The U.S. is one of the few countries that rely on gun trade. This is because it has an entire amendment that talks about arming its populace, and it has a whole population willing to fight to keep that amendment. This does businesses that are gun-related attractive to many small business owners. However, starting in this industry isn’t as easy as you think.
Competition is pretty stiff when it comes to the firearm and ammunition industry. There are over 50,000 gun dealers in the country. If you’re going to count all businesses related to firearms, you’re talking about upwards of 100,000 small businesses that are part of the sector. So the number of companies that are firearm-related is numerous. So how can you get ahead of the competition?
With enough knowledge about growing trends, you should start a thriving business in the industry. Let’s first talk about the general state of the firearm and ammunition industry in the U.S.
Guns and Businesses
Americans love their guns, and it shows through the economic activity within the sector. It’s estimated that the firearm and ammunition industry in the U.S. is responsible for over $60 billion of the country’s overall economic activity in 2020. Moreover, this is poised to grow in the coming years, as more people get into competitive shooting as a hobby.
Moreover, having a gun is an essential self-defense topic in the U.S. It’s a pretty heated debate whether the populace should be armed or not. However, one can’t deny that having a gun can make you and your family feel safe in a home invasion. This is why about 44% of the population (about 393 million) own a gun.
These statistics show how the sector is thriving in the U.S. It’s an understatement to say that more and more people will enter the industry in the coming years despite the pandemic and other economic disasters out there. So how are you going to stand out among others?
Modularization and Customization
Modular is a word being waved around in the industry, and for a good reason: they make firearms a lot more attractive and comfortable to have. Guns are expensive, and people want to have everything they need in one gun. Although such a reality is impossible, there are already modular systems to make certain firearms stand out.
For example, the Glock 19 comes with various stocks for sale. Moreover, its system can be adapted to use various ammunitions. This modular system is attractive to many customers, and you should have such options in your business.
Another reason why modularization is so good for businesses in the sector is customization. Nowadays, personalization and customization are important for the modern consumer. They want to make most of what they own theirs uniquely. This is the same for firearms.
People love customizing their guns, and almost all gun-owners have a single customized gun in their arsenal. So if you want your business to stand out, offer these options to your customers.
Gun Range
Some gun dealerships don’t have a gun range. Don’t make this mistake. Having a gun range is enough to bring customers into your shop. A gun range can be a form of marketing and also a source of revenue at the same time. Many of the most successful gun dealerships have a gun range in their shops.
A gun range isn’t just for testing firearms. Many people are willing to rent gun ranges for practice and competitive shooting. Additionally, they are likely to do this if your dealership has modern electronic targeting systems. It’s a convenient system that is friendly to all sorts of customers. Moreover, it’s safe to use.
Ensure that you have enough space for a gun range in your shop if you want more customers to visit your shop.
Influencers
If you’re looking for a way to market your shop cheaply, you should consider hiring some influencers to visit your shop. YouTube has more than a billion people viewing gun influencers on their platforms. Those are billions of people that have the potential of knowing about your gun shop.
One way to get started is to sponsor these influencers with the guns they need for their videos. Another way is to fund them directly. Pay them for advertisements or shout-outs in every video. This should give you enough traction to stand out against the competition.
The firearm and ammunition industry is a competitive one, but it can also be an industry where you can be unique. With enough research and creative thinking, you should start a business that will stand out in the sector.