kicking around the idea of opening a tack shop

[SmokinP]

Wife and I are kicking around the idea of opening a tack shop in our area. Kind of wondering what you all thought you might like see carried and maybe even pay a sort of premium price for. Also would like to know what might draw the "non-horse" folks to maybe stop in and look around.

As leatherworkers, would you be interested in displaying your work on some sort of consignment arrangement?

Just looking for any and all thoughts.

[broncobuster]

first research your area. find out what discipline is the most in your area. then check with them on what they like to see. research your vendors n find those that dont need large volume orders. id start with basic everyday type stuff. halter, headstalls, grooming supplies etc. ask questions when the custome comes in about what products they like. if you get a lot of requests for the same things thats what u order. dont start buying things you think might sell thats out of the ordinary. repair gets people in the door. i have a small shop but i offer lots of different things. and have the connections to get stuff i dont have. or know the places they can get what the customer needs. start with small dollar stuff if you go with big dollar items you might be sitting with it for a while. just feel your customers out. what one tack shop has in an area doesnt mean the same stuff will do good in yours. see if you can start out with advertising for consignment saddles first before buying to many new ones. just ideas for ya.

[SmokinP]

Thank you Broncobuster. As a side note, I coulda used ya the other day. I'm taking the time to type this while I wait for some body parts to get realigned after one of my two year olds decided he'd show me there was still time to get him entered in the NFR saddle bronc event.

Some thoughts that have run through my head:

I buy a lot of mail order for my own uses but there are a bunch of things I won't buy unless I can see them and get a feel for it. Headstalls and stuff like that. But I realize we won't be able to compete with the big outfits on price so we'll have to offer excellent service and/or something just a little bit different.

I like your suggestion that repairs get folks in the door. I can see a lot of possibilities there.

Starting out I was thinking of working with a saddlemaker and display maybe 1 or 2 of his saddles for sale with no consignment fee. I've met a maker through this board that makes beautiful saddles. Although they are very high end and would be a limited market, I would go a long ways just to look at them. Be a good draw item I think.

What I need to work on is that when I walk in a tack shop, a finely made bridle, bit, spurs, saddle, etc. really catches my eye and starts tugging at my wallet. I kinda wonder what gets that feeling for folks that think a snaffle bit is some type of fancy bottle opener.

All on paper right now so I appreciate all the thoughts and information.