[AFJON]

Hey AM,
I've been an avid reader for a while now but don't post too often, too busy learning from all of you...On to my question

Do any of you run/own/manage a supp store? If so, can you talk about it some?
Where is it located?
How long have you run/manage the store?
What where the start up costs?
Is it profitable? (I know that there are many variables such as online competition and location)

I am separating from the military soon and am contemplating opening up a supp. store. It would be in Las Vegas and would have a wide range of companies that I support and use(Scivation,Xtreme Formulations,AI,AEN,DS,RPN and many more). Of course there would be a few big name companies (MT,BSN) but for the most part I want to sell products that I believe in. Any info would be great, thanks.

[scoooter]

Hey good luck w/ that ! I don't have a store but as a consumer I can tell ya it's Location, Location, Location. Make it easy to access and have other popular stores around which generate high traffic. Most stuff I buy on-line so you may want to consider that as well. Probably Lease space is the best for your situation. Operating an actual store will carry over head- just not sure how much. You'll need to set up credit card charging, and hire a staff to help out too.

[AFJON]

Thanks for the reply Scooter. I agree that location is of utmost importance. I'm still in Japan right now so I haven't had the opportunity to look for space yet but that will be a priority when I get back. Since Vegas is huge into the MMA scene, I would like to find a location near a popular gym. And I agree that leasing would probably be ideal, at least for now.

[SilentBob187]

If available, a good place to setup shop would probably be near a gym. The store I work at is about 200 yards away from a 2 gyms, and about a mile away from another one. We get a lot of traffic. We're also about a quarter mile away from the interstate so we get a lot of commuter traffic as well.

One problem that we have though is a lack of selection of bodybuilding supps. We do carry some of the names on this board but there are multiple intances where people come in looking for something to do 'this' and in my head I'm thinking "If only we carried ___."

You say you'll carry BSN and MT but another one that moves a lot of product, at least in this area, is Labrada.

[Dancebot 2000]

It is not a reliable business to get into. An independant store will have a very hard time competing. I wouldn't recommend it, especially with the state of the industry right now with the FDA.

[SilentBob187]

Originally Posted by Dancebot 2000

It is not a reliable business to get into. An independant store will have a very hard time competing. I wouldn't recommend it, especially with the state of the industry right now with the FDA.

Very true. Then there's that scary CODEX thing that could make it's way in to this country. I didn't want to dissway you from your choice but you'd definately want to you do homework before getting started, which I'm sure you'd already planned on.

[slow-mun]

Originally Posted by AFJON

Hey AM,
I've been an avid reader for a while now but don't post too often, too busy learning from all of you...On to my question

Do any of you run/own/manage a supp store? If so, can you talk about it some?
Where is it located?
How long have you run/manage the store?
What where the start up costs?
Is it profitable? (I know that there are many variables such as online competition and location)

I am separating from the military soon and am contemplating opening up a supp. store. It would be in Las Vegas and would have a wide range of companies that I support and use(Scivation,Xtreme Formulations,AI,AEN,DS,RPN and many more). Of course there would be a few big name companies (MT,BSN) but for the most part I want to sell products that I believe in. Any info would be great, thanks.

A franchise is probably what you'd want to look into. You'd also would want to know what your competition would be like in that area.

[Dancebot 2000]

If you like money, don't do it. If you love supplements and want to be immersed in them, and understand how much work it will be to run a business, then do it.

[Gtarzan81]

do your due dillegence. no doubt about that.

There are a lot of reputable companies on here, and in general that haven't made it into the 2 major retailers VS and GNC.
I have made it something of a personal mission, to try to get good companies into our stores, as I'm an employee of 1 of those 2 retailers.
There's a lot of stuff we carry, that we shouldn't, and stuff we should carry but don't.

One if the things I've noticed, is the independent shops create a niche, by selling a lot of things the major chains DONT.
In fact, I even made a list of things carried online, that my work doesnt carry. I could send that list to you, if your intetristed. PM me if so.

[Cellardude]

I agree with dancebot. When trying to run a successfull business you have to be either really really good at it or you might need to run one where people HAVE to come to you. In this case, a supp store would be killed by internet supp stores. I think the idea of a supp store would sound neat, but the money part might be somewhat difficult to earn if you ask me. Why? because unless your the best darn store ever then youll never really get your foot in the door. Theres a reason small grocery stores dont make that much money vs big supermarkets. The prices and selections are just unmatched.

Running a supp store also is more of a luxury store. People dont need supplements. They can do without it. You might want to invest your time if money is your goal, in a business where people cant get away from you. For example, you need to fix your broken flooded basement and theres no choice but to buy hardware equipment or such. Things of those lines are pretty decent when it comes to money. But like everything it takes time. Good money in a business never comes over night. It takes years before you could get your name out.

[crader]

You might also consider doing a duel business. Have a store location but also have a website with online ordering for your store. Then you can hit them from all angles. You could also store stock in the back of your store and ship from there.

You might even consider doing a double store one side supps and maybe a tanning salon on the other. You can pimp the angle of a store for the total body. That way if the winter as tanning dies you stil have the supps and vice versa.

[Dancebot 2000]

[quote=crader;1292273]You might also consider doing a duel business. Have a store location but also have a website with online ordering for your store. Then you can hit them from all angles. You could also store stock in the back of your store and ship from there.

[quote]

This is what we do. It's still a struggle, and creates a lot more work, but it does help a bit. You tanning bed idea is also very good, but it requires quite a bit of space.

[Sir Savage]

Pretty soon, within the next couple of weeks, we will be starting a business consulting service where we'll be able to help anyone and everyone who wants to start their own business. We'll help you every single step of the way.

We've been very successful at starting businesses and we can show you how we do it.

[AFJON]

Hey guys, thanks for all of the replies. I am definately taking all of your advice into consideration.

[AFJON]

Originally Posted by slow-mun

A franchise is probably what you'd want to look into. You'd also would want to know what your competition would be like in that area.

Hey Slow,
I've looked into franchising and am somewhat interested in the idea but...I don't like the fact that you have to stock and push certain companies and products. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the "cell tech crowd" but that's not what I'm shooting for. I would like to introduce causual gym goers to a whole new generation of supplements that for the most part, only we as online shoppers and forum members are aware of.