Supplement store??

[tn94z]

TweetSo a couple of friends approached me over the weekend about opening a supplement store in our town. The only place to buy supplements around here are GNC and what little supplements the local gyms have. There are a few gyms around....Gold's, a local gym that is as big as Gold's, a third local gym that is pretty big, and then the little mom and pop places around. My one friend has looked into a business that will come in and set everything up including stock, contacts, accounts with the major brands, etc...for 85k. It is not a franchise and you own the business once they leave but they give you free sales and marketing advice from now on. What do you guys think of this? There would be 3 of us going in on it and I actually think it would do pretty well. We can find a spot between the two major gyms. We also saw a place in MS this weekend where they had a protein smoothie bar where they would mix up whatever you wanted and they were selling them like crazy! I know we could beat GNC's prices but the internet is what I would be worried about.

Any opinions?

[daved150]

Tweeti dont know...the internet is hard too compete against. i dont really know your area...i wouldnt do it in my state, but i wouldnt do anyhting else here either!! thats hard question too giva an opinion about....

[tn94z]

TweetOne of my friends is a bodybuilder and that is where I get my protein and stuff. He beats the internet pretty bad wherever he gets his stuff from. His protein is like 30 bucks. The internet its like 50 or 60 and then GNC is 99

[bowbow]

TweetIn this economy I would not want to open a business that supplied things like suppliments that are not a neccesity (sp) to get by.

[tn94z]

TweetAlso, on a side note, me and one of the other guys would be keeping our regular jobs. My wife and others would run the store until we got off.

They may not be necessary but they are still selling.

[daved150]

Tweetwell...sounds like you got a plan!! just do it. if you've looked into the area and feel its the area to be, then go for it....nothing ventured, nothing gained. (ofcourse, i've ventured 4 or 5 times now and still aint got the "gain" part...the "gain" can be kinda elusive)

[Strella]

TweetThe internet will always be the cheapest, however their is something to be said for conveinence. GNC has the name, but has prices 2 to 3 times online. Vitamin shoppe is around where I live and I go their regularly. They are WAY cheaper than GNC and have 5 times more stuff too. Even if it is a bit more than online, I dont have to pay for shipping and I get it right then, instant gratification. They also carry a lot of natural type products like flax seeds, oils, herbs, homeopathic stuff, beauty products and the such besides just protein and performance enhancers. I would really try to get a wide variety of items and not just stick to the bodybuilder/athlete customer, your only limiting yourself. Vitamin shoppe has tons of old people getting vitamins and joint supplements and digestive support and things like that. Anyway, ya I think it could work, but I just wouldnt market it as a bodybuiler shop, that scares away alot of potential clients I think.

[jamescb77]

Tweeti know that if i had a local place that could come close to matching internet prices i would shop there. Also if you have knowledgeable help there with you and your friends running it that would be a big bonus. I would look into what exactly you get for 85k. that's a big investment for what seems to be them just ordering your first round of stock and setting up accounts for you.

[daved150]

Tweet^right...i'd get my tax i'd' and look into europa sport myself

[tn94z]

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I would look into what exactly you get for 85k. that's a big investment for what seems to be them just ordering your first round of stock and setting up accounts for you.

Now see this is what I have been trying to tell them. It seems that our bodybuilding budy already has contacts to buying supps. I told them that I thought we could do it cheaper ourselves. I mean getting the business license, etc...is not that hard.

You can go online at www.ownasupplementstore.com and that is where he has been looking. I thought it sounded kind of high too...

[FUZO]

TweetMy opinion tnz and a honest one dont do it. Not in this economy maybe wait until we are back to normal but to make a good living opening a supplement store is hard. The rent alone will kill ya a month plus you need insurance

[tn94z]

TweetYeah, those are my concerns. I would keep my normal job so I would still have my normal income, coming in. I wouldn't be relying on this store to pay my bills....unless for some reason it started to take off.

[FUZO]

TweetYou also dont want to start dipping into your work pay for the new stire so just think it over real good. Business now sucks

[tn94z]

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You also dont want to start dipping into your work pay for the new store so just think it over real good. Business now sucks

Good point. I will do some thinking. I don't like just jumping into things like this. Thanks