Market Research

[Rat]

Hi Folks

just a small bit of market research for the upandcoming store, this market research will be to help finish the business plan. please do not respond if you do not want your views shown in front of the business board.

thanks folks.

1. if you go online to a paintball store, what are you normally looking for (to buy?)

2. when you go into a shop are you after a particular peice of kit? clothing?

3.if so what are you after in particular when you go instore?

4. on average how much do you pay for you kit (either when you go into a store,online or at an event, please specify what it is you normally do)

5. apart from paintballs what are the other "main" costs (apart from expendables, fuel, etc etc)

6. If you were to come into Dynamis painball (our store) what would you be looking for,ordering?)

7. What would you ideall expect from a store, friendly helpful staff, air,maintanece staff?

8. what sort of things could be put in store to make your visit more enjoyable?

9. What captures your attention regards buying items? a fancy banner? offers? price? please list

10. how would you best like a store to be? easy to find? ample parking? easy ascess? or perhaps within walking distance of a local city centre or public transport links?


thanks very much for your time folks.

ratters

 

[no-infernomark]

my answers are as follows....................

1. if i go online to shop i usually look for good deals i.e bargains and sales.

2 and 3. when i go shop im usually after a set piece of kit i.e o-rings lube, lenses, barrels, canisters or most common paint.

4.i usually buy it all in one go so i know iv got everything and dont leave me up creek with out a paddle, usually spend a good 100 if not more every 2 months.

5. main costs usually is paint but apart from that its clothin and gadgets like vortex fans and general nick nacks.

6. to start with comin to ur shop id probaly have look round see what you have got but would probaly get the gadgets and the usual stuff such as paint a nice colourfull barrel kit etc etc

7. i think the most important in a store is people who know their stuff, such as proper paintball enthusiats not just every tom, dick and harry, maintenance staff would also help as i am every tom dick and harry, and nice and kind staff.

8. well a coffee/tea machine, pit girls would also go down well with the men and also a computer like an xbpx so all the new paintball games when they come out such as renegade paintball and greg hastings 2.

9. well price on the item or shelf is good, cause i for one hate having to ask for a price, a bargain corner would be good obviously not the greatest kit but some very good pieces hidden away so make us stay longer.

10. easy to find is really that important as my local store took me 2 hours to find, and you should have a big gun on the front like dye or something so we know we in the right place and good parkin lots of people drive, including parents

 

[Ion]

1. upgrades for my gun or the recessary replacement parts lenses etc

2. something expensive that i wouldn't entrust to royal mail.

3. new air system etc

4. variaries depending on the point of season early season upgrades and replacement parts set me back best part of £100 if not more, but paint will be a main seller through the season

5. 9v's lots of 9v's but other than that paint and gun parts.

6. See if i could find anything i could not aquire anywhere else in the UK.

7. Well stocked (nothing worse than being told they are out of stock of that vital part), good experianced staff friendly atmosphere

8. the xbox idea recommended above sounds like a great idea

9. If i can't get it inside the UK and price

10. walking distance is always a good thing but as long as there is ample public transport im a happy man.

 

[john251282]

1. Normal looking for best bargains on paintballs and upgrades for various guns e.g. triggers, frames, boards etc etc.

2 &3. I hardly ever get the chance to go to a shop as there are none near me but if I did I would probably be trying to check sizes of clothing mostly but also look at the latest kit, mags, etc.

4. I try to buy as much in bulk as possible so I can haggle the prices down as much as poss especially if I am getting something big like a new marker at the same time. Probably 150-200 and up per time.

5. Probably stuff I have lost at tournys from pots to barrel socks and a novelty item or two maybe like a new shell for my loader.

6. Going into a shop I always look for the latest must have kit, but anything could happen if I really like the look of a marker and if I can try it out on the spot and like it there is a good chance I might get it. But normally would be expendables, paint, clothing.

7 &8.Helpful, knowledgeable and unbiased staff(i.e. even though they might not stock a certain paint or marker for example they might suggest I go for that instead of their brand as it is the best option for me), would also be nice to have techs in on a fiarly regular bases to give your guns the once over and more if needed, maybe a mini dyno area so you can get the feel for a marker you might want to buy or maybe try out a new paint through your marker to see how it works before buying a couple of boxes of it only to find it does not like your marker. A big TV playing paintball vids is usually encouraging and gets people in the mood to play some paintball. Then luxurys like drinks and xboxs are not that important but maybe in the future if you want to try and get a long term relationship going with your customers so they can just come down and chat about past and forcoming events or releases. And obviously seeing people inside getting on well with staff is very encouraging from a customer stand point.

9. Offers are always a winner maybe weekly or money package specials. Price is always a winner and it needs to be able to compare to internet ones nowadays. Maybe vids of the product you are trying to selling being used showing how effective it is etc. Personally i am not fussed about huge company banners but i know they can be quite effective sometimes. And as I mentioned maybe have one ready to try out instantly for example if it were a new gun you were trying to selling have it all setup with hopper and tank so you just need to take it off the shelf gas it and add paint then through to the mini chrono room and let the customer have a go on it. It is a pain if you have to wait around while the find a hopper and a tank etc etc, the quicker someone can pick it up and let rip the more likely they are to buy it or they might just not wait for you are leave just as you finish getting it ready.

10. This all depends on where it is based. If it is out in the country then parking is a must while if it were in a shopping centre that would be impossible. But easy access in one form or another is a MUST.

 

[Skeet]

A paintball shop...should not be like a shop, as such...

It should have a couple of comfy sofa's, with a coffee table...few magazines (nice clean ones, not dog eared with phone numbers and coffee stains)

Xbox scenario is good...

A Nice stand alone, cabinet or two, with sparkly bits in it, as well as teh main counter...

Nice racks of clothing...maybe a dummy, to display some new gear


Non biased staff, who know what they are talking about.

Price on everything..preferably with "Negotiable" written next to it.

Freebies with purchases.

Air fills

Good paint, storred corectly and not with a fade across it and acne like teh stuff I bought at SP once..,,only once

Somewhere you feel welcome, to go and have achat and a coffee, even if your just browsing or getting an air fill.

O-Rings...meaning...if I want AN o-ring..I dont want to spend £16 on a whole kit, I want one o-ring...but I dont mind paying a bit more for it, seeing as I only want one....

No Spyders, or similar waste of time guns...worst gun would be a mech Cocker, going to Ion etc...because, if I went into a shop that sold that stuff..im not in a pro shop, im in a shop, that knows they are selling something, that will go wrong and will more than likely be replaced with something better in a short space of time...good for business, but not customer satisfaction...which is bad for business...

 

[Rat]

hi skeet would like to make it aware that this store will provide to every community( i hope ) so if someone wants an ION we have an ION, if someone wants a Spyder we can get one in for them, to start with i will only have limited stock (dye,proto, tippman, WDP,WGP etc) and i can take it from there.

but i'm liking the points made and may very well "borrow" a couple of suggestions if no one opposes?

anyone mind me using these questions and answers as part of the business plan?

and please folks don't hesitate to answer the above questions or perhaps e-mail me at rat_182@msn.com if you don't want your views and "ideas" open to public.

again a big thanks to all for posting so far

 

[Skeet]

I suppose if they ask for one, thats fine and dandy...but you get what I was steering towards tho, yes?

 

[john251282]

Feel free to use any of my answers. Where is the shop going to be based. As just noticed you are in Worcester and if the shop is to be based there you would probably be my nearest shop as I am in bristol. If this is where it will be I would suggest that you make it as close to a motorway turnoff as possible as some people might travel to you if they hear good things about you as there are virtual no good ones in the somerest area.

 

[F3Z]

1. if you go online to a paintball store, what are you normally looking for (to buy?)

What ever is around for the right prices. Usually anything shiney.

2. when you go into a shop are you after a particular peice of kit? clothing?

No usually browsing for **** to buy with my next pay cheque.

3.if so what are you after in particular when you go instore?

N/A

4. on average how much do you pay for you kit (either when you go into a store,online or at an event, please specify what it is you normally do)

What ever it costs, obviously discounts are nice.

5. apart from paintballs what are the other "main" costs (apart from expendables, fuel, etc etc)

Equiptment maintenance, field hire, air fills and of course loadsa red bull and lucozade.

6. If you were to come into Dynamis painball (our store) what would you be looking for,ordering?)

What are you going to offer me? ANy hookers out the back?? No ok ill take a look at the stock then.

7. What would you ideall expect from a store, friendly helpful staff, air,maintanece staff?

Range to test markers, air bottle / dive tank fills, paint supply, i dont care if the staff are friendly as long as they know what they are talking about. If the guys are usless and dont have a clue then there not going to be able to help if i ever come accross a problem.

8. what sort of things could be put in store to make your visit more enjoyable?

X-Box, Sofas, Bannes etc, Trigger pull games (i.e competition monthly, 1 entry per purchase and u get entered into a draw or something )

9. What captures your attention regards buying items? a fancy banner? offers? price? please list

Shineyness

10. how would you best like a store to be? easy to find? ample parking? easy ascess? or perhaps within walking distance of a local city centre or public transport links?

Easy to find, without havin go que to get into frickin birmingham, manchester or worst of all LONDON!!!!!!! Major city locations sucks and make access to hard.

 

[F3Z]

Originally posted by john251282
Feel free to use any of my answers. Where is the shop going to be based. As just noticed you are in Worcester and if the shop is to be based there you would probably be my nearest shop as I am in bristol. If this is where it will be I would suggest that you make it as close to a motorway turnoff as possible as some people might travel to you if they hear good things about you as there are virtual no good ones in the somerest area.

You have a few close to you already, think u might wanna check brummy land and cannock out for local shops bro.