dex

Fair enough, personal experience and all that. I think it's fair to say that if you want the best buy PDI or Prometheus.

I would say the G&G tbb is very variable, mine is totally rubbish for example. Its not as bad as the CM16 one but the PDI I have was a vast improvement to groupings.

As above, theres a small hole in the top of the cylinder that feeds a small amount of air into a piston that moves the bolt cover when you fire. In reality its little more than a gimmick - a bit of extra noise when you fire.

TM recoil if you can get one. Otherwise Lonex M4.

TM recoil if you can get one. Otherwise Lonex M4.

Figs 2 and 3 are basically the same, 3 has less excess wiring involved, thus is optimal.

Prometheus inner barrel and hop rubber for the recoil scar.

Figs 2 and 3 are basically the same, 3 has less excess wiring involved, thus is optimal.

Haha. Just leave your dignity at the safe zone.
 
I think its more of a question of why the hell you would want to rather than could you? It's airsoft not LARP.

Drop leg ammo rig maybe?

Drop leg ammo rig maybe?

[Caveat] I don't know your background so I apologise if this is patronising or teaching you to suck eggs, I may have got carried away writing it, it’s all my personally opinion, take it or leave it, I’m not telling you how to run your business, just offering my viewpoint from my experiences. If you want to know anymore or clarify anything feel free to PM me.
My background is primarily Online retail, attached to a Brick store in a relatively Niche market. I started at a back street business with 3 paid staff (warehouse, admin and myself) and set the products, stock structure, purchasing and direction for the site, we grew exponentially during my time there and they are now a market leader, with multi million pound turnovers. I left for a more Holistic Career after the CEO bought his first sports car.
 
 
I would concentrate on firstly re branding if you are taking over a failing store, try to cut any old ties and negative associations, even if it’s just a customer facing name or store front change, colour scheme etc. Shake the old stigma for local players, local is where you will need to make the bulk of your start up money to invest into online.
 
Winning the online retail game is significantly harder than anyone can imagine, even those at the top of the game have to constantly re evaluate and evolve to meet demand and keep customers. You can't just build a website, fill it with toys and update it every six months and expect a good turn over and happy customers. Having a 3rd party build a good looking customer orientated website is relatively cheap, having a 3rd party build a SEO maximised site is more costly and having a website that is SEO maximised and friendly to a customer is the holy grail, but comes with holy grail costs. To get to the first page of Google you need to be spending ££££ on SEO. If you are going to be happy to retain the 4th page of Google, you may as well not even bother, and invest the money in a different angle, such as local sponsorship and advertising.
With a website it’s not an instant cash cow either, it will take a few years of being in the red, before you will break even and then a few more years before you start to make a profit from it, and that's only if you can fill it with relevant and available stock.
As chock already said, the primary aim of a site is to sell, so when an order does come in get it out of the bloody door!, I have seen so many businesses sit on orders before despatching. Get it packed and gone, use a reliable courier and keep costs down. Free postage on orders over £40 would be great, but your margins will dictate what you can offer.
 
Stock is a huge bugbear of mine and many others; the problem in airsoft particularly is twofold. First stock costs money, to have lots of stock needs a lot of capital to invest, and as I understand it margins are pretty slim from most of the big suppliers, and consignment stock is almost nonexistent any more. Consignment stock was what killed Woollies and Zavvi.
The second issue is airsoft stock and suppliers are very dynamic, what is available now may not be available in 6 months, and may not ever be available again, in a relatively short time frame. For a brick shop that's not an issue, you can only sell what you have in front of you. For online, if you are advertising something you don't have or can't get you will lose a customer. That's why it’s important that a website is maintained and you are able to hide any unavailable stock from the customer front, something many don't do, yes it will make the site look bare, but it preferable to a page of unavailable products imo.
 
Finally you need to choose a direction. As cheese has already hit on Big Ticket items are where the profit is and gives a boost to turnover figures, which may lead to better external investment. But not many customers want to buy £400-£500 each day. Alternatively you can concentrate on lower value products but higher profit products, a la the BBG websites. (Probably not a good direction to choose)
The mid ground plays a much bigger role in airsoft than it does in many other niche markets, your G&G, ICS and Cymas ect, so they can be a good compromise of both ends of the spectrum.
 
If I was in your position today, I would scrap the unique web store, and make it a director or holder for your brick shop. I would be opening an Ebay Storefront or Amazon Marketplace and selling parts and accessories via that, it takes a hit on the margins as Amazon takes a cut, but is significantly cheaper than competing against them, and much easier to control stock levels.
With the brick shop, I would fill it with a modest selection of guns from all ranges and brands I could afford to, and accessories, from both suppliers and that you have imported yourself with AliExpress type middle men.
I would also be looking to set up a deal with my local surplus store to get some camo and kit in at trade prices. Many seem to buy it at retail from the surplus and then add a fiver onto the ticket.
I would be keeping the store open, light and airy, none intimidating and friendly, lots of white and calming colours, not dark and dingy. Lots of kids play airsoft, lots of parents come with kids to airsoft shops, and if it’s dark, musty and seedy they are going to be put off the whole concept. On the same thread, keep guns out of the window, it is intimidating to the public.
 
Two key and very important phrases for business: Walk before you can run and KISS.

hello just updated my british army load out got the gloves, mk6 helmet, DD rail, boots I upgraded my ICS SA80 with a madbull tight bore 6.03 barrel and hop up its shoots like a dream now AND ive got used to using it right handed now oh and got myself a WE glock 17 well its a g18 but I use it like a g17 my site I go to just got a chopper on site you can guess all hell broke loose trying to defend it but really good fun

Take it back. The worst that can happen is they tell you to take a walk in which case you buy a new buffer tube which aren't expensive.

Take it back. The worst that can happen is they tell you to take a walk in which case you buy a new buffer tube which aren't expensive.

Take it back. The worst that can happen is they tell you to take a walk in which case you buy a new buffer tube which aren't expensive.

Prometheus inner barrel and hop rubber for the recoil scar.

Prometheus inner barrel and hop rubber for the recoil scar.

Prometheus inner barrel and hop rubber for the recoil scar.

Lonex M4 = win.

http://www.helmetworld.co.uk/lonex-m4-186-c.asp
 
These are the only m4 AEG that I would touch. Note that externals are oem by vfc. So that's vfc externals with lonex internals. Doesn't get any better.

Lonex M4 = win.

If you need some extra load carrying, why not consider some kind of battle belt and some addition molle pouches/holster?

Haha. Just leave your dignity at the safe zone.
 
I think its more of a question of why the hell you would want to rather than could you? It's airsoft not LARP.

Haha. Just leave your dignity at the safe zone.
 
I think its more of a question of why the hell you would want to rather than could you? It's airsoft not LARP.