Who are your competitors from a national perspective?
Now that firearms sales can be conducted online and shipped from my FFL to another for the end user, literally everyone everywhere is a competitor for firearms sales. Sites like Gunbroker.com even allow individual owners to sell their firearms online with the promise to follow the law with respect to the legal transfer through an FFL. Even so, as a business who sells firearms in a market like that, it would be smart to offer online sales, if possible, even if you do just get the occasional sale.
Who are your competitors from a local perspective?
Locally, because I currently live in Texas, my competition ranges for a number of reasons. There are a number of gunsmiths around Texas but that is their main focus. Toss a stick and you will find another gun store that sells the same firearms you do. Ever tried competing with a Pawn Shop price, it is impossible. I could put a focus on the manufacturing of firearms but then I have big name companies who call this place their home too. Finally, we look at the Gun Range side of it all and realize that anyone with some land and a dirt berm can call it a range and become competition. That is why being a gunsmith with an FFL who sells firearms on location at a live fire facility that offers classes is my business plan, becomes it comes full circle and covers all the bases.
What would distinguish your firearms business from others in your location?
However, my FFL has an edge being a live fire facility because we can rent the facility to NRA and USCCA instructors. This would not only bring repeat business but also ammo and firearm sales. We can test fire firearms we are buying used to ensure we are not purchasing junk guns at a premium price then turning around and unknowingly selling a broken firearm. People can trust that a used firearm through my FFL is in good working order. People may just come to shoot and realize that their firearm is not working and ask for our gunsmithing service. Even better, they will realize they are a terrible shot and ask if we offer courses. By having everything the average shooter might need in one place you double or triple your business with multiple individuals because they do not need to look for the service, it’s immediately available to them at my location.
Comments