Planning on starting a web based airsoft retailer

[WillBrown2893]

i have done sum research but obviously the price for products from manufacturer to retailer isnt gonna be put on the internet for anyone to see. I have looked to try and find DE's contact details but cant find an email. I havent asked every question, im studying business so i know a fare bit already, the questions are more aimed at the airsoft market to try and get a better view by having people's facts and my own research

 

[MZKaleem]

I think what Dev was trying to put across earlier was that it'd be almost like you couldn't set up the business yourself because one of the skills you need to have is problem solving, working things out yourself, not sounding too harsh i hope

EDIT: Or I could've been wrong and that's not what he meant at all..

 

[Deva]

No website can receive the traffic to get much more than that.. the people that do view it will only buy if your price is considerably favourable (they then might think why is it so cheap) because why would they trust you or think you could be reliable over Fire Support or Land Warrior?

The only way you can get substantial traffic through your website quickly is money and very strong links with someone who does have a lot of traffic so they can drive a lot through to you via social media and email newsletters etc..

The challenges of getting the products for a decent price when you have no money to invest will be very difficult. As with lots of things like this.. you have to put in a lot of cash to get a lot back..

 

[WillBrown2893]

i am ok at problem solving, im just trying to gather more information from people who may or may not hav their own business. I do have an idea for having low prices but, like i said before, id rather not say it so other businesses can use it

 

[MZKaleem]

Fair enough, I forgot to mention (if it hasn't been said before) another distributor that you can contact is Titan Imports, they work with Action Hobbies.

 

[WillBrown2893]

research i hav done so far is facts and figures about the airsoft market, airsoft businesses and wat suppliers they use, laws surrounding airsoft, further research into DE and how other businesses price their products, costs and how to setup web based business, a few predicted costs (not tht great as they are just a prediction), and a list of competitors that i will face and the most popular locations for airsoft businesses

 

[MZKaleem]

Another thing you need to check out is a reliable courier service that wont lose items in post.

 

[joec1]

Advertising.

Margins - per item

Packaging for courier

Storage costs

Public liability

Added home insurance (if working from home ss not all mortgage companies all businesses from home)

Security

 

[Airsoft-Ed]

Going back to something mentioned on the last page, shops don't actually have to be part of UKARA to sell RIFs.

UKARA is put out there as being the only way, but if you actually try and join it as a retailer then you'll find it's under the control of all the top tier shops and you have to pay a premium to join. A premium set by those top tier retailers, who love having no competition.

UKARA is almost a legal monopoly. You can sell RIFs without it, so long as the buyers have their details checked.

 

[Richard65]

Do you know how many people play airsoft and how fast these numbers are increasing?

Do you have the technical skills to handle repairs or basic modifications to fps before sending out the guns?

My own preference for suppliers is either the shop at the site I use regularly (they can sort out any issues on the game day) or a supplier close to home making it relatively easy to get support.

This is because I do not have enough knowledge to do my own repairs - other than basic stuff. A mail order purchase would have to be very attractively priced to compensate for local support. Others on the forum obviously have greater technical skills and will happily buy from USA/Far East.

Good luck if you go ahead with this venture but I think you will need a fair bit of finance to make it work.

 

[armysurplusandtoys]

having just started up my own business i know its a mine field, so good luck

just do your research and although my knowledge of air soft is limited my experience and knowledge of the clothing and accessories is vast, my air soft products will be a work in progress and like any good business man or woman knows you need lots of patience.

 

[armysurplusandtoys]

oh and i did want to mention, I think that for a good business you must have in your hands what you want to sell or at least 99% (unless trialing a new product). This means once an order comes in you can dispatch that item within 24 hours. This provides your customers with 100% satisfaction and if you do not, you will only upset your customer base. I did notice you said you are at uni but have you worked in retail? not to sound harsh but almost all my working life has been in retail and i only spent about 3 years of that not in retail working as a lifeguard, Just these are the things that will make you stand out. Uni may teach you how to run the business behind the scenes but what the most important thing is knowing what you customers want to see?

but like i said on the last post, i really do wish you luck

p.s. out of all the forums i have been on since my first forum (land rovers) i thinks these have been the most honest and open in a non malicious way.

 

[MikeW]

Absolutely nobody has mentioned perhaps one of the most important aspects to running a business in the UK.

Tax.

Have you considered this in your plans? Will you be self employed? A partnership? Limited liability or will you take liability personally (i.e. if sued at a small claims court). It has happened in our community before... What about VAT registration? And if so, which scheme?

Here's a good start for your research: https://www.gov.uk/browse/business

Hope this helps!

 

[Jubigala]

If I was you, I'd approach your local gun/military shop and ask them to sell items for you. I sold my guitar in a similar fashion. You'd maybe need to do some market research as to what you likely be a good draw line item. The benefit is that the punter can feel your product in an environment they trust, is established and knows what they are talking about. You can give them the 411 of the item.

They will likely charge a commission/seller fee, but as you name the price they will sell at, you have control over profit. If you calculate what your supply price will be, what you will ask for it, then their seller fee in %, you can gauge how much you will make profit, but you have few overheads and get the full benefit of a shop doing all the work plus their customer base.

You will likely not even sell a unit a month at the start, realistically.. so this is a great option as you can make a little money, let someone do all the work in return for what would be the cheapest overhead to you.

Remember, unless you are going to sell on eBay, your website (that must have secure on-line payment) will cost you over 1k alone. Try to sell how easy it is to sell one item first, and then go from there.

 

[Mattbibby]

Sorry in advance if this sounds harsh...

As someone who has 'been there, done that', the fact you are having to ask these questions on here rather than going out and getting on with it, says it all.

Good luck, but don't give up the day job just yet...