Setting up new website uk laws unsure

[Farley1981]

Hey all,

 

i'm in the process of designing a new website for selling Airsoft stuff. and i need some thing cleared up for me please

 

I've done some research on UKARA and if i'm right i can sell RIF to anyone over the age of 18 if they have a Up to date UKARA, i then check this with the UKARA databse if it all checks out i can sell the item?

For me to be UKARA registered i need a commercial premises, at the moment i want to start off with just a website and not a walk in shop.

 

i know 2 tone is easy to sell.

 

Thanks All

 

[MadMcardle]

I'd be interested to know how you get on setting this up bud if you don't mind?

[Tariq]

You may sell to someone without UKARA, but with another legitimate defense. However you are most protected from the law when using UKARA. That what it is there for. It's for the retailers, not the players.

In essence you are right though.

 

You don't need a walk in shop to run a business, just need to register your business at your home address.

Dunno the technicalities for becoming a UKARA registered site/store, but business wise you can do that.

My uncle runs his housing market business from his home address, and it isn't exactly a small company.

[QuadMachine]

Yeah UKARA are iffy about handing out licenses if you don't have property, logic being it stops anyone from registering a business (which is a piece of cake) and banging out licenses all over the place. That said you might not have to go through the commercial property route. If you tell them you aim to sell at a pop up event (google it) or as a trade stand at some of the traveling events they might give you the go ahead.

 

Good luck with the new venture!

[Zak Da Mack]

You must be careful setting up your new business though.

 

We are a "niche" audience and setting up a shop for a niche audience in times like these is tough.

You need to try and make your business different from all the others. Giving you a Unique selling point. A reason why people should come to you and not anyone else.

 

Good luck though

[Farley1981]

I've had a thought im registered on a site with ukara so I could use that to order for my website untill I get something else sorted.

[QuadMachine]

You must be careful setting up your new business though.

 

We are a "niche" audience and setting up a shop for a niche audience in times like these is tough.

You need to try and make your business different from all the others. Giving you a Unique selling point. A reason why people should come to you and not anyone else.

 

Good luck though

Yeah I'll second that. Looking at the comments across this forum over the last few months customer service is the number one compliant from forums members. Dealing in airsoft guns might sound cool but the real job is communicating with your customers and dealing with the inevitable grief you'll get from late orders and stock problems.

 

Master that from the start and you'll have a much easier time gong forward.

[Farley1981]

I set up and ran my own sea fishing website when I lived in Cornwall, I always made sure that my customers were happy. To me customer service is number one when trying to run a business.

[ScoobySnacks]

Farley. When dealing in things that are as tightly regulated as RIF's, and many other things related to airsoft, are, the FIRST thing you need to do is get hold of ALL relevant legislation, and sit down with it and read it until you know it inside out, and not just that but UNDERSTAND it. If there are any bits you are unsure on, invest some cash on a consultation with a lawyer who specialises in this sort of thing, and get them to explain EXACTLY where you stand.

 

Know what you can do within the law, and what will get you in trouble.

 

DON'T rely on internet lawyers, (yes, that includes me, I know I understand the law, but you have no way of knowing that. I'm not qualified in law, but I have spent a lot of time getting to know the law surrounding all sorts of firearms and imitation firearms) or other people on forums. Invest the time and effort to ensure that you do things right! A sea fishing business is asy in comparison to the airsoft business. Get it wrong in a virtually unregulated industry and the worst that's likely to happen is you go bust. Get it wrong when dealing with airsoft/RIF/firearms and you could very easily end up with a big fine, or even in prison!

[chris555]

please stock other gear than guns there is few offering high quality headsets for radios and the radios to use for example i want this sort of gear tomorrow not waiting for it to be shipped from america or china

[kev.k]

I wouldn't set up a airsoft retail business in this economy. Like previously mentioned it is a niche market that isn't growing as fast as some others, and never will for a number of reasons.

 

You would also need some serious cash for stock, which would be better spent on a more viable business.

 

The UKARA IMO is the main factor that stops the hobby growing, and is completely pointless. There is also a severe lack of advertising (due to the law First and only say).

 

Another big factor is some forum members. When I placed a wanted ad for a used gun on a few forums, I got a load of arsey replies asking, how old I was, if I had UKARA and worse.

 

The members who replied ranged from 18 - 50, and come across like traffic wardens. I didn't reply to any of them. It seems like some people strangely take pride in the fact they are UKARA registered, like it it their major life achievement . They come across as complete sad b******s and would put many people with a passing interest off.

 

In its current state the hobby will never reach its full potential. That's a shame.

 

Making your hobby your business doesn't always work, and if it goes bad could ruin your hobby.