hawaiianjuggernaut Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Oye Arnies, Been awhile. I've lurked here and there but school and work has been kicking my *albatross*. So here's the big scoop, and wanted to get some feedback on it. A semi-prominent US online airsoft retailer is up for sale. Due to terms of the non-disclosure I'm not allowed to say who it is until a final purchase agreement is nailed out. I honestly stumbled on the opportunity quite by accident, as I have another business I own and was seeking out nearby competitors we could acquire; the broker listing for the business happened to pop up. Anyway, I've completed some surface level diligence on the deal already and my banker has reviewed the financials and said the operation is finance-able. If I gave you the name, chances are the majority of the US based people have heard of them. I'm *this close* to pulling the trigger on it, but need someone to push me over the edge. My brain is getting all excited on this. IF I do it, what would be some immediate things most of you guys would be interested in seeing more of from retailers? I already have contacts with SHS/Lonex and other vendors who I would immediately want to start carrying. (Unfortuately wont be able to stock my old eo-techs, though if you want one, I could still getcha one lol) What is currently lacking from all the other carriers? Should I go for it? Link to post Share on other sites
mimesis Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Trinity??? Evidently, you can't beat AirsoftGI and Evike (and to a lesser extent, Atlanta) at their own game, so speaking as someone who's never taken a single economics course, I'd say that what is (relatively speaking) underserved is a variety of quality, reasonably priced brands. Lonex is a good start; I'd add Modify, E&L, LCT, and a bunch of others. No one needs another site selling Echo 1 or G&G Combat Machines. Link to post Share on other sites
hawaiianjuggernaut Posted October 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Nah, not them. Big part of what I'd do is massively reduce the breadth of inventory. Way too stuff just sits and just doesn't get sold. Nobody needs E1/G&G, etc, you have a point.I'd sell G&P, RS, Marui, quality guns that people like. Focus on other high quality stuff like P*, Wolverines, etc. For internal parts, SHS/Lonex/HSA BTC fets too. Another outlet would to have a sales channel through amazon. Friend of mine specializes in that and has a few million a year in revenue. Josh Link to post Share on other sites
Mike_West Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 The question is not whether to do it, but how to manage it. Since you seem to have an idea, maybe you should do it. Link to post Share on other sites
Horsem4n Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Give me a full time job teching guns. I'll do photography too if you have equipment. But all I'd like is some place with more transparency and personability. Some place that I can trust not to sell bogus or wonder if what i bought was as described. Link to post Share on other sites
Beeingmyself Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Find some cheap but good quality metal guns and upgrade them with reasonable brands internals and make a *Shopname* brand. Upgraded guns at a reasonable. Stock up on good mosfets Buy a container or 5 of good quality BBs and have a few good offers doing the year. Have a lot of how-to videos to have a decent activity on the webpage Link to post Share on other sites
Lone_Bullet Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 How to video's... THIS! And specialise in gas gun techics Seriously, there's a bit more involved in it than basic highschool electrics and pneumatics. Not enough people know how to handle gas tech. Me included. If possible tell us *why* this am best upgrade. For the rest I agree. Make decent starter packs; don't go cheap, go long lasting; try and offer a shooting range; try and offer a quick start guide trough the basics of zeroing the replica and setting it's hopup. How to reload, etc. And please don't offer NiMH or worse Link to post Share on other sites
Rob15 Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 From a non US point of view a willingness to ship internationally on parts/accessories would be good, I've lost count of the number of times something has only really been available in the US but finding someone reliable to ship it to another country was a struggle, it shouldn't be that difficult and USPS rates are pretty cheap when you compare them to say UK international airmail rates. Link to post Share on other sites
wazzy1013 Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 id say definitely go with quality over quantity (from guns, to gear, to internals, externals, accessories) . I've mainly stopped even using airsoft shops b/c of quality (sick of repo sights, gear, etc that breaks or just doesnt hold up), and buy most of my stuff as RS (real steal) as rather pay once then 2+ times. It'd be nice to see a more quality (product) driven site that isnt just mid-low tier items, but also has VFC, GP, Systema (especially) stuff state-side that is readily in stock. As having those unique but mass desired items would be a good area to fill. How often does someone want a P* something and not a single place has it ; or a PTW mag/cylinder/etc ; or some VSR/sr part; etc... Hopefully whatever you decide works out Hawaiian Link to post Share on other sites
hawaiianjuggernaut Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 The question is not whether to do it, but how to manage it. Since you seem to have an idea, maybe you should do it. Yeah the management aspect would be a challenge as I have another business that takes most of my time. I'd be bumping my workload to at least 100hrs a week for a few months until we got some infastructure in place. The company sold their warehouse and so I'd need to shift all their stock to a new one, find it, get insurance, hire people for fulfillment etc. From a non US point of view a willingness to ship internationally on parts/accessories would be good, I've lost count of the number of times something has only really been available in the US but finding someone reliable to ship it to another country was a struggle, it shouldn't be that difficult and USPS rates are pretty cheap when you compare them to say UK international airmail rates. I provided this as a niche service to a few guys here on Arnies. First Class Intl through USPS is really pretty cheap. I guess most retailers are worried about any customs liabilities. Find some cheap but good quality metal guns and upgrade them with reasonable brands internals and make a *Shopname* brand. Upgraded guns at a reasonable. Stock up on good mosfets Buy a container or 5 of good quality BBs and have a few good offers doing the year. Have a lot of how-to videos to have a decent activity on the webpage I'd rather stock Lonex guns tbqh. Just let people take those and tinker with them as they want. My guess is that the marginal gain in quality wouldn't be offset with the increase in price due to labor and parts costs. Haha, I know the OEM for Goldenball and have some rough price estimates. I could easily undercut most BB suppliers by .50 to a $1, I doubt people realize the actual margins in airsoft retailing. Link to post Share on other sites
Dentonboy Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Sounds like a great opportunity, why not eh? Now, about those Eo-Techs... Link to post Share on other sites
akiraspeedstar Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Id say it strongly depends on if the company is making good profit and it can be a good return on investment. Also why are they selling? Do they have major opportunities you feel you can resolve? Were they doing everything right but just can't compete? I personally wouldn't even if I had the money. Link to post Share on other sites
druid799 Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Most definitely international postage at a REASONABLE rate would get you a lot of over seas customers , lost count of the Number of times I've found what I want only listed in a US shop , and then they turn round and ask a bloody ridiculous amount for the P&P . Sorry but if HK can get it too me for a reasonable price , admittedly postage times can be hit or miss but I put up with that for the saving , I buy a lot of camo material from a particular US eBay seller and he charges a very reasonable amount , so why can't the 'real' shops ? Link to post Share on other sites
Wingman Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Quality products (I'd add KJW/ASG also as their pistols make very good starters and are very up-gradable), sold at reasonable prices, with good availability and quick delivery will make all the difference. One of the biggest problems for airsoft in the USA is the difficulty in getting up-grades for gbb pistols (frames, slides, barrels etc.etc.). I always end up having to deal with companies out of the states and even they seem to be light on merchandise as well. I'm always looking for new, high quality retailers located here and would certainly be interested in seeing you get this going and taking advantage of it. Best of luck. Link to post Share on other sites
hawaiianjuggernaut Posted October 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 Id say it strongly depends on if the company is making good profit and it can be a good return on investment. Also why are they selling? Do they have major opportunities you feel you can resolve? Were they doing everything right but just can't compete? I personally wouldn't even if I had the money. Owner was getting into CRE and making way more money on that than the business. They were selling at 35k above inventory. There weren't any particular "problems" inasmuch as the operations go, just I'd have to uproot the whole thing and it'd be a giant hassle. Sounds like a great opportunity, why not eh? Now, about those Eo-Techs... I still get emails from the OEM asking if I want to buy them.. We could have a 'mystery' item on the website with an item code 552. surprise surprise. Quality products (I'd add KJW/ASG also as their pistols make very good starters and are very up-gradable), sold at reasonable prices, with good availability and quick delivery will make all the difference. One of the biggest problems for airsoft in the USA is the difficulty in getting up-grades for gbb pistols (frames, slides, barrels etc.etc.). I always end up having to deal with companies out of the states and even they seem to be light on merchandise as well. I'm always looking for new, high quality retailers located here and would certainly be interested in seeing you get this going and taking advantage of it. Best of luck. I've been searching for a Guarder TF141 slide for a Glock for about forever, I get you. As far a's quick fulfillment and delivery goes, I'm surprised more airsoft companies fill their own orders. It's much cheaper and more reliable to have a 3PL (3rd Party Logistics) company fulfill orders for you, much like how Amazon has the FBA program (They only fulfill for orders sold through their website though) Most definitely international postage at a REASONABLE rate would get you a lot of over seas customers , lost count of the Number of times I've found what I want only listed in a US shop , and then they turn round and ask a bloody ridiculous amount for the P&P . Sorry but if HK can get it too me for a reasonable price , admittedly postage times can be hit or miss but I put up with that for the saving , I buy a lot of camo material from a particular US eBay seller and he charges a very reasonable amount , so why can't the 'real' shops ? Because they all ship with Fedex or UPS. USPS First Class Intl is fairly inexpensive, and plus if you use a 3rd party fulfillment/shipping company as I mentioned above, the rates are sometimes even lower. TBH after looking at this whole thing it'd make sense for me to just start a shop from scratch and stock SHS, Lonex, specialty PTW and HPA stuff. A shop for the 'cool guys' if ya would. *shrugs* gimme a few months, I'll come back to this once I finish my school and have more time lol. Link to post Share on other sites
Dentonboy Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 If you could get me an EoTech quote I'd be much obliged! Link to post Share on other sites
Alias1983 Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 Ok so unless I missed something. Us based airsoft retailer, and you want to sell unlicensed stuffs. That will be very difficult, the item code idea won't last long. If you sell gear don't do the condor/ncstar stuff Link to post Share on other sites
Roland1014 Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 Is it A i r s p l a t? Link to post Share on other sites
Horsem4n Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 not that he can say, my money is on airrattle Link to post Share on other sites
Cannonfodder80 Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 If the bank thinks it's viable then go for it Link to post Share on other sites
hawaiianjuggernaut Posted October 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Ok so unless I missed something. Us based airsoft retailer, and you want to sell unlicensed stuffs. That will be very difficult, the item code idea won't last long. If you sell gear don't do the condor/ncstar stuff Point about the EoClones was a joke, I wouldn't risk it. IF I was to bring a few in, I'd only sell through forum direct. Is it A i r s p l a t? Nah not that he can say, my money is on airrattle can neither confirm nor deny Link to post Share on other sites
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