Opening a LHS

[Neo5370 132]

First off, I didn't know if this should be here or Misc. Discussions but I digress.

Bare bones question.

What do I need to do/know/have to open a LHS.

Little background............

- I have a B.S. in Business Management (so you'd think I could answer this myself)

- I have no idea how to sharpen skates or about any sort of skate maintenance ('cept for roller, but let's face it there's no market for changing bearings)

- I know I'd need a loan and a great location, building, and accounts

So what else?

Part II:

- There are law schools, and cooking schools, but no skate sharpening schools so how do I go about learning what I need to learn?

Part III:

- What's the "mortality" rate for opening a LHS? Of course I"m not like a Peranis opening a new location, I'd essentially be a "mom and pop" sort of joint only there's no "mom" and I"m not a "pop"

- I'm a 23 yr old graduate.

Thanks very much for any input!!!

[nsa97531 0]

just my $o.o2 but i would spend a couple months working for a succesful hockey shop learning how to do everything also i would look for a place where there is a high density of hockey players and is near a few different large organizations. Also learn how to get in touch with distributers that is very important but im not qualified so this is just my opinion... good luck

[Hockeyman9621 0]

just my $o.o2 but i would spend a couple months working for a succesful hockey shop learning how to do everything also i would look for a place where there is a high density of hockey players and is near a few different large organizations. Also learn how to get in touch with distributers that is very important but im not qualified so this is just my opinion... good luck

That's what I was going to say. Learn the skills and tricks first.

[ktang 34]

Same as the other two suggestions about learning the trades involved.

Also, you can see the downside in running this kind of operation too (e.g. supplier power, competition from the Internet retailers, stock obsolescence, possibly too many LHS competitors, possibly long hours, certain difficult customers).

[Chadd 916]

Neo, drop me an email and I'll let you know what I've gone through in the last 12-14 months as well as some tips and things to avoid.

chadd@puckhoghockey.com

[Netminder32 32]

If you are interested in doing skates, contact Maximum Edge. They offer complete training, all supplies and protected territories for their dealers.

Maximum Edge

note: While the web site isn't very impressive, their products and service are...

Also, make sure you attend the hockey trade show in Nevada in January. (and the next Toronto show) There is nothing like being able to contact all the reps in one place at one time with product on hand for gaining knowledge and making connections.

Lastly, follow boards like this one so you can see market trends. While the companies might like you to believe they have the greatest products since sliced bread, if we don't like them, we won't buy them. In a lot of instances the smaller companies hold the upper hand in bringing products to market that we the consumers like. Not everybody wants RBK or Bauer rammed down their throats... :P

Good Luck, keep us posted on your progress...

[Chadd 916]

If you are interested in doing skates, contact Maximum Edge. They offer complete training, all supplies and protected territories for their dealers.

Maximum Edge

note: While the web site isn't very impressive, their products and service are...

Also, make sure you attend the hockey trade show in Nevada in January. (and the next Toronto show) There is nothing like being able to contact all the reps in one place at one time with product on hand for gaining knowledge and making connections.

Lastly, follow boards like this one so you can see market trends. While the companies might like you to believe they have the greatest products since sliced bread, if we don't like them, we won't buy them. In a lot of instances the smaller companies hold the upper hand in bringing products to market that we the consumers like. Not everybody wants RBK or Bauer rammed down their throats... :P

Good Luck, keep us posted on your progress...

As much as I liked the Vegas show last year it looks like 90% of the retailers will be in Boston this year.

[nsa97531 0]

i dont know f this is a possability but the internet was mentioned and a good website for buying is a good idea

[Netminder32 32]

See, I don't work in the industry. (just an avid enthusiest) Heck, I had to weasel my way into the last Toronto show. I didn't even know about Boston....

It's good to have contacts on the inside. :P

[Chadd 916]

i dont know f this is a possability but the internet was mentioned and a good website for buying is a good idea

Running a real online shop is more difficult than running a LHS. Sure the overhead is lower to be online only but you have to have everything on your site in stock all the time. I've done some online sales and, to be honest, it helps the bottom line. However to keep an online store like Monkey, Giant or Great Skate fully stocked takes a lot of capital.

[Jim A 4]

the biggest thing when considering this or any retail biz is...

do I want to be doing this when I'm 45 years old?

Chances are if you open a LHS, you will be the one turning the key on a Sat morning, closing it Fri evening, and maybe getting one day a week off to spend outside the shop and with the fam...

Owning/running a LHS is a great thing, but where do you go from there when the time is up?

[prenny207 1]

first question, and most important... what city/area are you looking to open a store in?

my biggest advise, with the current status of the hockey market... find another career path!

don't take this wrong, but what the hockey world needs is for the weaker stores to close their doors. we don't need 5 stores in a town that has 1 rink!

[Jim A 4]

agreed Prenny, and there are also enough shops that believe just because they are open in a smaller town, people will buy...I kid you not there's a store in old hometown that still has a fair range of Cooper products..marked down 15% of course...

[Neo5370 132]

I don't have a specific spot in mind, and this is all just a pipedream so far.

But naturally hockey "heavy" areas (new england, minn, etc) would be my first choice.

How much time and effort would I be interested in putting? Well I'm in culinary school now so I can't think of anything else that would require more working hours than a cook, hockey shop owner included.

And I hear you JimA.

There's a shop 20 mins from me that has new in box, dead stock gear circa early 90's.

I've got my eye on a pair of new 652 super tacks a la mike modano and maybe his last few pairs of mega air 90's :P

Anyhow, my biggest fear w/ this sort of venture is, naturally, not being able to pay the bills and keep my bottom line in the black.

[Chadd 916]

When we get a second location I'll need someone to run one of them. You can come and learn from me. :lol:

[Neo5370 132]

Haha, you may regret that offer as I may take you up on it !!! B) :P

[finkster 0]

I, too, would be interested in opening a LHS. Professionally, I am a software developer. I am also an avid ice hockey enthusiasts. I would be more than happy to help anyone out (on the software/web end of things). About all I could offer is my skills in programming ;-)

BTW: I live in the St. Louis area (Belleville, IL)

[scubafrogman 0]

I, too, would be interested in opening a LHS. Professionally, I am a software developer. I am also an avid ice hockey enthusiasts. I would be more than happy to help anyone out (on the software/web end of things). About all I could offer is my skills in programming ;-)

BTW: I live in the St. Louis area (Belleville, IL)

How about moving to Kansas City? :D STL has plenty of hockey. We here in KC need a quality hockey store. Only ave one store and they have a small selection and little competition.

Anyone in KC want to open a store???

[DarkStar50 679]

- I have a B.S. in Business Management

Remember Economics 101: There are two kinds of purchases: necessities and luxuries. Find yourself a business that sells necessities(like food or clothes) and beware of businesses that sell luxuries(like hockey equipment).

Seriously, go to work in a LHS or Pro shop and find out if this idea is the right fit for you. Learn everything you can and then go for it. and good luck!!

[hockeyblood 11]

After you get your business up and running, taking it online is the next step you wanna make as long as you have a good and strict marketing program, you can't go wrong with that. I do web designs of all sort, from personal to e-commerce.

PM me for samples.

[RadioGaGa 162]

- I have a B.S. in Business Management

Remember Economics 101: There are two kinds of purchases: necessities and luxuries. Find yourself a business that sells necessities(like food or clothes) and beware of businesses that sell luxuries(like hockey equipment).

Whoa whoa whoa whoa...back that truck up....hockey equipment ISN'T a necessity?????

:o

Damn!

[Drewhunz 3]

I, too, would be interested in opening a LHS.  Professionally, I am a software developer.  I am also an avid ice hockey enthusiasts.  I would be more than happy to help anyone out (on the software/web end of things).  About all I could offer is my skills in programming ;-)

BTW: I live in the St. Louis area (Belleville, IL)

How about moving to Kansas City? :D STL has plenty of hockey. We here in KC need a quality hockey store. Only ave one store and they have a small selection and little competition.

Anyone in KC want to open a store???

Is that the one on shawnee mission parkway at the George Brett Sports Complex (Ice Sports?)? Got interested in hockey when I started college @ UMKC. Yeah- that place really sucks. Only had 3 or 4 kinds of skates and just VERY basic hockey gear.

[PH_Hockey2 4]

Make sure you learn to do a good job on skate sharping. Doing well on skates and putting a good name on it will get you a lot of business.

[JR Boucicaut 3803]

Agreed

[Chadd 916]

- I have a B.S. in Business Management

Remember Economics 101: There are two kinds of purchases: necessities and luxuries. Find yourself a business that sells necessities(like food or clothes) and beware of businesses that sell luxuries(like hockey equipment).

Whoa whoa whoa whoa...back that truck up....hockey equipment ISN'T a necessity?????

:o

Damn!

No, you need hockey gear. The really good stuff is the luxury product.