When do you expand your gun list?

[K-Man]

DCKnives:

Are you saying that you'd be able to offer them for less than a holster business can get them for if buying direct from Ring's?

Jordan:

You bring up a couple of good points. You should determine where in the market you want to play, i.e., if you want to only support your local gun shops or go to a wider market. There may be enough business for a person to stay within their own locale/geographic area. Another consideration, and Boomstick eluded to this, is if you want to do a wide variety of guns or just limit where and what styles you offer. There are holster makers out there who do nothing other than pocket holsters. You could probably do well just doing IWB holsters, as concealed carry is growing in leaps and bounds. There are a couple of folks who only do the "gun belts." If someone wanted to concentrate on doing nothing but holsters for revolvers, i.e., J-frames, K-frames, L-frames, N-frames, and X-frames, they would have a substantial amount of work in their shop.

Conversely, diversity is going to bolster your bottom line more so, and much sooner, than concentrating in one arena/aspect of the industry. There's a myth (IMO) out there that says, in essence, "If you do too many things, you're not good at any." While that may be true in some instances, it's definitely not true in all.

[DCKNIVES]

I was told by the owner they only sell to dealers/distributors ,so I had planned on a distributorship. And yes I think I would be able to offer cheaper prices.Dave

[K-Man]

Well, actually, they also sell to bonafide holster businesses. You might want to clarify with them as to who they sell to and for how much. It's a rare occasion that a company would allow another to sell their product for less than they do.

[DCKNIVES]

Will do, thank you.Dave

[Srigs]

Unless I know the gun model is something people will use I won't buy one without at least an order to cover the cost of the form.

I tell people that I will keep their name and let them know if I get a form. This has worked very well.

I have also purchased the real thing at times and for a common gun it pays back very quickly. The last one I did that on is the Kel-tec PF9. It has been paid for in less than 3 months and I get the gun to use plus a write-off