Starting a Hobby dealership
10-21-2007, 02:04 PM
#16
Tech Master
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henry, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but what your proposing is exactly what the big distributors DO NOT want.
They want a storefront, and a certain amount of minimum orders (read:$$$) per week. And from what it sound like you want, your likely not going to accomplish either.
I wish I had better news, but as a former shop owner.... I just can't see things working out really well for you. There might be a smaller distributor that would sell to you without a storefront (or min purchases) but they likely wouldn't have much stock and might not have all the products you would need...
On a side note, as a frequent visitor to Northern MI (my fiancée lives up in that area), what is the racing scene like up there?
They want a storefront, and a certain amount of minimum orders (read:$$$) per week. And from what it sound like you want, your likely not going to accomplish either.
I wish I had better news, but as a former shop owner.... I just can't see things working out really well for you. There might be a smaller distributor that would sell to you without a storefront (or min purchases) but they likely wouldn't have much stock and might not have all the products you would need...
On a side note, as a frequent visitor to Northern MI (my fiancée lives up in that area), what is the racing scene like up there?
10-21-2007, 09:01 PM
#17
henry, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but what your proposing is exactly what the big distributors DO NOT want.
They want a storefront, and a certain amount of minimum orders (read:$$$) per week. And from what it sound like you want, your likely not going to accomplish either.
I wish I had better news, but as a former shop owner.... I just can't see things working out really well for you. There might be a smaller distributor that would sell to you without a storefront (or min purchases) but they likely wouldn't have much stock and might not have all the products you would need...
On a side note, as a frequent visitor to Northern MI (my fiancée lives up in that area), what is the racing scene like up there?
They want a storefront, and a certain amount of minimum orders (read:$$$) per week. And from what it sound like you want, your likely not going to accomplish either.
I wish I had better news, but as a former shop owner.... I just can't see things working out really well for you. There might be a smaller distributor that would sell to you without a storefront (or min purchases) but they likely wouldn't have much stock and might not have all the products you would need...
On a side note, as a frequent visitor to Northern MI (my fiancée lives up in that area), what is the racing scene like up there?
What would it take to get a lot zoned commercial? I've also thought of having a small, but clean building put up to do this.
One other thing I thought about. There are several local sportsman's clubs in my area. Since I also pistol-shoot recreationally I have considered joining one of them. I have wondered if it would be possible to talk one of them into setting up at least a practice track to play around on. All of these clubs have lots of land and I don't think it would cost much to set up a practice track, just time and elbow grease.
10-22-2007, 05:00 AM
#18
Being in the UP I think you are talking about an indoor facility. You can set up an indoor facility very easily if you initially just raced smaller scale vehicles. think Sportwerk Recoils, Mini-Z, 1/18th scale on and off road cars, buggies and trucks. Here's what you'd need:
• enough people to race
• Place to have a 35foot x25 foot track, plus pit space
• Ozite carpet
• inexpensive PC computer
• lap counting software
• I-LapRC race timing hardware
For parts support I'd find the closest hobbyshop that has a relationship with the two big distributors, Horizon and Great Planes. I'd discuss with the hobbyshop that I was creating a new racing club and will be expected to order x-amount of product from them. I'd assume any hobbyshop that knew they'd be supplying a group of racers would love to extend a "club discount" if they knew the racing club would be buying from them regularly. Finding a store close would mean a 1 day UPS delivery or someone from the club regularly driving there to pick parts up.
We recently did the above and now less than a year later regularly have two days a week racing with about 20 regular racers attending. The existence of smaller scale RC vehicles let us create the whole program.
• enough people to race
• Place to have a 35foot x25 foot track, plus pit space
• Ozite carpet
• inexpensive PC computer
• lap counting software
• I-LapRC race timing hardware
For parts support I'd find the closest hobbyshop that has a relationship with the two big distributors, Horizon and Great Planes. I'd discuss with the hobbyshop that I was creating a new racing club and will be expected to order x-amount of product from them. I'd assume any hobbyshop that knew they'd be supplying a group of racers would love to extend a "club discount" if they knew the racing club would be buying from them regularly. Finding a store close would mean a 1 day UPS delivery or someone from the club regularly driving there to pick parts up.
We recently did the above and now less than a year later regularly have two days a week racing with about 20 regular racers attending. The existence of smaller scale RC vehicles let us create the whole program.
10-22-2007, 07:27 AM
#19
Tech Initiate
iTrader: (1)
I'm a former Yooper, so I have to root for growth up there.
If you've looking at a sportsman-club based track, Outagamie Conservation Club (just north of Appleton) has just such a setup. Go to wiocc.org for contact info if you want to talk to them.
If you're thinking big, a dirt floor polebarn with small finished/heated shop section could handle indoor offroad, dirt oval, or whatever the locals are looking for. It would be cold in winter, but weather wouldn't stop you. Two big doors for cross-ventilation might make it work for Nitro in summer.
Is the strong interest right in Escanaba or more spread out? Have you considered something between Esky and Iron Mountain? Iron Mountain had a Hobbytown for a while and a tiny shop on the northside before that. Land and existing buildings are relatively cheap, and there happens to be a casino in between there. There would be very little passerby traffic unless it's right on US2 or within sight of the casino parking lot.
"Yes dear, I'm just going on a trip to go racing, it's not like I'm going to Vegas."
If you've looking at a sportsman-club based track, Outagamie Conservation Club (just north of Appleton) has just such a setup. Go to wiocc.org for contact info if you want to talk to them.
If you're thinking big, a dirt floor polebarn with small finished/heated shop section could handle indoor offroad, dirt oval, or whatever the locals are looking for. It would be cold in winter, but weather wouldn't stop you. Two big doors for cross-ventilation might make it work for Nitro in summer.
Is the strong interest right in Escanaba or more spread out? Have you considered something between Esky and Iron Mountain? Iron Mountain had a Hobbytown for a while and a tiny shop on the northside before that. Land and existing buildings are relatively cheap, and there happens to be a casino in between there. There would be very little passerby traffic unless it's right on US2 or within sight of the casino parking lot.
"Yes dear, I'm just going on a trip to go racing, it's not like I'm going to Vegas."
10-22-2007, 04:44 PM
#21
Tech Fanatic
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Abrams, WI (Yes the same town as CJ & John Greaves)
Posts: 821
Wasn't there a club that raced at the Bark River-Harris school?
I think I remember the guys at Thunder talking about it.
Also, aren't there races in the eastern UP?
I think I remember the guys at Thunder talking about it.
Also, aren't there races in the eastern UP?
10-22-2007, 11:51 PM
#22
To the best of my knowledge all the R/C racing in the east end is all carpet and/or oval racing.
Being in the UP I think you are talking about an indoor facility. You can set up an indoor facility very easily if you initially just raced smaller scale vehicles. think Sportwerk Recoils, Mini-Z, 1/18th scale on and off road cars, buggies and trucks. Here's what you'd need:
• enough people to race
• Place to have a 35foot x25 foot track, plus pit space
• Ozite carpet
• inexpensive PC computer
• lap counting software
• I-LapRC race timing hardware
For parts support I'd find the closest hobbyshop that has a relationship with the two big distributors, Horizon and Great Planes. I'd discuss with the hobbyshop that I was creating a new racing club and will be expected to order x-amount of product from them. I'd assume any hobbyshop that knew they'd be supplying a group of racers would love to extend a "club discount" if they knew the racing club would be buying from them regularly. Finding a store close would mean a 1 day UPS delivery or someone from the club regularly driving there to pick parts up.
We recently did the above and now less than a year later regularly have two days a week racing with about 20 regular racers attending. The existence of smaller scale RC vehicles let us create the whole program.
• enough people to race
• Place to have a 35foot x25 foot track, plus pit space
• Ozite carpet
• inexpensive PC computer
• lap counting software
• I-LapRC race timing hardware
For parts support I'd find the closest hobbyshop that has a relationship with the two big distributors, Horizon and Great Planes. I'd discuss with the hobbyshop that I was creating a new racing club and will be expected to order x-amount of product from them. I'd assume any hobbyshop that knew they'd be supplying a group of racers would love to extend a "club discount" if they knew the racing club would be buying from them regularly. Finding a store close would mean a 1 day UPS delivery or someone from the club regularly driving there to pick parts up.
We recently did the above and now less than a year later regularly have two days a week racing with about 20 regular racers attending. The existence of smaller scale RC vehicles let us create the whole program.
10-23-2007, 01:25 PM
#23
Tech Master
iTrader: (35)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Naperville, Illinois- on to Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana Racetracks!
Posts: 1,690
Trader Rating: 35 (97%+)
The issue being the nearest hobby shop that carries a well stocked R/C section in Northern Hobbies which is 100 miles away. Most of the guys in this area have off-road stuff that was why I was leaning more toward off-road in the summer. I have also considered putting an add in the local newspaper and try and have a meeting to guage interest in this.
You have to have enough people willing to race/buy parts to make it worth your while...
To your knowledge, is there any racing (preferably off-road) in northern MI/Cadillac or Traverse City area? Thanks!
Best of luck to you.
08-29-2008, 07:44 PM
#24
Tech Rookie
iTrader: (1)
racing in da u.p.
hey henry this is dave bower i just moved down by milwaukee and the r/c shops are all over. im currently setting up a off road track for a company called johns hobbies in hartford. then im about to get in at a hobbytown in delafield part time for some "hobby cash" but anyways if your interested and can get a couple of the guys to come down from up there for a trophy weekend we have camping with electric and well hahaha party at my place after with a hot tub to relax and chase some brews. 
08-29-2008, 09:29 PM
#26
There's very very few of my racing buddies that I'd enjoy taking a whirlpool with.
The foam swirl would stink like Paragon.
HA!
The foam swirl would stink like Paragon.
HA!
08-30-2008, 05:41 PM
#28
Talk to some store owners in your area about your goal. Ask them to be the storefront for you and everything would go through them but most likely they will want you to front the cash to them before the order was placed or came in so that they are not stuck with it.
Good luck with your adventure.
Good luck with your adventure.
09-02-2008, 09:20 PM
#29
hey henry this is dave bower i just moved down by milwaukee and the r/c shops are all over. im currently setting up a off road track for a company called johns hobbies in hartford. then im about to get in at a hobbytown in delafield part time for some "hobby cash" but anyways if your interested and can get a couple of the guys to come down from up there for a trophy weekend we have camping with electric and well hahaha party at my place after with a hot tub to relax and chase some brews.
09-03-2008, 08:35 AM
#30
Thanks everyone for the info. My question is now, what passes for a store-front? Could I just get some small building put up to run it out of, or would I have to actually rent out a commercial storefront? Also is Team Associated an exclusive line? Where could I go to find out what is exclusive or where could I go to get contact with some of the smaller suppliers? Again thank you everyone for the help.
Last edited by Solara; 09-03-2008 at 08:46 AM.