UK Airsoft Market Data

[reedy308]

Hi all,

Don't know if anyone on here would be able to help. 

But I am trying to locate market data on how many players in the UK there are and also how this compares to previous years? 

Also Trying to find out What Has been the biggest contributing factor to gaining more airsoft players to the sport. 
I have had a little search around on google, and can find stuff in the USA but can't find hardly anything for the UK. Even checked the office for national statistics, there isn't a single report on anything to do with airsoft.

Any info would be much appreciated or a link to where I could find the data. 

Thanks!

 

[Jedi_Master]

No idea if there is such data set out there, or even link(s).  You could try asking the UKARA about numbers registered but that would not be a true reflection of the total number of airsoft players because many have never been on the database or have since lapsed.

Why do people play the airsoft? You could try a poll on that question but it would need lots of options.

Begs the question of why you want the market data in the first place?

 

[reedy308]

basically was looking into setting up a business (cqb site) as a warehouse 11000sqft with office space that would make an amazing site and airsoft shop and as there isn't anything like that in the area. so it would be ideal. But I wanted to do some research on it before I take a serious look into it doing it.

I know a lot of airsoft sights fail.  I know it's a lot of hard work. and a lot of people say don't bother trying but I wanted to know why really. 

Also if nobody ever tried then we wouldn't have anywhere to play or buy our gear from. 

was just toying with the idea at the moment. 

 

[Gepard]

I don't think it matters how many players there are in the UK, more so how many are in your area. You'll also want to take player travel time into consideration. I wouldn't expect any average skirmisher to spend anything over 30m-1hr getting to the site. If you're just starting out how are you going to promote the site and get people there in the first place?

Before any of this you've got to consider the cost of buying land, building your site, hiring admins, rentals packages, insurance, etc.. 

I'm all for new sites and don't want to put you off the idea at all but as an owner you've got to think about all of the factors including how you're going to successfully sustain your business. 

 

[reedy308]

just wanted to do the market research its all well and good knowing how much everything costs. But knowing what the likely return is can be very valuable. Especially when creating business plans. admittedly haven't looked as far into it as insurance and stock etc but knowing how much I have to play with even on a bad month really helps plan things out and know if it's viable. 

I'm fully aware that this probably won't happen. but its interesting to me even to find out what the market is like for independent airsoft companies.  

I have worked in a couple successful startups but none in this industry. So have no idea what its like for site and shop owners at the moment. 

Also want the community to grow, and to know what helps it grow the most. 

For me makes for an interesting idea. but I'm sure I'm missing a lot of elements to it, so thought I would come to the forum for a more knowledgeable take. 

 

[AshOnSnow]

It's good you're doing the research. Remember, a site doesn't have to be close, but it has to be reachable. There was one site I couldn't get to on game day that was fairly close to a big town, but because the old farm track that ran for over a mile was so full of pot holes, I couldn't actually get the car there. On the other hand, another site is way out in the middle of nowhere, but it's not far off the M1 and a sat nav gets me there easy. Food for thought.

 

[Gepard]

Returns would again depend on how many players show up and how often you run a game. 

Let's say 30 people turn up for the day at an average of £30pp you're looking at £900 per game. Multiple times a week and you could net a tidy profit. Excluding variables such as membership, rental hire, catering, etc.. 

I doubt you'd get that many for the first few months, but if you've got a good site people will totally travel to get there and word will spread. 

This is of course excluding everything I mentioned in the previous post. 

 

[Prisce]

Food for thought as well, I was told by a couple of Marshall’s that a site can only run two games a month, UNLESS, they get planning permission and have the site turned into a proper paintball/Airsoft/adventure sport etc site. 

This then allows you to run the site Monday to Sunday if you see fit.

 

[reedy308]

Thanks for the help people. 

Its easily reachable from 3 stations and also 3 minuets drive off the m11 so I think it’s reachable. I also heard about sights making money of sponsorship deals etc don’t know if this is a us thing or what. 

Also having a shop open during the week and a online shop surly will help? Or would that be too much of a burden? It’s an I closed werehouse, would it be hard to get permission to hold games more than twice a month? And how would one go about getting this permission? 

Also has anyone tried running Airsoft clubs for a evening for younger ones helping them get in to the sport etc? Or even offering army cadets and air cadets deals for there weekly meets to make sure of a constant profit? 

 

[Jedi_Master]

I love CQB so another site is always welcome.  Fair weather players like having indoor games when it is cold and wet outside. 

Parking is always an issue that needs addressing because having to pay for parking on top of the skirmish fee could factor in whether players want to attend. Having on site parking is best, less distance to walk with kit.

Marshals, will they be volunteers or paid. What ratio of marshal to players. The Mall has paid marshals so they are professional, want the day to succeed and take player safety seriously. and have a good ratio of marshals to players.

Safe Zone needs enough space for players to set-up, seats to rest, power points, and good lighting, etc.  Decent toilets help too.

Size of site will determine player limits as well, too many in a small space is not good (thinking of Whitechapel).

 

[reedy308]

The sight is brand new and with 11000 squad foot of open space to play with would preferably have a raised observation deck for a marshal and two on the ground and would like to have payed staff on site that will switch between working shifts in the shop and being able to run the games the whole building is brand new and have toilets and office pace loading areas and plenty of parking would make a great site the rent is quite hefty but wondering if it’s almost too much advertised rent per month is just over 11000 1pound ish a square foot 

 

[Prisce]

Thanks for the help people. 

Its easily reachable from 3 stations and also 3 minuets drive off the m11 so I think it’s reachable. I also heard about sights making money of sponsorship deals etc don’t know if this is a us thing or what. 

Also having a shop open during the week and a online shop surly will help? Or would that be too much of a burden? It’s an I closed werehouse, would it be hard to get permission to hold games more than twice a month? And how would one go about getting this permission? 

Also has anyone tried running Airsoft clubs for a evening for younger ones helping them get in to the sport etc? Or even offering army cadets and air cadets deals for there weekly meets to make sure of a constant profit? 

Click to shrink...

Not too far down the road from me. 

I would take a gander that sponsors will only sponsor sites that already have a good reputation, or are run in conjunction with a shop, so to begin with this wouldn’t be an option.

Having a shop at the same place is a good idea, on game days if someone has forgotten something, or would like to try before they buy, you will probably get a lot of interest. It’s also worth mentioning that, as a start up, it’s unlikely your going to get the best discounts from manufacturers, which means, once factoring in you’re overheads , you’re unlikely to be competitive.

Erm, not sure it would be possible to get the planning permission, it would depend if the site is registered as commercial property or not. If it is, you have little to no chance.

Might be a good idea, but Again, lots of variables.

Not to be a party pooper, (as usual), but 11,000 square feet isn’t very big, and most springers will be able to shoot from one side to the other. Having had a 20,000sqft workshop I know how small that site would be. 

It would make an awesome shop(make sure to get some good techs working their too), huge space so you could have a lot of stock(benefits and downsides to this), I think at £12k a month you have no chance of making enough money to have a successful business.

 

[reedy308]

Ok cool nice to know roughly what I should be looking for and fair enough didn’t know how profitable Airsoft sites could be not interested and making millions but if it’s not sustainable and can’t turn any profit it’s not really worth it. 

Ahh well keep looking I guess.

 

[Tommikka]

To be profitable you do of course have to have the turnover at a level that exceeds costs

Indoors comes with the greater issues of business rates for the premises, more cleanup - the whole site needs to be swept up as opposed to woods which get bbs trodden into the ground 

There could be different marshalling levels and different safety issues to consider

Slips and trips on hard flooring damage backs

A £900 game turnover might be your biggest day once a month, you will probably have one main day a weekend for regulars, one bigger day a month for regulars with a life.  Then you’re after rental parties etc, which will be one offs with possible returnees

Quite a few indoor venues are pending future development, eg a landowner / developer sitting on it for the future and incurring costs.  It then becomes very worthwhile to have someone pay them to rent the site, even if it doesn’t cover the costs it’s cutting their losses

Cadets have access to facilities, they have a cadet centre, which is probably shared with the reserves and could be tacked onto a regulars site.

They are a potential customer, but are unlikely to be a market for a regular weekly stream.  If there isn’t a cadet centre then there aren’t cadets.

But police etc are always after venues to book for a day, they have their own places, use army sites and also hire commercial venues.

Not a big money spinner but if you have a good unique place they will be interested now and again.

Going into airsoft and taking the plunge straight to indoors is a big jump, you will need experienced people to step in as manager / head marshall etc 

 

[clumpyedge]

Ok cool nice to know roughly what I should be looking for and fair enough didn’t know how profitable Airsoft sites could be not interested and making millions but if it’s not sustainable and can’t turn any profit it’s not really worth it. 

Ahh well keep looking I guess.

Click to shrink...

Have a look at the size of strike force CQB that's the kind of size your looking for if not bigger, as for the data you are after could you not go to some of the sites around you and see if you can gauge their usual turn out as they would probably be your more core audience initially?

 

[reedy308]

True. thanks for the advice. Like I said before though it probably won’t happen but it’s nice to see what sight owners have to deal with on a business level makes you appreciate it. 

I will I’ll continue to look in to it as I continue to play the sport. If I ever see a way to make a successful business then potentially will take the plunge long way off that yet. More of just a thorght over a beer kinda thing. 

 

[clumpyedge]

Just to add something into the mix not 100% its actually even relative but I used to play at quasar site which was pretty bloody small, 20 players (I think) max, not only did I have some of the best games I've ever had in Airsoft there but it was also a very affordable option for evening games and always sold out! The crazy dynamics of music/strobes/lasers and smoke made some interesting games indeed!!!

Could you look into a partnership like this so your overheads aren't so expensive in comparison to opening a place of your own?

 

[Sako]

Just to add something into the mix not 100% its actually even relative but I used to play at quasar site which was pretty bloody small, 20 players (I think) max, not only did I have some of the best games I've ever had in Airsoft there but it was also a very affordable option for evening games and always sold out! The crazy dynamics of music/strobes/lasers and smoke made some interesting games indeed!!!

Could you look into a partnership like this so your overheads aren't so expensive in comparison to opening a place of your own?

Click to shrink...

Definitely this.

having another game option (laser tag) is a great idea and opens it up to a wider demographic, you could even have a CQB Nerf day for younger players, again adding more to the pool.

 

[Rogerborg]

11,000 square feet is 105 x 105.  Less the safe zone, less any shop, less any toilets (are they still working?).  That's tiny for airsoft.

Sorry to poop on your parade, but why would I want to play there?  What games could you offer that wouldn't just be point-blank speedsofting in the same maze, over and over?

 

[Sako]

11,000 square feet is 105 x 105.  Less the safe zone, less any shop, less any toilets (are they still working?).  That's tiny for airsoft.

Sorry to poop on your parade, but why would I want to play there?  What games could you offer that wouldn't just be point-blank speedsofting in the same maze, over and over?

Click to shrink...

He could specialise in good old fashioned duels...

“turn and and shoot after three paces” ...although going by the size, it may need to be 2 paces.