B and M golf shop in NI

[351DRIVER]

Anyone got a golf store that is not attached to a club, i.e. something in a town centre?

Thinking about starting a golf shop for gadgets only in Northern Ireland, a town centre

I know between not much and zero about retail stores, so ideas of costs, experiences etc etc all welcome..

I figure NI will be a low cost spot in terms of rentals and can service Ireland and the UK via a website

It would focus on NON standard stuff, so you will not see a Taylor Made or Ping, but you would find Game Golf, Blast Motion, Edel etc

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Online and physical high street presence?

Good luck.

What's the inspiration behind the idea?

 

[road2ruin]

Given you're not stocking named brands it's going to be pretty niche so whilst rentals etc might be low your footfall might be similarly. I'd be tempted to do online only and see how you get on or if you are doing a store have some named brands (things people recognise) to get them in the door.

 

[MendieGK]

Dont waste your time or money

 

[351DRIVER]

Given you're not stocking named brands it's going to be pretty niche so whilst rentals etc might be low your footfall might be similarly. I'd be tempted to do online only and see how you get on or if you are doing a store have some named brands (things people recognise) to get them in the door.

Thinking about Golf Sims, launch monitors, radars etc... with a space where people can actually try them

Face it, everyone sells TM, CALLAWAY etc.. i would not want to be involved in that

Slow to reply as I was looking at commercial leases!

 

[Grieve14]

Thinking about Golf Sims, launch monitors, radars etc... with a space where people can actually try them

Face it, everyone sells TM, CALLAWAY etc.. i would not want to be involved in that

Slow to reply as I was looking at commercial leases!

There is a reason everyone sells TM, callaway etc as that is what sells. Sims and launch monitors are not something the average amateur golfer is going to shell out thousands on I wouldn't have thought. If it was then I'm pretty sure AG, Clubhouse golf etc would be knocking them out all day long.

Retail is a tough one to crack. I dont know if its the same in NI but in my home town, independent shops are constantly opening and closing down 12-24 months later as competing with the big boys is so hard (Buying power, marketing etc)

 

[351DRIVER]

There is a reason everyone sells TM, callaway etc as that is what sells. Sims and launch monitors are not something the average amateur golfer is going to shell out thousands on I wouldn't have thought. If it was then I'm pretty sure AG, Clubhouse golf etc would be knocking them out all day long.

Retail is a tough one to crack. I dont know if its the same in NI but in my home town, independent shops are constantly opening and closing down 12-24 months later as competing with the big boys is so hard (Buying power, marketing etc)

Actually the reason many sell TM, CALLAWAY etc is because they have not planned what they are going to sell and consider these mandatory agreements, they then get forced to spend money on new stock and sell at pitiful margins

 

[Grieve14]

Actually the reason many sell TM, CALLAWAY etc is because they have not planned what they are going to sell and consider these mandatory agreements, they then get forced to spend money on new stock and sell at pitiful margins

hmm not sure about that. How many people do you know with TM, callaway, ping or titleist clubs and then how many people do you know who have their own Simulator booth and launch monitor? TM and Callaway are 2 of the market leaders, I'm pretty sure all the biggest golf shops arent selling them because they consider them 'mandatory agreements' and opened their shop having not planned what they wanted to sell, they are selling them because the brand sells itself and its what people buy.

 

[351DRIVER]

hmm not sure about that. How many people do you know with TM, callaway, ping or titleist clubs and then how many people do you know who have their own Simulator booth and launch monitor? TM and Callaway are 2 of the market leaders, I'm pretty sure all the biggest golf shops arent selling them because they consider them 'mandatory agreements' and opened their shop having not planned what they wanted to sell, they are selling them because the brand sells itself and its what people buy.

The biggest shops get different pricing to your average independent and ordering in thousands of sets their sales are much more predictable than someone who deals in 1% or less than that, so the fact that AG can sell a **** load is irrelevant when they often sell stock at less than your average re seller might pay

There are literally 5000 places to get those brands in the UK, being the 5001st outlet to offer these brands means only 1 thing, SELL EM CHEAP, TURNOVER without profit is a waste of energy

Anyhow, this thread is not about the Merits of Stocking the OEMs clubs, it does not fit with what I wish to do

 

[MendieGK]

The biggest shops get different pricing to your average independent and ordering in thousands of sets their sales are much more predictable than someone who deals in 1% or less than that, so the fact that AG can sell a **** load is irrelevant when they often sell stock at less than your average re seller might pay

There are literally 5000 places to get those brands in the UK, being the 5001st outlet to offer these brands means only 1 thing, SELL EM CHEAP, TURNOVER without profit is a waste of energy

Anyhow, this thread is not about the Merits of Stocking the OEMs clubs, it does not fit with what I wish to do

You reckon you can make a profit from selling Launch Monitors? even personal ones like SkyCaddie. I'd be suprised if you made £200 a unit. you aint gonna sell more than 5 a month.

you may act like you're an expert on the golf market, and i'm sure you know more than i do, but this idea is clearly crazy.

the reason the things your talking about stocking are not stocked everywhere is because their is limited market. end of

 

[Grieve14]

The biggest shops get different pricing to your average independent and ordering in thousands of sets their sales are much more predictable than someone who deals in 1% or less than that, so the fact that AG can sell a **** load is irrelevant when they often sell stock at less than your average re seller might pay

There are literally 5000 places to get those brands in the UK, being the 5001st outlet to offer these brands means only 1 thing, SELL EM CHEAP, TURNOVER without profit is a waste of energy

Yes I know - that is what i said a few posts ago..

independent shops are constantly opening and closing down 12-24 months later as competing with the big boys is so hard (Buying power, marketing etc)

re-read my first post - I was saying retail is tough, and not many people buy sims and launch monitors which is what you want your shop to be all about.

I'll leave my input there - started off trying to give advice but seems you don't want it. Good luck to you, hope it works out.

 

[351DRIVER]

I KNEW that people would turn this into a telling me to stock Callaway etc..

I am looking for input from people who have retail units NOT people who say, YOU SHOULD STOCK CALLAWAY, you are wrong for not stocking CALLAWAY etc

I made a decision not to work with these companies so it is not part of the discussion and as this is a fairly big commitment I was hoping to receive some wisdom from those with some experience

Theoretical Dragons Den Types are everywhere these days, if you have no experience then you cannot offer anything useful


GRIEVE MY QUESTION WAS QUITE CLEAR

I asked for ANYONE WITH EXPERIENCE

You TRYING TO HELP ME, started about the reasons why people stock Callaway as i said theoretical Dragons Den types

 

[Grieve14]

GRIEVE MY QUESTION WAS QUITE CLEAR

I asked for ANYONE WITH EXPERIENCE

You TRYING TO HELP ME, started about the reasons why people stock Callaway as i said theoretical Dragons Den types

I have over 6 years, and counting, of working in the retail sector.

I mentioned the reasons, in reply to your statement, about why major retailers stock the market leading brands and then moved onto your topic. You however decided to dwell on the callaway subject.

 

[351DRIVER]

I have over 6 years, and counting, of working in the retail sector.

I mentioned the reasons, in reply to your statement, about why major retailers stock the market leading brands and then moved onto your topic. You however decided to dwell on the callaway subject.

TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY, YOUR OPENING LINE WAS


There is a reason everyone sells TM, callaway etc as that is what sells


Just admit you have ZERO experience in this market and offered advice based on no knowledge beyond a guess

6 years in retail?
Do you own a golf store?

Or
Are you an employee in a golf store?

OR

Are you an employee in a non golf store?

 

[virtuocity]

Have you considered selling Callaway and TM goods? I see them in most golf shops and they seem to sell well.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Do you think there is a market for what you are looking to sell ?

Are there that many people who want to look to buy all the "non OEM" stock ?

How many people actually want to rent or buy a launch monitor ?

I would do your market research first and I think you will find out that there isn't a market for it

The items you describe aren't on sale on the high street for a reason - there isn't the market for it to justify creating a high street shop.

 

[351DRIVER]

Do you think there is a market for what you are looking to sell ?

Are there that many people who want to look to buy all the "non OEM" stock ?

How many people actually want to rent or buy a launch monitor ?

I would do your market research first and I think you will find out that there isn't a market for it

The items you describe aren't on sale on the high street for a reason - there isn't the market for it to justify creating a high street shop.

Where is your golf store?

To be clear, i am looking for input from anyone WHO OWNS A STORE

Anyone that does i would be happy to PM more info

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Where is your golf store?

To be clear, i am looking for input from anyone WHO OWNS A STORE

Anyone that does i would be happy to PM more info

Ok being honest no one on here is going to own a golf store because the independent stores are very few - the guy I play pro Ams with is a regional PGA for AG and he will tell you the same thing being said on here

This forum is your market research - the people are on here are who you would be selling too - golfers

So tell me why you would ignore what your customers are saying ?

It's an open forum and people are giving their opinion on your idea and so far you are just being agressive and rude towards some people are clearly giving you some sensible advice

I just gave you some advice on doing market research - there is no need to respond the way you are doing

 

[351DRIVER]

People with zero experience offering ADVICE

Read the 1ST POST

 

[Deleted member 15344]

This is stupid, i cannot learn anything useful from someone that has no experience or store!

I have done plenty of research and this stuff sells, i know the Ts and Cs for the big companies and have taken a decision NOT to stock them

Therefore your ADVICE is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard, i do not post on stuff i know nothing about, you should try it

Yes it does sell but enough to create a store for it on a high street ? If it's going to be something worth selling to justify opening a shop then the simple question is why aren't the big stores stocking the items ?

What market research have you done to confirm that there is the demand to create a shop on a high street with the niche equipment that only golfers will know about ?

Where abouts in NI are looking to create the shop as its not exactly a thriving area for business opportunity right now

What are you actually looking to stock beyond launch monitors ? Game golf ? Isn't that already main stream now ? Edel - is that all about personal fitting so how are you going to satisfy that ? Same with all the non OEM brands - all about personal fitting - which you don't get with a shop or online. Your market is so limited

Go to Twitter and ask around - put out feelers and see the response

You are going into an area of a sport which is struggling , has seen even big shops close down

Have you not asked yourself why there are so little high street golf shops ? The two nearest me both closed

Again you want to see golf stuff - who better to give advice that the people you will be selling too ?