Need sound advice on a new dive shop!!

[NightRaven77]

Hey Everyone!!!


My good buddy of mine has been throwing around the idea of opening up a new dive shop.......

I would like to make sure that he gets off to a good start and am looking for some insight from people that have opened up there own....

Anyone have any good advice to give to a fellow diver looking to keep the local dive shop alive kicking????

Appreciate anything you may contribute..

NightRaven77

 

[wedivebc]

Hey Everyone!!!


My good buddy of mine has been throwing around the idea of opening up a new dive shop.......

I would like to make sure that he gets off to a good start and am looking for some insight from people that have opened up there own....

Anyone have any good advice to give to a fellow diver looking to keep the local dive shop alive kicking????

Appreciate anything you may contribute..

NightRaven77

Start with a good business plan, lots of money, and kiss your family good-bye.
If you aren't prepared to put 20hrs a day 7 days a week and LOTS of money into it for the first couple of years, you may be making a mistake. It is a huge comittment and as you probably have seen from reading SB there are a lot of cyber shoppers out there so you will have to be creative in ways to bring business back from the internet.
Good luck, just make sure you keep having fun.

 

[ShakaZulu]

You would have to find other ways to make money, rather than selling gear. If you do decide to sell gear, it better be competative with the known online dealers. Must offer dive education, PADI or whatever. Must have a Dive Boat, to take people on boat dives. The dive shop must have a repair and maintanance department, and obviously a rental department.

I don't know, as someone said before, if you want to make a million with a dive shop, start with two.........

 

[Scottri]

Customer Service! I've been to too many shops that do not make people feel welcome. I hate high pressure sales people and I want my equipment repaired right the first time without a long wait. Customer service is where LDS's have the edge over online shops. Carry a wide range of products as well. People like choices. Also, inventory. Customers hate buying something then waiting two weeks to get it.


Scott

 

[DeputyDan]

You would be well served to offer fills and Nitrox.

Also, if you are asking for advice on the net, It's really a bad - bad (did I say bad) business decision to do this.

 

[bwerb]

Don't

 

[MikeC]

How many shops in say a 50 miles radius of where you are located? How many people in that same area? How many divers? Can the area support another shop? Do you have the business background to deal with the day to day BS? Are you or your buddy instructors? How much "free" cash do you have laying around?