Hobby Store Franchises?
03-11-2008, 06:56 PM
#101
Some Assembly Required
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 12,070
Originally Posted by FlyingMonkey
Yeah, it has taken years to get where he is, but, it's going to take years to establish any business.
Obviously I am the only one who thinks that if one is going to risk his livelihood, and the financial security of his family, that he should pattern it after a working model, instead of one that keeps failing. He himself said two shops closed up in town. What will be different from his shop, that so many other strip mall hobby shops have failed to do?
It's one thing to have a shop that is able to keep it's doors open. He needs one that will be enough to support itself, and pay him a living salary for him and his family.
I get the feeling that there is a negative sentiment for my views. Who is doing Guy more disservice? Me, who says, let's look at what works, what doesn't, and try to learn from it. Or those who say, sure, it would be cool to watch some guy try to open a shop?
Obviously I am the only one who thinks that if one is going to risk his livelihood, and the financial security of his family, that he should pattern it after a working model, instead of one that keeps failing. He himself said two shops closed up in town. What will be different from his shop, that so many other strip mall hobby shops have failed to do?
It's one thing to have a shop that is able to keep it's doors open. He needs one that will be enough to support itself, and pay him a living salary for him and his family.
I get the feeling that there is a negative sentiment for my views. Who is doing Guy more disservice? Me, who says, let's look at what works, what doesn't, and try to learn from it. Or those who say, sure, it would be cool to watch some guy try to open a shop?
None of us are saying go for it and you will succeed. We're just saying you don't have to be Hodges West to do so. As far as two other shops closing in his area, there is such a thing as learning from others mistakes and doing something well.
03-11-2008, 07:33 PM
#104
UNCLUB OWNER
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,406
Originally Posted by pburt1975
A lot of those cons go away if you can establish a meeting place with the customer after the fact.
Also, there is a grade school (K-4) behind the strip mall I like. I regularly fly there on weekends, and I've flown my Blade CX2 (MD500) in their gym. I've thought about asking to use it for events (or training) from time to time -- I have not yet approached them about it. (Mainly because I'm not even close to signing a lease.)
Originally Posted by pburt1975
just an FYI, I would happily pay 20 bucks a month to fly at an approved site.
Actually, the cops like to park their cruisers next to our flying site, and do their paperwork (and watch us fly). I've talked to several of them, just to make sure we're cool -- every one of them said we're okay.
Again -- there is no need for a dedicated flying site in Tulsa. There's more room than you can imagine. Tom and Kev are posting similar statements, because they've both flown at the "unclub".
Even if I could get some pilots to pay $20 per month to fly... Let's look at the numbers: The INDOOR facility I was looking at has two warehouses that could be used for indoor flying. It costs $7,700 per month (that's not a typo). The place I'm looking at leasing is $2,250 per month. The difference is $5,450 per month -- I would need 273 people to pay me $20 per month to make a $10 profit on that deal. Can you imagine 273 people showing up to fly indoors?! How many of them would pay $20 next month?
As I said, it's just not cost effective.
That being said, I want to say something... If I had a half-million dollars, I would be HAPPY to open a place just exactly like Hodges. The reality is that I do NOT have nearly that much money to invest, I will be borrowing everything to start this venture -- and I don't want to start $500,000 in the hole.
However, I want Flying Monkey to know that I appreciate him. I've learned a lot about Flying Monkey in this thread -- he and I must be identical twins... We both are very strong willed, when it comes to our opinions, and we feel slighted when the majority public does not see our viewpoint. He deleted his posts from this thread -- I have been known to do exactly the same.
Flying Monkey -- While I disagree with the Hodges model for my specific case, I do feel your pain. Don't feel like you must run away from this thread -- you are welcome here.
03-11-2008, 07:46 PM
#106
Hotel California
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,456
Originally Posted by Lieutenant Loughead
Well, the meeting place is already established -- the "unclub".
Also, there is a grade school (K-4) behind the strip mall I like. I regularly fly there on weekends, and I've flown my Blade CX2 (MD500) in their gym. I've thought about asking to use it for events (or training) from time to time -- I have not yet approached them about it. (Mainly because I'm not even close to signing a lease.)
That's cool -- but the "unclub" is free, and nobody has booted us out of there for the last 20 years. There's even a guy who flys a glow-powered glider... Some small business owner called the cops one time, saying our radios were setting off his security alarm -- the cops came out, and told him we had just as much a right to be there as he did.
Actually, the cops like to park their cruisers next to our flying site, and do their paperwork (and watch us fly). I've talked to several of them, just to make sure we're cool -- every one of them said we're okay.
Again -- there is no need for a dedicated flying site in Tulsa. There's more room than you can imagine. Tom and Kev are posting similar statements, because they've both flown at the "unclub".
Also, there is a grade school (K-4) behind the strip mall I like. I regularly fly there on weekends, and I've flown my Blade CX2 (MD500) in their gym. I've thought about asking to use it for events (or training) from time to time -- I have not yet approached them about it. (Mainly because I'm not even close to signing a lease.)
That's cool -- but the "unclub" is free, and nobody has booted us out of there for the last 20 years. There's even a guy who flys a glow-powered glider... Some small business owner called the cops one time, saying our radios were setting off his security alarm -- the cops came out, and told him we had just as much a right to be there as he did.
Actually, the cops like to park their cruisers next to our flying site, and do their paperwork (and watch us fly). I've talked to several of them, just to make sure we're cool -- every one of them said we're okay.
Again -- there is no need for a dedicated flying site in Tulsa. There's more room than you can imagine. Tom and Kev are posting similar statements, because they've both flown at the "unclub".
Time to scale down. Get you a little hotdog cart and patrol the unclub with servos, batteries, RX, motors, esc's and maybe some sodas
03-11-2008, 09:41 PM
#113
Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: McAlester, Oklahoma
Posts: 10,811
Remember that Guy asked our opinions and input at the beginning of this thread. All of us are freely giving our opinions and they are worth what they cost. If he choses not to adopt our ideas, that is his prerogative and we should not take offense, unless he is rude in stating his choice and I don't think Guy is rude.
That said, why the h%## don't you like Hodges? Just kidding.
Can I have a free shirt also, Tom.
That said, why the h%## don't you like Hodges? Just kidding.
Can I have a free shirt also, Tom.
03-12-2008, 02:11 PM
#117
Hotel California
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,456
Originally Posted by LL
I don't know about setting up a hobby shop in the Rose Bowl... It is certainly large enough, and the rent would probably be inexpensive enough -- but it's in a kind of bad part of town, and I doubt the franchise would like such an odd building... :o
1 part of you wanting to go with the franchise was help in a location. If you went with the Rose Bowl building, your brick and mortar shop would even stand a chance, and give you that 'edge'. You said so yourself, there are no issues with places to fly outdoors. Plus, the guy just held an indoor event there, was it successful? if so, maybe the area isnt THAT bad?
03-13-2008, 04:04 PM
#118
UNCLUB OWNER
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,406
Okay, here's another option I've been thinking about for the last several weeks...
Let's say I worked for a company outside of my home state. Let's say that I paid $650 per month for an office, with an attached (small) warehouse.
Let's say I spent my workdays (M-F, 8AM to 5PM) at this location... Let's say there's a sign outside, which says, "RC Warehouse" and "Discount To The Public".
Inside, I have my desk, and a computer (where I do my actual work), but the office is set up like a mini-hobby store, with ONE of everything on the "showroom floor". If you see something you like, I have more of everything in the warehouse.
Would you shop there?
My thought is, if I need an office, maybe I can kill two birds with one stone...
My only REAL concern is that someone may steal stuff from the showroom, while I'm in the warehouse, filling their order... :o
Obviously, this could be an internet business as well.
Let's say I worked for a company outside of my home state. Let's say that I paid $650 per month for an office, with an attached (small) warehouse.
Let's say I spent my workdays (M-F, 8AM to 5PM) at this location... Let's say there's a sign outside, which says, "RC Warehouse" and "Discount To The Public".
Inside, I have my desk, and a computer (where I do my actual work), but the office is set up like a mini-hobby store, with ONE of everything on the "showroom floor". If you see something you like, I have more of everything in the warehouse.
Would you shop there?
My thought is, if I need an office, maybe I can kill two birds with one stone...
My only REAL concern is that someone may steal stuff from the showroom, while I'm in the warehouse, filling their order... :o
Obviously, this could be an internet business as well.
03-13-2008, 04:59 PM
#119
Super Contributor
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sandwich, IL
Posts: 9,565
Originally Posted by Lieutenant Loughead
Okay, here's another option I've been thinking about for the last several weeks...
Let's say I worked for a company outside of my home state. Let's say that I paid $650 per month for an office, with an attached (small) warehouse.
Let's say I spent my workdays (M-F, 8AM to 5PM) at this location... Let's say there's a sign outside, which says, "RC Warehouse" and "Discount To The Public".
Inside, I have my desk, and a computer (where I do my actual work), but the office is set up like a mini-hobby store, with ONE of everything on the "showroom floor". If you see something you like, I have more of everything in the warehouse.
Would you shop there?
My thought is, if I need an office, maybe I can kill two birds with one stone...
My only REAL concern is that someone may steal stuff from the showroom, while I'm in the warehouse, filling their order... :o
Obviously, this could be an internet business as well.
Let's say I worked for a company outside of my home state. Let's say that I paid $650 per month for an office, with an attached (small) warehouse.
Let's say I spent my workdays (M-F, 8AM to 5PM) at this location... Let's say there's a sign outside, which says, "RC Warehouse" and "Discount To The Public".
Inside, I have my desk, and a computer (where I do my actual work), but the office is set up like a mini-hobby store, with ONE of everything on the "showroom floor". If you see something you like, I have more of everything in the warehouse.
Would you shop there?
My thought is, if I need an office, maybe I can kill two birds with one stone...
My only REAL concern is that someone may steal stuff from the showroom, while I'm in the warehouse, filling their order... :o
Obviously, this could be an internet business as well.
(Or hire me to take care of security.....)As long as the prices were competitive and the service was good, I would shop in such an endeavor.
03-13-2008, 05:14 PM
#120
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,406
Well, the overhead would be VERY low (we're talking ZERO dollars of overhead), so the prices should be lower than anywhere else in town.
As I said earlier, I'd have items in stock, and I'd have lots of warehouse space to carry MORE items that customers ask me to stock. (The warehouse doesn't have to LOOK pretty!)
Glass cases -- I had not considered that. Good call.
Also, if they "Smash and Grab", they only get ONE of the item they're trying to steal...
As I said earlier, I'd have items in stock, and I'd have lots of warehouse space to carry MORE items that customers ask me to stock. (The warehouse doesn't have to LOOK pretty!)
Glass cases -- I had not considered that. Good call.
Also, if they "Smash and Grab", they only get ONE of the item they're trying to steal...
03-13-2008, 05:58 PM
#121
Super Contributor
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sandwich, IL
Posts: 9,565
Originally Posted by Lieutenant Loughead
Well, the overhead would be VERY low (we're talking ZERO dollars of overhead), so the prices should be lower than anywhere else in town.
As I said earlier, I'd have items in stock, and I'd have lots of warehouse space to carry MORE items that customers ask me to stock. (The warehouse doesn't have to LOOK pretty!)
Glass cases -- I had not considered that. Good call.
Also, if they "Smash and Grab", they only get ONE of the item they're trying to steal...
As I said earlier, I'd have items in stock, and I'd have lots of warehouse space to carry MORE items that customers ask me to stock. (The warehouse doesn't have to LOOK pretty!)
Glass cases -- I had not considered that. Good call.
Also, if they "Smash and Grab", they only get ONE of the item they're trying to steal...
Do you have a place in mind? And.....here's a slant. Would it be something you could start up before leaving your current employ, say being there on the weekends of select evenings for walk-in customers, but available 24/7 via internet? There are some smaller hobby shops around here that are only open by appointment only, or in the evenings.
03-13-2008, 07:21 PM
#122
UNCLUB OWNER
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,406
Originally Posted by gfdengine204
Exactly. While they might get one of a few things, I would imagine the chances of it happening are less than that of, say, where I live. Something about concealed carry laws made things feel "different", I think, but I digress.
Honestly, I think we should go back to the day were every Oklahoman is born with a gun on his hip. My theory is that bad guys won't be bad, if they know they'll be shot from 10 different directions, by 10 different "innocent bystanders" he didn't notice a moment ago...
Originally Posted by gfdengine204
Do you have a place in mind? And.....here's a slant. Would it be something you could start up before leaving your current employ, say being there on the weekends of select evenings for walk-in customers, but available 24/7 via internet? There are some smaller hobby shops around here that are only open by appointment only, or in the evenings.
I called the land lord a few hours ago -- he said there was something like 1,300 square feet, counting the office, warehouse, and handicap bathroom (he mentioned the handicap bathroom several times -- he seems to be very proud of that)...
He told me they were picky about who they let run a business there -- I told him what I had in mind, and he was very happy with my answer. He went on to say the biggest issues were noise and smells, because most people rent the spaces as offices. (I didn't tell him I might be thrust bench and torque bench testing!)
Yes, I also considered the idea of only being open on weekends. The trouble would be my busy schedule -- this weekend, for example, my kid has one soccer game on Saturday, and three more on Sunday! (That's 4 hours of game play, not counting the travel time, and time between games.)
My only fear, when thinking of opening my "warehouse" before leaving my office job, is that I'd have to come up with the $650 per month (plus utilities) for rent. If I can land this other job where I'll be working for the business in another state -- well, I just might be able to talk the company into paying the $650 (or a portion of it) for my office space.
I need to figure out how to add a shopping cart to my web site... :o
03-13-2008, 07:46 PM
#123
Flite Test Fan
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: 32459
Posts: 8,930
Originally Posted by Lieutenant Loughead
Yes, I have a place in mind -- $650 per month, and they have a vacancy. It's not nearly as fancy as the $2,250 sq ft retail place, and the front of the store looks like a door and a garage door. (No window space.):o
Is the garage door something you would be making use of?
The building we were renovating for lease, we looked into adding inside the roll up door, what they call "storefront" which is the glass window and doorway. You could ask the land lord if you could have one of those installed. You could put it (depending on how the garage door is installed) either inside, or outside. Using the garage door as a way to provide additional security when the shop is closed.
03-13-2008, 09:32 PM
#124
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oklahoma
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Originally Posted by FlyingMonkey
Is the garage door something you would be making use of?
The building we were renovating for lease, we looked into adding inside the roll up door, what they call "storefront" which is the glass window and doorway. You could ask the land lord if you could have one of those installed. You could put it (depending on how the garage door is installed) either inside, or outside. Using the garage door as a way to provide additional security when the shop is closed.
The building we were renovating for lease, we looked into adding inside the roll up door, what they call "storefront" which is the glass window and doorway. You could ask the land lord if you could have one of those installed. You could put it (depending on how the garage door is installed) either inside, or outside. Using the garage door as a way to provide additional security when the shop is closed.
Then again, I don't see why I couldn't just frame something up inside the garage door...
On the other hand, ALL the OTHER (ugly) garage doors (other tennants) will still be there... :o
The cool thing is that people would be able to tell if I'm open, by simply driving by. They don't even have to stop.
