How much would it take to open a shop?

[tonsofcommons]

Ok, I'm not talking rent, advertising, etc.


I am talking inventory

• singles
  wax
  supplies

Also, what would you spend it on? 1/3 singles 1/3 wax 1/3 supplies?

And setup costs

• Shelving
  Display cases
  anything else I may be forgetting

Just kicking stuff around and wanted some opinions.

 

[BrewerSuperCollector]

I wouldn't worry about singles as you can accumulate them through buying collections.
Wax and supplies are the 2 biggies.
You should be able to pick up used showcases off of Craigslist. I've paid anywhere from $40-$75 for the showcases in my basement.

I'm sure you could get some type of shelving off of Craigs list also.

The cost of supplies to start with probably will cost $500 for a decent supply.

 

[cgilmo]

I wouldn't worry about singles as you can accumulate them through buying collections.
Wax and supplies are the 2 biggies.
You should be able to pick up used showcases off of Craigslist. I've paid anywhere from $40-$75 for the showcases in my basement.

I'm sure you could get some type of shelving off of Craigs list also.

The cost of supplies to start with probably will cost $500 for a decent supply.

I did this recently, without buying any of the inventory up front.


Supplies, $2500
wax, $22,000

you will need at least 8 display cases, they are around $100 each

You will need slat wall, that runs about $125 a sheet installed, 8 sheets on two walls

Store fixtures, another $1500

tables, chairs, an open sign, a cooler with a door for beverages

you see where this is going?

 

[scooter2374]

I wouldn't worry about singles as you can accumulate them through buying collections.
Wax and supplies are the 2 biggies.
You should be able to pick up used showcases off of Craigslist. I've paid anywhere from $40-$75 for the showcases in my basement.

I'm sure you could get some type of shelving off of Craigs list also.

The cost of supplies to start with probably will cost $500 for a decent supply.

I did this recently, without buying any of the inventory up front.


Supplies, $2500
wax, $22,000

you will need at least 8 display cases, they are around $100 each

You will need slat wall, that runs about $125 a sheet installed, 8 sheets on two walls

Store fixtures, another $1500

tables, chairs, an open sign, a cooler with a door for beverages

you see where this is going?

That's actually cheaper than I had figured in my head chris. I figured 75-85k?

 

[cgilmo]

I wouldn't worry about singles as you can accumulate them through buying collections.
Wax and supplies are the 2 biggies.
You should be able to pick up used showcases off of Craigslist. I've paid anywhere from $40-$75 for the showcases in my basement.

I'm sure you could get some type of shelving off of Craigs list also.

The cost of supplies to start with probably will cost $500 for a decent supply.

I did this recently, without buying any of the inventory up front.


Supplies, $2500
wax, $22,000

you will need at least 8 display cases, they are around $100 each

You will need slat wall, that runs about $125 a sheet installed, 8 sheets on two walls

Store fixtures, another $1500

tables, chairs, an open sign, a cooler with a door for beverages

you see where this is going?

That's actually cheaper than I had figured in my head chris. I figured 75-85k?

The #1 thing you need is connections


If you are serious, call me at the retail store in the morning and I will help you with those connections.

 

[scooter2374]

I wouldn't worry about singles as you can accumulate them through buying collections.
Wax and supplies are the 2 biggies.
You should be able to pick up used showcases off of Craigslist. I've paid anywhere from $40-$75 for the showcases in my basement.

I'm sure you could get some type of shelving off of Craigs list also.

The cost of supplies to start with probably will cost $500 for a decent supply.

I did this recently, without buying any of the inventory up front.


Supplies, $2500
wax, $22,000

you will need at least 8 display cases, they are around $100 each

You will need slat wall, that runs about $125 a sheet installed, 8 sheets on two walls

Store fixtures, another $1500

tables, chairs, an open sign, a cooler with a door for beverages

you see where this is going?

That's actually cheaper than I had figured in my head chris. I figured 75-85k?

The #1 thing you need is connections


If you are serious, call me at the retail store in the morning and I will help you with those connections.

If I won that $92M powerball last night you'd have a FCB North tomorrow, lol

 

[Jedi500]

an FCB store in jersey would be sick gotta be mid/north jersey though

 

[Chrisdg19006]

I think Gilmo should start FCB shop franchises. Franchisees could pay him a fee or % of sales in exchange for use of the FCB name and industry relationships. I'd be in for sure.

 

[cgilmo]

I think Gilmo should start FCB shop franchises. Franchisees could pay him a fee or % of sales in exchange for use of the FCB name and industry relationships. I'd be in for sure.

bad idea

except in certain situations, card shops are more of a liability than anything

 

[tonsofcommons]

My friend bought a building and i'm kicking around the idea.

I think that to begin with, I could probably get away with $5000-10000 in wax and 1000 in supplies. I live in a 10,000 person town, but there isn't a shop within 60 miles.

 

[thefatguy]

2, much

its tough to compete with the big box stores

 

[tonsofcommons]

2, much

its tough to compete with the big box stores

I don't necessarily think that is the truth. I think that it may not be feasible for a full-time job, but I would be open from 5:30 to 9 Tuesday-Thursday Saturday from 9-4, and Sundays Noon to 5.

 

[cgilmo]

2, much

its tough to compete with the big box stores

What percentage of a shops income do you think comes from wax?


At my store it's less than 15%

It's much like gasoline at a gas station, all it does is bring people in. Make your money on other things. The hard part is figuring out what those things are.

 

[matchpenalty]

Chris at Hobby Box pretty much only sells wax and breaks on you tube. He found a nice niche for his shop.

 

[shayscards79]

My buddy only sells his stuff out of one case in his shop. The rest is all consignment sellers like myself. So when you charge sellers that use the cases 15 or 20 percent on their sales, it at least should pay your rent.

 

[Zymco]

2, much

its tough to compete with the big box stores

What percentage of a shops income do you think comes from wax?


At my store it's less than 15%

It's much like gasoline at a gas station, all it does is bring people in. Make your money on other things. The hard part is figuring out what those things are.

Curious to see whats the biggest money maker at your shop? I thought it would be the wax to be honest with you, my second guess would have to be supplies?

 

[matchpenalty]

wax is gonna blow up with new Ud and Panini deals in place for direct shop sellers

 

[bdal23]

to help offset the costs of your rent you could rent cases out to customers to sell their cards. Most of the shops here in phoenix operate on this basis.

For example
one shop is $40 to rent a show case and like $80 for a display case for the month. They rent out 12 show cases and 4 display cases. Thats $800 a month they save in rent.

Another larger shop rents out 20 display cases for $60/month


Seems like a great inexpensive way for a smaller shop to offset some of the high costs of start up.

 

[tonsofcommons]

What about advertising.

What do you card shops do to advertise?

 

[JoshHamilton]

To stay afloat for at least one year (figure rent is $6k/month), plus inventory, wax, supplies, etc, you'd need a bank loan for $150k-$250k