want to start a new audio shop

[joey2714]

hey guys, my dad and i were interested in starting a new shop.  we were going to first just sell through an internet store, then upgrade to a storefront with install bays and everything.  anyone have any tips on getting started? how to ge hooked up with distributors or anything? everything helps. thanks guys

[dlheights]

Well what you first need to do is get a distributers lisence so that way you can contact manufactures to get dealer pricing (I think it costs between $100-300 to get?). After you do that get into contact with some audio dealers you want to handle, Kicker, Jl, panasonic, kenwood, rockford fosgate, diamond, etc. After you get your prime location, advertise!!! That is something not a lot of companies can't seem to understand and why most of them fail. I mean don't just do some small advertisment in the paper. Spend a little bit of money to get your business off the ground. Those are a few of the more important things to think about when starting a business. Get a good business plan going too, maybe talk to some of your local business' and ask the owners how they got started and stayed alive, not just audio stores, any business.

[joey2714]

well see, i have a business license, tax id. etc.. but seeing as i want to start out with an online store, i dont really know where to begin.  like, some/most manufacturers dont have online dealers and/or have really expensive buy-ins.  the money is not a problem, so i guess i was gonna go through distributors rather than trying to be an authorized dealer of certain brands.  i cant seem to find any distributors or anything tho.  sorry guys im lost.

[kingsuv]

I would look into working for a shop 1st. Assuming you don't already. Learn everything from someone else's mistakes. Do a lot of side work, as many as you can find. It will then come down to weather or not you wan't to spend thousands of dollars or not to open a shop. I do, as do many others on here, run a shop. My side jobs are more then my 9-5. but given what I can make in a weekend and how much rent, ins, workers comp, product, power, tools, oh yeah ins, marketing, and ins. will be, I'll stick to my side jobs. You will need to buy from dist. first for most of what you do. Then hit CES to start dealing with a Man.

[Texas Tech]

that would be tight if a store around here was a car audio store and had an online store where you could buy things on tehre and just have it shipped... i like that idea man

[joey2714]

yea man i hope, im working on it.  just gotta get hooked up with suppliers, thats my problem!

[joey2714]

so kingsuv, i kind of figured i'd have to start buying from a distributor first. but how do i get started up with that? where do i find one? etc..

[Ray]

I also run a shop, as far as distribution.. I would hit up sierra select, the do mtx jvc,pioneer, etc.

that will get you started.. and go to ces next January and meet them all. If your having a hard time at this stage in the industry you might want to just work for a shop for a little while.

[LSN2meBoom916]

Yea sierra select is the way to go like Ray said.

Yo can kinda pick and choose what stuff you wanna carry via them and they have some decent/good brands.

They still carry Cascade (I'm pretty sure) and IMO that beats the usuall Dynamatt and peal n seal stuff.

I was looking into this myself a while back but now the owner of the shop my bro works at mentioned he might throw out the "venture capital" if my bro and I wanted to start our own shop...GOD WILLIN!... once I'm done w/ school cuz Then I'd be livin the dream too.