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March, 2024

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New store. WTS?

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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
AIght so I know I don't have very many posts on this website yet.. almost no Karma, but I am opening my own ski shop very shortly. I have everything set out, but I was wondering, what do you guys want to see in a ski shop? What do you want to be offered? Any perks/shipping needs you want met? Tell me what your dream ski shop would be like. I will try and fulfill that.
Jan 28 2012 10:58PM
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timtim9
Posts: 7 - Karma: 6
dalbellos
Jan 29 2012 2:33PM
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B-Wayne
Posts: 144 - Karma: 109
Armada
POC
Smith
Oakley
Orage
Atomic
Full Tilt
Line
Sick Stickz Poles
Lethal Descent
Hestra Gloves
FASC
Jiberish

Jan 29 2012 6:31PM
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AnthonyWalsh
Posts: 1571 - Karma: 1,302
Where are you setting up your shop? and get some inspired media concepts outerwear as well as full tilt CLOTHING. i cant find that stuff anywhere
Jan 29 2012 6:41PM
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qualay
Posts: 238 - Karma: 167
EMPLOYEES WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING and a good selection of gear is all that really matters. Find staff you know all different types of gear.
Jan 29 2012 6:43PM
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thatsG
Posts: 2557 - Karma: 1,771
Hire Kangbang
Jan 29 2012 6:45PM
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jmasterp
Posts: 1976 - Karma: 233
I like the idea of small stuff, kids love stickers. whether you sell them or just give them away, they are a cheap luxury that is of interest to everybody.
Jan 29 2012 6:50PM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
This, hahahha.

Don't bother getting Jiberish. You it won't sell that good. Plus it's super hard to get. Get the common brands to start off.

The tie dye boot idea is stupid. No one will do it. Don't venture out that far. Start with the basics first.
Jan 29 2012 7:01PM
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FreeVillain
Posts: 747 - Karma: 260
Armada orage jiberish saga and get a big deletion of skis and bindings
Jan 29 2012 7:44PM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
Have you not read Balto's post? He will never be able to get Saga or Jiberish.
Jan 29 2012 8:04PM
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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
Once I have established a good store, with a lot of business.. I will look into getting Saga. At that time it won't hurt to try, and they do say on their website you can inquire about being a dealer. =)
Jan 29 2012 8:15PM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,589
you can't just go out and hit chads either
Jan 29 2012 8:39PM
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ForeverYung
Posts: 8385 - Karma: 2,060
This shop is sounding real dope right now. There should be a NS ski shop with a bunch of small brands that mostly NS get an there would be one in all the major ski areas.
Jan 29 2012 9:13PM
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fnly
Posts: 61 - Karma: 18
My best advice is to be SUPER involved in the community:

-Have a team and "sponsor" local riders, even if the sponsorship is like 5% off and free stickers. 
-Put on a railjam at the closest mountain.
-Buy a projector and find some old couches.  Screen ski movies once a week.

I would advise against the tramp, since insurance would be super expensive.  It would make more sense to find a local gym that has a nice tramp/pit and schedule private sessions with a group rate
Jan 29 2012 9:44PM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
Fresh Air in Kelowna already has a team of local riders. I'm fairly sure they get a better deal than that.

There is already a rail jam every month at our mountain.

I like the last Idea.

The tramp idea has its ups and downs when it comes to it. Dryslope would be better.
Jan 29 2012 9:47PM
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Dr.NS
Posts: 640 - Karma: 19
how about GO FUCK YOURSELF

are you seriously trying to belittle and tear down a start up SKI SHOP? we're all fucking skiers man, this guy is trying to make our sport/ industry a better place and you literally are pessimistic as FUCK about it. Stop being such a goddamn asshole all the time. Christ almighty.

His two-bit ski shop is probably going to be about 10x the contributor to OUR sport than anything you ever do asshole.
Jan 29 2012 9:51PM
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colleenator
Posts: 885 - Karma: 60
try to get outdoor technology like yowies and shit.
Jan 29 2012 10:01PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7605 - Karma: 20,104
Make sure you have some good bindings, i.e. fks, Head/tyrolia mojo line, STH. Have lots of extra brakes in different sizes on hand.
Salomon boots, and include replacement lugs in the purchase or at least stock them-I constantly wear out toes and heels on boots from hiking.
Hire a good bootfitter and good techs who really know their stuff- making sure the product works right is a must, and people will keep coming back if they know they can rely on your shop to do a good job. Make sure you can do fast turnaround on mounting, tuning, and repairs.
Host movie premieres and rail jams, have parties, put up local art, have a mini ramp, put on clinics for waxing, do whatever to get involved in the community.
I hope this works out for you!
Jan 29 2012 10:05PM
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lukewalnuts
Posts: 2730 - Karma: 152
.
Jan 29 2012 10:06PM
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douchebagmdgee
Posts: 300 - Karma: 26
Get Jiberish, and Tall Tees, and sell stuff for 10% lower than MSRP.. that would be dope. Oh and sponsor upcoming skiers/riders, and play jammin tunes. :) (reggae and electro)
Jan 29 2012 10:09PM
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thatsG
Posts: 2557 - Karma: 1,771
And try to make money for yourself at the same time... 
Jan 29 2012 10:12PM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
This. I don't think any shop in Kelowna carries Head/Tyrolia/4frnt bindings.

To the kid above me. Shut up. He will probably never get Jiberish since they only make limited amount of each items and they already have quite a few shops to distribute to. You can get tall tee's at foot locker. 2 for $30.
Jan 29 2012 10:15PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
Boone skis? Lol
Jan 29 2012 10:17PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
flashy and big will get kids in the door
Jan 29 2012 10:20PM
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Trowbruhdge
Posts: 253 - Karma: 419
I hate to be one of the unrealistic post's.. But maybe rather then selling at retail try to keep it a % off at all times. Just my dream shop.. With a dry slope!
Jan 29 2012 10:25PM
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philipc
Posts: 6651 - Karma: 1,286
i would highly recommend getting into the tuning/waxing and renting business with your shop. I feel like this is where most shops making their money, and i have yet to see a shop rent quality twin tip skis.

I wonder if you were to rent quality twin tip skis, people who are flying into big white (i think thats where you said you were?) would opt to rent a pair for a few days than pay the baggage price for their skis. just a thought.
Jan 29 2012 10:45PM
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thehighestllama
Posts: 81 - Karma: 464
I think in theory what you're talking about would be a good idea. The problem though is that when you have a limited demographic you have limited business. For example, the shop where I work carries a lot of extremely high end jackets (Bogner, Kjus, Canada Goose) that are all like $800 or more. These jackets are for an extremely limited market, so none of them get sold. I think that you would be better off carrying "normal" brands, "normal" skis and some twin tips, then when you have a good market coming in, decide what freeski specific brands you want. That way, you have some money you know is coming in (ie gaper weekend warriors) and the "good" brands are an experiment, so if they don't work out, you don't go into debt. 

What you want to do is make a really devoted costumer base. Do your absolute best to hire people who really know their shit, or at least train them to the point where they do. I strongly suggest setting up waxes and tunes. What you can do to target it towards the freestyle kid is offer 1. Really cheap tunes 2. Cheap waxes 3. Reasonably prices coreshot fills and base damage repair. You should know that your core demographic of freestyle kid isn't gonna wanna spend a shit ton of money fixing up their park skis, but if you can sell it to them well for a good price, that's a good income right there. Also, offer things like detuning under foot for like $15, which is something a lot of kids are gonna want, but your overhead will be the price of a file and a gummy stone.

Another thing that gets people coming back is really friendly people. Do they have a problem? Free tune. Have to wait too long for something and they are getting aggravated? Free wax. Nothing has ever disarmed anyone quite like when my manager comes to chat them up and give them a free tune, 10% off, free wax etc.

One thing that brands like is distributor loyalty. The longer you sell the brand the better they like you and the lower price wholesale is going to be (you probably already know this if you dad owns ski shops.) My store is one of the longest US retailers of Dalbello, so we have some of the best deals on those boots and always have tons in stock.

One more thing: don't do the trampoline. It's too much of a liability for a start up company and insurance will be through the roof.

FYI this is all just my 2¢
Jan 29 2012 10:52PM
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theWIZARD
Posts: 935 - Karma: 76
Where is this magical shop going to be located??
Jan 29 2012 10:55PM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
Shops don't rent/demo park skis because if kids take them in the park and hit rails, they will be ruined. Plus, you don't really need to demo skis that you know will sell. That's what a shop tech at Fresh Air told me. They don't demo pow skis because they know they will sell.

@thehighestllama Has it on point.
Jan 29 2012 11:02PM
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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
I find what he is doing is giving me realistic advice.. Unlike the people wanting me to carry snowboards or give everything away.. I would rather have the criticism, than unrealistic comments. I can actually build my business with constructive comments. And to the guy saying to have a % off all the time, maybe I can do 1 day a week where there will be stuff on sale, like every Friday there will be a section of stuff on sale.. switching it up every week.
Guys I am still not firm on creating this business. It's going to take a lot of commitment and I am still in College for Entrepreneurship.. This post was really to see if anyone would have interest in the store, and its obvious a lot of people do. The store will begin online, and cater like a D-Structure online. Once that succeeds, I may be able to afford rent, move into a small store close to downtown Kelowna, moving from Ottawa is gonna be a pain in the ass.. You will not see the store selling Moment or ON3P in the first years. I will sell the rarer brands eventually, but I gotta sell stuff that a lot of people want, unlike Jiberish, which caters to a smaller market. As much as I don't like the rich gaper kids who know nothing about skiing, they are probably gonna be the ones buying the lower-grade expensive skis that I sell. As for bindings, Look, 4Frnt, Marker, Tyrolia, Salomon.. I would like to sell them all.

P.S Kangbang gave me a really good idea for a name. What do you guys think of Whyte Out?

P.S.S The Trampoline and GoPro rentals.. I would have to be REALLY successful to be able to afford the rent/purchase of a warehouse for the trampolines, and the GoPros would cost a lot of money, and as they are getting more popular as people are buying them, I'm not sure if they are necessary. The banshee bungee idea is good though, as very few people, as in no one I know, owns one.

Question: Does it influence you guys to know the owner of the store is a sponsored/ex-sponsored freeskier or not? Parents seem to believe that the only way to run a successful store is to be good at the sport. I am not great, but I can bust a rodeo 7 when i gotta.
Jan 30 2012 12:35AM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
The name is from our mountain. It's called Big White. Big White has a nickname that is "Big White out" since there are days (like today) where you can't see the lift infront of you. A clever name.

Jan 30 2012 1:00AM
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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
Other thing. If this business goes up.. There is gonna be a 'Wall of Fame' kinda deal i believe.. first people to go on it will be the people who are helping me out on this forum. We don't really need to discuss the CONTENT of the store, the name, or how I am going to treat my customers.. It's more any advice on what not to do, and any tips for starting a successful business. I know I will not carry the small outerwear brands, like Saga. If I can maintain a successful store.. for 5+ years, I will look into getting the smaller, good, popular brands. I gotta start mainstream, but still offer to the NS people who know their shit. Don't worry, NS is the first place I will cater to. Possibly even special deals for those who have a certain amount of karma/posts on NS.

Btw, ++++K for these people:

thehighestllama
kangbang
skiP.E.I
balto
fnly
.calvin.
Elgato
Blake.P
MothaHucker
Maxwell666
Meases_Pieces
cal8490


Jan 30 2012 1:18AM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,589
i feel like a cursive neon sign of that right out front of the store would be dope.
Jan 30 2012 1:31AM
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Poikenz
Posts: 1406 - Karma: 3,131
So do you have a location semi- picked out/ have at least been looking or at least have a price range. You really need to know the limitations of the amount of items you can actually carry.

That being said, giving out a sticker of a company you carry with every purchase would be cool and kids would be all over that (already said by someone). Oh and have you been looking into shop equipment at all? Unless you aren't going to maintain skis it's pretty important, and on that note carry some awesome wax equipment/ accessories since a lot of places seem to lack when it comes to useful things. But you also have to think about the majority of people who will go there, I mean sure there will be the kids who show up but what about people who just want some gs skis, etc.

But yeah, have a high quality staff or else people won't think that you are a high quality place, aim for that image of being THAT ski shop that everyone likes because they know their shit there.
Jan 30 2012 1:49AM
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Blindsurfer
Posts: 2252 - Karma: 2,785
please carry ninthward, nobody carries ninthward
Jan 30 2012 9:11AM
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Blindsurfer
Posts: 2252 - Karma: 2,785
hahaha yes stephen i get so rattled when ski shiops dont have tall tees. ya this is a solid idea make sure to have tall tees
Jan 30 2012 9:12AM
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gpitcher
Posts: 2626 - Karma: 1,691
How old are you?
Jan 30 2012 3:00PM
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Dr.NS
Posts: 640 - Karma: 19
I know he's giving good advice, but I hate how he's being a dick about it. Especially considering what you're proposing would be beneficial to our sport, as any shop would.

Anyways, I think one thing you could use as a terrific niche is renting equipment for urban. Like you said, banshee bungees, but also generators, lights, etc. Tough to make happen, I know, but people would for sure be interested in renting it.

Just one other thing- I understand the name, except for the "y"; why "Whyte" instead of just "White"?
Jan 30 2012 11:04PM
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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
I'm not sure, I just thought it seemed more unique.
Jan 30 2012 11:30PM
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saxon
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 551
^ THIS i am wondering as well.

But in all seriousness, strive to make the store with a rider first, chill atmosphere. Some movies playing would be cool, stuff like that.

I find knowledgeable staff is important as well, not one's that just try and sell as many Afterbangs as they can.

Also, a detailed website. The one thing i hate the most with a lot of shop sites, is that i can't see what they actually have. Please don't just list the brands you carry with links to the sites. Not cutting it in a digital age, i don't think.

If you're opening up to online orders, free shipping around Canada would be very nice. Not enough stores do that, but i think its a great way to attract and then maintain clients.

good luck man.
Jan 30 2012 11:45PM
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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
Thanks Saxon. Yeah not TnL, but Dinardos.. I am probably going to actually start my business online, and then move into a store if I have enough success, and I hope to make free shipping to all of Canada.
Jan 31 2012 12:29PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Free shipping for canadians is a good idea, maybe just give it to the order of 50$ and more. If you do a online shop first, like d-structure, try to have your inventory on date. I hate when i buy something and tey email me saying that they don't have the item in stock.
Jan 31 2012 1:00PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
One thing I love about my local shop EVO, gear and staff aside, is that they are set up to accommodate events.  From art shows to ski movie premieres.  They used to host the triple threat, with a beer garden in the parking lot and a big screen inside.  It was awesome.  So I'd recommend taking that into consideration when doing the interior design.

And take some consideration into the design and layout of the shop itself.  A lot of companies are realizing as they open retail stores, the look and feel of the store itself can drive a lot of the customer experience and ultimately sales.
Jan 31 2012 1:47PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7605 - Karma: 20,104
Don't ever get behind on orders, and always respond to emails or other communication promptly. Probably the majority of complaints people have about businesses on here is when they don't get their product when they expect it or the order is screwed up. Also it sucks sending an e-mail to a company and get no reply- I have stopped ordering from some places because they didn't respond to e-mails.
Feb 1 2012 5:52PM
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Galaga
Posts: 409 - Karma: 15
.
Feb 1 2012 6:08PM
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zzzzzzzzzzzz
Posts: 391 - Karma: 159
I really like your idea of a ski shop in Kewlona, Fresh Air Experience is kind of lacking in my opinion. First off, I think you should start out with known brands like Salomon, K2, Rossingol and Armada. Once you become an established shop,you can get more rare ski brands like ON3P, Surface and Moment. For outerwear I'd get Orage and Armada, not rare but still sick.Again, one you become an established shop you can branch out to other stuff (if you actually make a shop PLEASE get Causwell) For goggles Id suggest Smith, Scott, Oakley and Electric. Get some Voleurz too, its really getting big.
Make sure that your staff is inviting and that you sponsor locals. I live in Kewlona and I would definatley buy from you guys. Good luck with your business, you have NSers support


Feb 1 2012 7:22PM
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Shifties4Dayz
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 553
Depends on what target market you are trying to reach...

If you are trying to reach the Newschooler crowd, i would say stock your shelves with small name brands and the equipment that we would want.

Then there is always the gaper crowd, which will probably count for most of your revenue.

Try and find a balance between the two and make everybody happy. The larger the target market you can supply to, the (hopefully) larger sales you will have.
Feb 1 2012 7:37PM
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iggs
Posts: 827 - Karma: 39
good choice but consider some of the smaller companies like surface and on3p and such cause i feel like more people will buy from you if your selling stuff most other shops tend not to sell. personally i like going to shops and seeing sick gear that ive never seen and i feel like supporting smaller companies would help with this but definately supply the brands you've already listed. is it an online store or an actual store.
Feb 1 2012 9:12PM
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TehClearOG
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
This is pretty much what I was planning on doing. I will be unable to give the NS'ers those small brands when I start, but after some success.. I hope. I will try my best to carry the smaller brands. =) I myself ride Moments and ON3Ps.. with an FD/Saga suit xD.
Feb 2 2012 4:10PM
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.ZT.
Posts: 5679 - Karma: 2,792
skatepark or dryslope in building, that or host a rail jam. also the cage at woodward is the sickest store ever, and EB (eastern boarder ie. my icon) is the sickest skate shop in MA
Feb 2 2012 5:26PM
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