Hi All,
I am new to Scuba Board, but am a long time diver here in Nashville TN. I have worked in the scuba industry for the last 20 Years and finally decided to open a new store, Island Hoppers Scuba. I am very interested in everyones opinions on dive stores. Let me know your like and dislikes, everything helps.
I decided not to go with the BIG store format for several reasons including the economy, but several others also. Island Hoppers is a small boutique style store, designed with a Caribbean feel in the heart of Nashville. We offer the full range of classes, equipment, and service. Our focus however is on travel and social atmosphere. The goal is not to be a dive retail store, but a diver's store. A place where there is always a hot cup of coffee or ice cold soda waiting on you just for stopping by. With monthly socials on our back deck without the sales promos. Just good times with good friends. I did not want to be the retail dive store where if you weren't there to buy something they had no time for you.
We opened in April 2010, and so far the social experiment is working well. All of our Deck Socials are themed and have had great turnouts. There have been Grill and Chill nights, old fashioned ice cream parties, and even wine tastings. I am always looking for ways to increase the social atmosphere, and welcome any ideas you may have.
Check us out if you are ever in Nashville TN, I would love to meet you!
Rob Harris
Check us out on the web and Facebook
I am new to Scuba Board, but am a long time diver here in Nashville TN. I have worked in the scuba industry for the last 20 Years and finally decided to open a new store, Island Hoppers Scuba. I am very interested in everyones opinions on dive stores. Let me know your like and dislikes, everything helps.
I decided not to go with the BIG store format for several reasons including the economy, but several others also. Island Hoppers is a small boutique style store, designed with a Caribbean feel in the heart of Nashville. We offer the full range of classes, equipment, and service. Our focus however is on travel and social atmosphere. The goal is not to be a dive retail store, but a diver's store. A place where there is always a hot cup of coffee or ice cold soda waiting on you just for stopping by. With monthly socials on our back deck without the sales promos. Just good times with good friends. I did not want to be the retail dive store where if you weren't there to buy something they had no time for you.
We opened in April 2010, and so far the social experiment is working well. All of our Deck Socials are themed and have had great turnouts. There have been Grill and Chill nights, old fashioned ice cream parties, and even wine tastings. I am always looking for ways to increase the social atmosphere, and welcome any ideas you may have.
Check us out if you are ever in Nashville TN, I would love to meet you!
Rob Harris
Check us out on the web and Facebook
