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May 30, 2019

Is a Bigger Range Always Better?


Ever visited one of those supersized “destination” ranges during a big weekend sales event, “firearms festival” or dealer-demo days? The parking lot is jammed with customer cars, the cavernous pro shop is swamped with customers with wallets wide open and the food trucks outside all have long lines. For anyone who wants to turn their enthusiasm for firearms and the shooting sports into a business, such a sight can be the driving force behind wanting to open their own range.

Those giant, amenity-rich ranges are a sight to behold on a busy weekend, but go visit one on a Tuesday morning or late on a Thursday night. What’s the parking lot look like then? Is the staff dusting shelves instead of ringing the register? Does it even bother to open its café at such times?

Big ranges have their place — when there’s a sustaining customer base that holds the opportunity for expansion, the flexibility to address changing trends in the shooting sports and a pool of knowledgeable, experienced potential employees on which to draw. The same can be said for the five-lane range with a retail shop that inventories firearms and gear for a community’s niche market of long-range bolt-gun shooters, or for the 20-lane range that’s made itself available for IPSC and postal bull’s-eye matches, date-night couples events and a busy class schedule that satisfies local requirements for a concealed carry license.

Bottom line, if your dream is to own a range and retail facility, that dream can be realized in a variety of sizes, and how you determine the right size for your location is critical to its future success. Helping you discover that perfect size is our 2019 Range-Retailer Business Expo session “Sizing your Range Appropriately to Make Money.” Led by Bryan “B.A.” Stear, owner of Denver’s successful Shoot Indoors franchise, you’ll discover how to mine area demographic data, research build-out costs and other tactics that can help you determine the footprint you need to be profitable now and not years down the line (or never). The shooting range industry is growing, and if you’re looking to be a part of it, you won’t want to miss this session.

Brian Stear Range Retailer Business Expo SpeakerSizing your Range Appropriately to Make Money

Date/Time: Monday Aug. 19, 8:30-9:00 a.m.

Register Today

 

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