expenses) trying to keep prices down enough to stay within spitting distance of US prices.

Then if you have a shooting lane to test the liability insurance skyrockets etc.

Breakeven with a Manager being paid only $45k per annum equates to approx $300,000 turnover so it's not all apples people.



Very good analysis there Friar, i think this is the point we most forget about when setting up a business, there are many hidden costs, it is not that easy, "just sell some gear and make a profit", this is why prices may seem dear compared to the US, a very small market here in Australia.

One thing the is important tho, is that the person/people working in a bow related business must have knowledge ( how/why things work etc) on the gear they are trying to sell.:cool:


Cheers,
Rick:D

[ricochet]

Unfortunately there is a limited market size in Australia to support specialist Archery shops and herein lies the problem for startup businesses.

Running one ourselves I can vouch that the money required to invest in a larger type shop with alot of stock does not pay the return. In fact I can make more money per annum by buying blue chip shares and going fishing.

I have run the numbers for a full retail store and average GP looks to be 30% (for the non-finance types that is total sales less cost of sales, before expenses) trying to keep prices down enough to stay within spitting distance of US prices.

Then if you have a shooting lane to test the liability insurance skyrockets etc.

Breakeven with a Manager being paid only $45k per annum equates to approx $300,000 turnover so it's not all apples people.



Very good analysis there Friar, i think this is the point we most forget about when setting up a business, there are many hidden costs, it is not that easy, "just sell some gear and make a profit", this is why prices may seem dear compared to the US, a very small market here in Australia.

One thing the is important tho, is that the person/people working in a bow related business must have knowledge ( how/why things work etc) on the gear they are trying to sell.:cool:


Cheers,
Rick:D

[XTfreak]

A shop assistant who looks like this will help ;)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/exi1e/stibabe.jpg




Cheers

Very good analysis there Friar, i think this is the point we most forget about when setting up a business, there are many hidden costs, it is not that easy, "just sell some gear and make a profit", this is why prices may seem dear compared to the US, a very small market here in Australia.

One thing the is important tho, is that the person/people working in a bow related business must have knowledge ( how/why things work etc) on the gear they are trying to sell.:cool:


Cheers,
Rick:D
Thank you for your ideas guys.
And dont worry about the buisness end of it as I know the people that may open it personally and it isnt the first buisness he and his wife have owned. They do know what they would be getting into if they went forward with this. Also one of the people willing to assist them is probably the most knowledgable person when it comes to bow maintenance and products...
Bill

[fulton]

a archery shop that lets you shoot the bows to test them out you dont get many shops that let u shoot them

[HOOD]

a archery shop that lets you shoot the bows to test them out you dont get many shops that let u shoot them

:oWhat tha

How the hell do they expect people to make an informed and unbiased decission when it comes to what bow they buy?

how many car yards would be out of business if they didn't let you test drive the cars!

[HOOD]

Freak I recon the shop also needs a corner with child minding service so I can leave my daughter there while I browse.

Trying to have a look at bows and bits with my daughter in tow is a nightmare.

As well as a fully serviced bar.:confused:

So one can have a couple before heading home to try and explain/justify why there is no money left for the bills that week to the other half:P;)

[XTfreak]

Anymore guys? Please keep them coming. Good or bad...
Bill

[troy]

Someone who knows their ***** is a good start, how many so called shops as some of you guys have said, have a dough head behind the counter talking through thier fundamental orifice, too many for mine. Thats why I don't use them. Try the online sponsers. I am fortunate enough to have good mate in the business and he looks after me for a fair price and gets whatever I want without trying to rip me off.

But then again, if he looked like Timmisy's sales assistant, I wouldn't care if he over charged. LOL

[Jeremy87]

Really sharp pointy broadheads, they're like the soft plastics of the hunting world, you can only use one at a time but you can never have enough.

[Treker]

I shop on line because it's cheaper then driving the hour or so to get to a shop. So a good informative internet sight is high on the list. If I want to look before I buy then the next most important thing would be a range of products on the shelf and Sales Staff that know the products and want to spend the time to help.

[robf300]

Having good friendly staff who know what they are talking about is my main priority... the internet site is also helpful, so I can suss things about before I go in.
Also a bar.

[Tj]

The only reason I will go into a shop over getting it cheaper on the internet is that I can have my questions answered. So knowledge AND EXPERIENCE. In an ideal shop I would like to see an paper shooter and a hunter, who try new products and can be trusted to give an honest opinion on the stuff.