So I'm pretty sure I'm going to quit my job and open up an import tuning shop here in the midwest. We don't really have too many of them. Actually, we don't really have any full-on import shops. I want to sell and install bolt-on applications and probably do bodykit work as well. My family has experience in the bodyshop aspect with painting and stuff, but I'm wondering how these online shops keep stock of all these different make parts and models. It seems like you would go bankrupt even by just keeping a minimal inventory. I was thinking about working out a system of just-in-time ordering, but do you think thats feasible? People most likely want to walk out the same day with the equipment, wouldn't you think?

I'm just looking for input from people with experience in this field. I'll probably do an online store like Import Development too. It seems like tuning is really becoming more popular in the midwest and I'd like to get in on the booming bolt-on industry. Any business veterans with experience please give some ideas about where you think my biggests costs will be.

I hope to have most of my business development research done in the next 30 days.

 

Jaded,

There are 4 tuner shops in KC...all 4 keep "minimal" inventory and liquidate it at the end of the year. The inventory they keep is for Honda Civics and Acura and Eclipses, which seem to be the ones that are more popular in the area.

KC Trends, Dark Sol Performance, Tokyo Image, Performance Trends, Need4Speed are the ones I am refering too. Believe it or not, eventhough people can get these things cheaper online, they would much rather go in person to the shop, spend 30 mins. to one hour bull-shitting around and end up ordering something at a much higher price. I have seen it done and you would not believe the number of "kids" that will drive 1-2 hours just for that alone. BTW, there are two shops in Lawrence too.

Angel

 

Yeah, I think I'm going to check out those shops and do a little research.

 

this is why we have an office. people would want to come by, watch some of our videos, check our catalogs, etc.

the important part is to be able to offer installation service (IMHO), and that's really where the meat and potato should be. please let me know if you need anything (like parts ).

 

Good Luck!

 

discounts?

 

Yeah, this is what I figured. I want to offer installation because I don't think most of the shops in the KC area do that. They just sell the stuff and reccommend shops that can install it. I'm scouting locations currently.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jaded41
[B]

Yeah, this is what I figured.

 

im also thinking of opening a shop in NY yonkers/whiteplains area

IM just worried about taking a loan out and if the shop fails i will be in the hole for 100k +

I have contacted some companys to carry there products and all is well and waiting for me to make up my mind

(greddy, mugen, spoon, endless zeal, etc..)

we would also have a website selling products

what risk is in it?

what do you guys think?

 

You risk everything, but you can also gain everything. the lessons i learned in the past two years are worth more than my MBA, but i can tell you that it's going to be hard work, and downright dirty work.

be prepared to put up with A LOT of sh!t from customers, but also be prepared to hear great things from customers. be prepared to deal with people who can't let go of 30 bucks on a $1500 CF hood when you just spent an hour on the phone with him on various other products and tech info. be prepared to receive emails and messages that would boil your blood in the morning, and be prepared to bend over and take that up the ass so that same 10 year-old won't bad mouth you on some internet chat board and ruin your local reputation. be prepared for long hours. be prepared for long delays from your supplier on your orders all the while bending over and get it from the customers who can't stand to wait for parts. be prepared to contain your anger when your suppliers send you the wrong parts, charge you the wrong amount of money, or tell you that you'll have to wait another 6 weeks because they couldn't make it on the same container load. be prepared to lose upwards of 15% of your revenue on cancellations of special orders even if you charge them 20% restocking fee (which they will threaten, resist, and do everything in their power not to even though they agreed in the first place). be prepared to battle fraudulent credit cards, and be prepared to lose those hundreds if not thousands of dollars. be prepared to hang up the phone in despair and rage because your supplier will NOT refund your money because your customer cancelled his/her order at the last minute (i know NO wholesale distributors who will accept refunds). be prepared to have that piece of body kit that costs a few hundred dollars to ship just sit in your store because its a whacky design and would only fit a car that is no longer made and nobody else is interested in buying even if you marked it down 50%.

there are many other downfalls, but there are also reams of rewards. your customers who like you will be your best friends: they will be understanding, they will share their life stories, resources, network, and humor with you. there will be customers who will go out of their way to pay you just a little extra because you went that little extra mile for them. there will be suppliers who will become your best friends, who notify you of new products, give you that little bit more of a discount, or squeeze in that part's shipping for free. most of all, when a customer email you to thank you for the part(s) you got them and how well it works (with attached pictures), that's when it all becomes worthwhile.