What do you want to see in stock at an offroad/performance shop?

[carwash]

So, we are trying to finish up our retail service/parts counter at the new shop. We have an ocean of nice warehouse space to shelve and put parts in, as well as a ton of wall space etc behind the counter, and a small waiting/showroom.

I am wondering, what you all, the parts buyer/wheeler/diy fabricator expects to be able to walk into a local shop an buy. What do you feel should be stocked parts, and what is acceptable to have to be ordered?

Normal stuff like ujoints for most axles/driveshafts, recovery gear, shocks for popular applications, etc... that kind of stuff makes sense. Do you expect a shop to carry a few winches? popular lift kits? replacement springs? airshocks, coilovers, coils, etc? seats? bumpers ready to bolt on? rod ends, tie rods, etc? wheels, tires, etc?

So let's hear it please. Going to ramp up stock on a bunch of stuff and would love some input on what I should carry. Thanks in advance for taking the time!

[oklahomawelder]

Mike, I like to be able to walk into a shop out here and find a good selection of tabs and brackets....
That way I can put my hands on them and make sure they will work for what I am wanting and usually find some that will work for other things....

[93 Krawler]

I'd say your basic fab items, tabs, rod ends, etc... You can almost expect to order things like shocks and bumpers. If you have the cash to stock the higher priced items, then go for it. There's lots of little items you don't want to order but need right now, like a -6 an fitting...:D .

[carwash]

yeah, fittings are one thing that I want to be sure to have in stock... it takes some serious cabbage to get into a nice selection of them as well as all the braided lines, etc...

[flatlander757]

What about stuff to be rented? Like TRE reamers and large thread taps?:beers:

Charge whatever they cost as a deposit, then get most of that back when returned in good shape? Maybe cost $10 in the end assuming it doesn't get destroyed?

[Tool Man]

yeah, fittings are one thing that I want to be sure to have in stock... it takes some serious cabbage to get into a nice selection of them as well as all the braided lines, etc...

That is a big investment. Winches,tube?seat belts,S.S.braided brake lines,lift blocks,and u bolts:beers:
:beers:

[BIGRAM]

I've had problems locating ss braided brake lines for what I need. Can those be cut and pressed in the shop?

[Muddy 1]

Lift kits, winches, bead locks and a good selection of lockers!!!! There is also something to be said about the instructions that come with a lot of products for the DIY. Also in this day and age dont underestimate the power of great customer service. Dont forget to save some of that $$ to get your name and the word out about your buisness and what you have to offer. A good selection of free stickers is always good too!!!

[gothodgie]

I agree with stickman... Customer service is a big thing, but i think you will be good at that, you like to BS with everybody so i think that will come easy for you.. But when you have to be making the decsion to be on the phone or in the shop, thats when it will get tough. Don't be afraid to hire some one to answer the phone when the time comes.

As far as merchandise and inventory i know the little stuff will be a pain cause the is so much of it. I think if you have just a couple of the higher priced stuff that people can touch and feel, and then might have to order it for them you would be good. I know that is what i always liked, i have never been much of a mail order kinda guy. I like to hold in my hands or physically see what i am buying.

Over the years and even currently i have a couple good friends that own custom car audio shops and the inventory has always been a balancing act for them. I think it will be a little easier for you since all of the car audio stuff changes every 6 months... I was part of one of the shops about 15 years ago and it would drive me crazy trying to decide what we should stock and what we shouldn't...

Lastly... For me it is customer service and Landcruiser stuff :cool:... If you can't get me want i want in a timely manner whether you have to build it or ship it, i wouldn't be back unless i absolutely had too (if i didn't know ya :evilgrin: )...

I wish you the best of luck and i want to get down to see the place here soon... And don't let Luke drive you crazy...:D

:beers:
Chris

[94Dodge Truggy]

Brass poles, beer and offroad accessories?

[RuffedUpXJ]

Winches, hiems, joints (Johnny or Blasstic), tabs, brackets, DIY bead locks.

Now I don't know how hard it would be to get a stock of grade * hardware for popular things like bolts for hiems, joints, and cage tie-ins. I know you will need to have them to build so If I could come in and get a set of hiems and the right sized bolts, 3" or 3.5" long and 5/8" or 3/4" diameter, that would be great.

If you guys had the equipment to make special lines that would be awesome, brake lines and hydro lines.

Do you guys have a laser or plamsa pallet cutting machine? Be able to cutthe tabs,brackets and what not yourselves? if so offering custom stuff would be sweet if you guys had the time.

[humpy]

Don't be afraid to hire some one to answer the phone when the time comes.


:beers:
Chris

and make sure she is very hott!!! with a rockin body and wears a bikini to work!!!! AAANNNNDDDD she has to know what your talkin about when your walkin in the door!! ex..i walk in and want advice on which brand locker to buy i want her to explain the difference in them :beers::beers:

[humpy]

on a serious note...aftermarket radiators and aluminum fuel cells...and teh capability to make affordable custom hydraulic lines... i dont think you will sell enough winches off the shelf to justify having them in stock...its hard to compete with places like 4 wheel parts that offer killer deals and free shipping and lifetime warranties...i would lean towards thinkin outside the box a lil bit on stuff that nobody in town has...like air shocks and fab stuff.. but who am i?? lol :beers::beers: good lluck..you have a killer setup and im glad to see it rollin...if i can help hit me up!!

[yellowjacket]

I think there is too many lift kits out there to pick some to keep in stock. Def spcer and super joints, shafts, heims, tabs.. Def anything that breaks commanly.brackets ans tabs, gussets, tube lof course. Plus gift idea stuf. Like if a chick wants to get something cool for her guy, or if jwends mom wants to reward him for being good. That could be offroad videos to a highlift or winch. I think if you kept a model suspension seat to keep it tangiblefor ordering sets. Like hodge said its nice to touch parts. I like the cnc table idea.too

[ohiozj]

i agree with fab stuff like tabs and brackets.

but also i would like to be able to see and compare tires. differrent sizes, actualy height, etc. tires cost alot of money to drop on and not see them till they are at your door. let alone if they fit or not. maybe have a few sets mounted on wheels for a guy to test fit and flex on a ramp or something.

edit: and the hard to find/expensive tools for rent is a good idea too. alot of guys dont want to spend the money on something they only need once. - (tre reamer)

[Bear Chow]

Someone at the counter, preferably with boobies and a basic knowledge of what I'm looking at, I mean for. Customer service is king. I'll gladly go to a no name desk to get something as long as I can get the correct one quickly.

Inventory management, three times I went to a store to pick something up only find out he didn't have the right thing. Even though he told me he did and he then special ordered them and still got the wrong thing. Hell I gave him the part number I wanted.

[Trigger]

Honestly, if you're looking to appeal to a mass market, keep it simple. Very few consumers are hardcore wheelers and while it would be nice to be able to actually see and touch things such as tabs, brackets, heims, etc, most casual customers aren't going to care about that stuff.

Personally, I'd offer some package deals. Perhaps a Jeep package, a Toyota package and a light truck package. Being able to drop off a rig and come back a week or less later and have a lifted rig with a nice set of tires and wheels will go a long way in increasing sales. Other items such as winches, bumpers, jacks, cold air intakes, and other basic bolt-on items would be nice as well.

I'd say any retail offroad shop is going to have about 75% mall crawler/light wheeling customers, 20% serious weekend warriors and about 5% serious offroaders. I would gear my business that way.

[yellowjacket]

Trigger makes a good point tjat im sure you already know. The guys that have been building and breaking for years arent gonnabe your bread and butter. Unless you start cutting custom laser parts, they would prob avoid the middle man and mail order...if you keep enough cool parts in stock im sure you ould hook some....i know im looking at you for custom machining and alloy welding. But if ypu set your displays up for the mall guys I think you be ahead of the game. For reference, when I used to go into that other off road place that im not naming, the customers were always there for lift kits and tires, not dom and heimslike me. So id guess thats where the market is.

X2 on advertising. Get out there, sponsor an event, get that wrap for my roof done, ect..

[began]

how about anything jeep JK...but thats just me..lol

[RuffedUpXJ]

Rubber bushings with sleeve for 2" DOM or whatever as a builders part. And displays are always cool.

[93 Krawler]

Hooking up your CORE peeps with t shirts and stickers would be an excellent idea I think... :thumbup:

[gothodgie]

Maybe a open house/grand opening/cruise in/show and shine kinda thing when the weather warms up...

[underpowered]

DIY fab parts for sure. tabs, bead locks, rod ends all that stuff.

and U-bolts would be very nice as well. i either have to drive way out of my way to get some or order online, haveing a local shop that stocked them would be great!

otherwise, sounds like you have alot of it covered.

on the performance side, not just off road some MSD igniton stuff, an intake and carb or two, general bolts ons for popular stuff like the SBC, ford 302/351's, even newer modulars and LSx stuff as well depending on how heavy into the performance side you are planning on getting.


But after working in a specialty retail shop for years, an ATV/motorcycle shop in WIlder KY customers always expect you to have the most oddball stuff in stock, but things you think would sell will sit on the shelf for years.

[TomH]

I would keep inventory of standard stuff to a minimum. (Do you really want to go head-to-head with Summit, Jegs, JCW, Quadratec, etc?) It's generally price sensitive and there is little opportunity to add value.

Having the ability to quickly custom fab brake lines, fab parts, etc. would be another story. (Wow, you mean I can send you a drawing/specs and pick up the part tomorrow? Cool!)

Good luck.

[itbrokeagain]

I know its seasonal but snowplow parts. If people know you have them you wont be able to stock the shelves quick enough.

[biggin69]

Brass poles, beer and offroad accessories?

Don't forget the corn dog machine!!!:beers:

[Tool Man]

Hooking up your CORE peeps with t shirts and stickers would be an excellent idea I think... :thumbup:

I love stickers! Just as long as they Don't say Sunfire Offroad!!!!!!!!!!

That guy is a joke.

[CJsOffRoad]

Would love to see a place local that could make custom length stainless brakelines while you wait.

[itbrokeagain]

Would love to see a place local that could make custom length stainless brakelines while you wait.

Eastern Hills Hydraulics by Lunken Airport

[GPER]

The number of side by sides are growing, you might consider being a dealer for the aftermarket parts for them. there are a lot that want custom tube work done for the cage, bumpers, rocker/leg tenders, and a couple even have bed guards on them.

[blazerbrad]

I'm not a small business owner but would think the only practical items to carry in stock would be the very universal low priced items. Tow straps and other recovery gear, maybe some lights, etc... There are just way too many variables in most items that I would think it would be hard to keep a large enough varierty in stock. Plus, not like somebody is going to randomly swing by the shop and decide to grab an $500 item during an impulse buy very often, but they might grab a $50 tow strap or the like.