posted
Our shop is actually very fortunate. We are so busy right now that we have appointments booked for a couple of days in advance. For us...then low-mid line customers are slowly dissappearing...but the high end customers are rolling in and dropping their keys off. We have 6 guys in the front and 15 installers...and can hardly manage.
I can tell you that we're beating the internet companies by our service. The industry will soon see that many shops will close down and the only ones left are the specialty shops. The internet can never replace great installs or custom works.
tuan
-------------------- 2006 DBDRAG World Finals Street A
Posts: 164 | From: Garden Grove, CA | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I keep my shop lean and mean overhead down and offer the best installs and product in the area, we also stay slammed that way. Internet affects everyone to a cetain extent but my shops not going anywhere any time soon
-------------------- WWW.DCSOUNDLAB.COM Team Hifonics Voted 2004 DB Drag Rookie of the year 2004 World Finals 3rd place finish SS1-2NW 2005 World Finals 4th place finish SS1-2NW 2006 World Finals 3rd place finish SS3-4 2006 Super Street DeathMatch Participant 2007 Super Street 3-4 163.1 with 2 amps 2007 West Coast SS3-4 Champion Posts: 2990 | From: West Coast | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Suck it up and be compedetive if you want your shop to suceed. Why would I buy a woofer for $50 more at my local shop when I can buy it on-line, with warranty, authorized.
If I have a problem I ship it off (often times with them paying for the shipment) and in a few days I get it back if I am dealing with a good company.
Crutchfeild, one of the most expensive online retailers, is cheaper than the local shop and it's staff is way more knowledgable.
I dont know about other local shops, but both of my local's are misinformed and over charge for the work they do. $300 for a basic sealed enclosure for a vehicle...using a programed saw that makes the cuts for them they just have to glue, screw, and carpet. I know programed saws are expensive but they have been chargin the same for at least 3 years now.
They cant even do custom work. A friend of mine got a new ass hole torn last year. Entry level Alpine Headunit, Cheap componet speakers, JL 500/1, and 4 JL 12" W1v2's, box and installation cost him $2300.
The tweeter installation was sloppy, it had no soundstage, the box wasnt braced inside, they mounted the amp right where it could be seen from outside, and the headunit had NO features whatsoever (I dont know what modle it was).
I told him I could have got him all of that, build him a box, and he would have had a nicer head unit...and me and him installed it one weekend for 1/2 the price. He about shat himself.
Compedetive rates, good work, and decently compedetive prices and local shops wont be struggleing.
quote:Originally posted by CBFryman2: A friend of mine got a new ass hole torn last year. Entry level Alpine Headunit, Cheap componet speakers, JL 500/1, and 4 JL 12" W1v2's, box and installation cost him $2300.
Doesnt seem THAT bad. I just did a rough estimate with the same equipment and came up with $2190 installed.
If you can really do all that for 1/2 the price in a weekend you should open your own shop. You would make a killing! Of course you would have to do all the installs in your front yard and your kitchen would now be your showroom because you wouldnt be able to afford a decent commercial location and all the overhead associated with it. Dont forget to advertise in the yellow pages. You can get great adds anywhere from $500 to $5000 per month.
Here is a monthly sample from one of our stores.... $8000 building $6500 advertising $2700 utilities / phone / security $1100 insurance ________ $18300 just to have a good store front. Divide that by the 24 days a month its open. $762.50 of profit has to be made EVERYDAY that you are open JUST TO PAY THE BILLS. That figure just about has to double everyday if you plan on replacing the inventory that you just sold. Then you've got to make more money so that you can pay yourself and your employees.
quote:Originally posted by CBFryman2: A friend of mine got a new ass hole torn last year. Entry level Alpine Headunit, Cheap componet speakers, JL 500/1, and 4 JL 12" W1v2's, box and installation cost him $2300.
Doesnt seem THAT bad. I just did a rough estimate with the same equipment and came up with $2190 installed.
If you can really do all that for 1/2 the price in a weekend you should open your own shop. You would make a killing! Of course you would have to do all the installs in your front yard and your kitchen would now be your showroom because you wouldnt be able to afford a decent commercial location and all the overhead associated with it. Dont forget to advertise in the yellow pages. You can get great adds anywhere from $500 to $5000 per month.
Here is a monthly sample from one of our stores.... $8000 building $6500 advertising $2700 utilities / phone / security $1100 insurance ________ $18300 just to have a good store front. Divide that by the 24 days a month its open. $762.50 of profit has to be made EVERYDAY that you are open JUST TO PAY THE BILLS. That figure just about has to double everyday if you plan on replacing the inventory that you just sold. Then you've got to make more money so that you can pay yourself and your employees.
HOLY CRAP! Is your building like in a mall and around 30,000 sq.ft.??
You need to move to ATL.
-------------------- Johnathan Demuth- President T3 Audio Technologies L.L.C.
"I don’t know what the key to success is, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone."
quote:Originally posted by J.DEMUTH: HOLY CRAP! Is your building like in a mall and around 30,000 sq.ft.??
Nope..only about 8000 sq. but its just about the best location possible in okc. 10000 sq ft+ anywhere CLOSE to a mall here would be $50000+ per month. TGIF is paying $75k per month for approx 3000 sq ft on front of Quail Springs mall. There is a car dealership that pays 160000 per month right down the street from us.
-------------------- In Loving Memory, David Alfaro
2009 US.Top Cert.St C 158.7 2008 US.Top Cert.St C 158.4 2008 25-48NW NSPL World Champion 2007 U.S.Top Cert. Street A,B,C 2005 Db Drag St A World Champion 2004 Db Drag US.record 642 points 2003 Db Drag Points World Champion http://www.maxxsonics.com/
Back in 02 my girlfriend said I had to make a choice between her and DB Drag....I told that b-tch I've made harder decisions at the Coke machine. Posts: 4855 | From: Suitland,MD USA | Registered: Sep 2001
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quote:Originally posted by CBFryman2: A friend of mine got a new ass hole torn last year. Entry level Alpine Headunit, Cheap componet speakers, JL 500/1, and 4 JL 12" W1v2's, box and installation cost him $2300.
Doesnt seem THAT bad. I just did a rough estimate with the same equipment and came up with $2190 installed.
If you can really do all that for 1/2 the price in a weekend you should open your own shop. You would make a killing! Of course you would have to do all the installs in your front yard and your kitchen would now be your showroom because you wouldnt be able to afford a decent commercial location and all the overhead associated with it. Dont forget to advertise in the yellow pages. You can get great adds anywhere from $500 to $5000 per month.
Here is a monthly sample from one of our stores.... $8000 building $6500 advertising $2700 utilities / phone / security $1100 insurance ________ $18300 just to have a good store front. Divide that by the 24 days a month its open. $762.50 of profit has to be made EVERYDAY that you are open JUST TO PAY THE BILLS. That figure just about has to double everyday if you plan on replacing the inventory that you just sold. Then you've got to make more money so that you can pay yourself and your employees.
MIKES Right, we have store fronts to pay for, this isent a garage operated drop shipping internet store, theres as mike just showed alot that goes into a retail and I came up with about the same price Mike did. Alot of those warrentees that internet stores offer are in house wararents, if You buy a JL on line and it breaks and your internet store is no longer around your screwed, Alot of companys are like that, there anti internet as well as trans shipping. Poeple that buy on the internet and bring it in I charge them more money for the install, and if the have any issue at all then hello $65 dollars a hour to go through it, O it need to come out, more money, O its back from repair, more money!!! this is all free services to someone who bought the product from my store though.
-------------------- WWW.DCSOUNDLAB.COM Team Hifonics Voted 2004 DB Drag Rookie of the year 2004 World Finals 3rd place finish SS1-2NW 2005 World Finals 4th place finish SS1-2NW 2006 World Finals 3rd place finish SS3-4 2006 Super Street DeathMatch Participant 2007 Super Street 3-4 163.1 with 2 amps 2007 West Coast SS3-4 Champion Posts: 2990 | From: West Coast | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Have to start some where. Some of us just cant get the lone even with good credit. A 7 yr. lone is not cheep for 100.000 g to get a shop.
2300 month lone 1,300+ just for shop utilities then help. Not including over head.
Just to get a good lone ya need to show 6 months worth the income.
-------------------- TEAM XTREME LOUD AUDIO THE LOUD CROWD Team Dc Sound Labs. Posts: 2789 | From: Springfield Ma | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
the worst part is not the forum type people. They usually know what they are looking for and come to you for a price match or a close to price match. most realize the importance of the shop because they need teh isntallation services. The worst part is the customer that come into your store and spend 1 to 2 hours of your time going over all the custom solutions you design and put together. You give them a nice quote and then they go to ebay and buy everything you showed them. Then they have the nerve to bring that gear back to your shop and ask you to install it. Typically asking for a DEAL! Those are the ones I hate.
Storefronts are not dying. The people that do not know how to run their stores are the ones dying. Times change and so does the business. You can either change your way of thought or you can be one of the many companies complaing about how the internet put you out of busines.
quote:Originally posted by SPL2000: Doesnt seem THAT bad. I just did a rough estimate with the same equipment and came up with $2190 installed.
If you can really do all that for 1/2 the price in a weekend you should open your own shop. You would make a killing! Of course you would have to do all the installs in your front yard and your kitchen would now be your showroom because you wouldnt be able to afford a decent commercial location and all the overhead associated with it. Dont forget to advertise in the yellow pages. You can get great adds anywhere from $500 to $5000 per month.
Here is a monthly sample from one of our stores.... $8000 building $6500 advertising $2700 utilities / phone / security $1100 insurance ________ $18300 just to have a good store front. Divide that by the 24 days a month its open. $762.50 of profit has to be made EVERYDAY that you are open JUST TO PAY THE BILLS. That figure just about has to double everyday if you plan on replacing the inventory that you just sold. Then you've got to make more money so that you can pay yourself and your employees.
Jeeeez!You have Donald Trump,P Diddy,Payton Manning,Bill Gates for customers?
If your shop was at my location you wouldn't make 1 sale. Your location must be sweet!
-------------------- In Loving Memory, David Alfaro
2009 US.Top Cert.St C 158.7 2008 US.Top Cert.St C 158.4 2008 25-48NW NSPL World Champion 2007 U.S.Top Cert. Street A,B,C 2005 Db Drag St A World Champion 2004 Db Drag US.record 642 points 2003 Db Drag Points World Champion http://www.maxxsonics.com/
Back in 02 my girlfriend said I had to make a choice between her and DB Drag....I told that b-tch I've made harder decisions at the Coke machine. Posts: 4855 | From: Suitland,MD USA | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
I'm just a plain old consumer. I support my local shop - AND I support the internet. If I want the item installed for me - then I go to the shop and pay for the item and for the install. Professional is worth it. Some things I can do myself - so some of that I will get at the shop - some I will buy online. I'm not above looking to save money - but I also know what I am getting when I do that. If its something that warranty isnt extremely important for - or if I dont mind a B item - or something like that - yeah - I will buy it online.
Let's face it - internet serves a useful purpose - if we thought it would "blow over" - it would have - its been 10+ years people.
The shop serves a useful purpose as well. I learn something new everytime I set foot in my shop. I take that knowledge and run with it. But mostly - I go hang out at my shop because I like the guys there. I dont always buy from them - they know that. When I do - they hook me up with a really good deal. Maybe not the best deal ever - but as that old saying goes - you get what you pay for. Sometimes I want to pay for the extra service and professionalism, sometimes I dont. As a consumer - thats the choice I have.
Now - cant we all just get along?
Posts: 1320 | From: Lawrence, KS | Registered: Jun 2005
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Our store probably averages around 2500$ a day. I dont own it, I just work there. I will say that in some ways the owners do a great job running the store but there are things they could improve upon in order to make even more money. We are in a nicer part of Baton Rouge. We also have a store in the downtown area of baton rouge that has a different type of customers; however, they do just as much business as us.
We do mostly high end, navigation, video, Focal Components/amps, JL subs/amps, Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, head units etc. Our other store does more big systems with 4-6 12's and big amps etc. Either way, we aren't really struggling. There are also two other main shops in Baton Rouge along with many small rinky dink flea market style shops not including best buy and circuit and those other two larger individually owned stores seem to make a great profit too. I am going to have to agree that it all depends on how you run the business and the location you are at. The car audio industry is still and always will be a very profitable industry if you run your business correctly.
posted
I have noticed alot of the shops in my town either close down or get bought out. But it's really not a good area for this industry in my opinion too many snow birds....that aren't looking to have aftermarket systems in their cars. All the shops that I have worked at or bought product from all charge extra on the install if you didn't buy it there.
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