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Sales of safety-related products represent a key category for dealers and range operators in the competitive fight to win margins. The November issue of Shooting Industry explains how merchandising these products can have a significant impact on the bottom line in “Getting Your Safety Sales Strategy Right.”
Doug VanderWoude recommends one of the better ways to increase sales of safety products is to stop renting them and sell them to customers instead. Offering eye and ear protection in low-mid-best price options, having staff use the same products, displaying product in key areas and adding the store’s logo to equipment are all effective strategies.
In addition, stocking electronic hearing equipment represents another way to generate profits. “Second to adding education and training, electronic hearing protection is the best thing to happen to the range business in the last decade,” lends Michael Loy, general manager at Guns N Gear in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Year-round opportunities are plentiful when it comes to varmint/predator hunting. For hunters, its appeal lies in an essentially open-ended season and variety of targets — ranging from prairie dogs to coyotes to feral hogs. Tim Barker provides insights from dealers who are seeing a steady stream of related rifle, ammo, optics, accessories and camo sales from new and seasoned hunters alike.
Additional feature highlights in November include Ashley McGee’s “The Time Is Now For Airguns.” The niche, sometimes an overlooked category, is a great option for youth or people new to the shooting sports. There’s also a healthy market for add-ons such as pellets, scopes, CO2 tanks, pumps and compressors. Also in November, Carolee Anita Boyles outlines how to “Cash In On Dog Product Sales.” Not for every gun shop, but for retailers who are heavily invested in hunting and lifestyle sales, dog products can represent a significant number of impulse and add-on sales.
This month’s Personal Defense Market delves into the topic of house of worship security. In the first of a two-part series, Massad Ayoob details how gun-shop owners can play a key role in the protection of parishioners. Because personal touches are what many customers are looking for as they research a business online, Mark Kakkuri provides “5 Ways To Make Your Digital Marketing Presence More Personal” in his Everyday Marketing column. Creativity can turn an occasional shopper into a loyal customer: Callie Wolverton shares how three businesses used out-of-the-box thinking to attract (and increase) female representation in the latest Arms & The Woman installment.
The Digital Version of Shooting Industry’s November issue is available at www.shootingindustry.com/digital-version. Have a comment after reading the issue? Send an email to comments@shootingindustry.com, or online at facebook.com/shootingindustry.
CONTACT: JADE MOLDAE