107 replies to this topic

[peterbj7]

It would be nice to see a shop that stocked more that one brand. It's hard to believe that one brand makes the "Perfect" everything for me.

One reason is that manufacturers give much better prices to dealers who sell the most of their brand, and also specifically if those dealers don't stock other brands. Can knock 40%+ off purchase prices.

[BabyDuck]

t shirts that don't have nekkid girls or sharks biting nekkid girls or caves full of nekkid girls...you get the picture. i mean, i'm not looking for a dive shirt with a unicorn and kittens & i don't like 'cutsie-poo' either, but can't someone come up with some non-testoterone-driven freakin' t shirts? a reef, some fish, somebody with acceptable trim & position, a critter 'life-list' you can check off with a sharpie, that pic of gi3 and the stroke (what a funny shirt that would be!), *somethin'* other than 'bottom time' for my t shirt. gag!

actually, i have a top ten list of reasons for chicks to dive that i need to put on a t shirt at cafepress or something. let's get some estrogen going here! woo hoo!

[Diverbrian]

Couple of points...

I actually respect our shop for dumping one major manufacturer. Apparently they didn't like the fact that the shop sold competing brands and tried to muscle the owner into dumping the competition as the owner wasn't selling enough of the general line of merchandise. They got dumped instead. The shop still has a few different brands, but you won't be getting that particular manufacturer there anymore. Sad when stuff like this happens over politics instead of the cost/quality of the merchandise sold, but that is how the cookie crumbles some days.

Also, one of my favorite shops is in Mallorytown, ONT. The popular nickname for the shop is the "Candy Store" for two reasons. The first is that they have nearly everything in stock that a diver could want (and not just a diver who prefers a Hogarthian rig like another shop that I was in). I mean he sells tri-mix fills, makes it a standard to have two wetsuits of any stock size in invertory that he has a dealership for (meaning that if you are a person he has a wetsuit and probably a drysuit in your size), and several brands of everything. And the second....

the owner plays to the shop nickname and puts candy on the counter for the customers to take as he racks up your VISA/ Mastercard/ or AMEX.

[Walter]

t shirts that don't have nekkid girls or sharks biting nekkid girls or caves full of nekkid girls...you get the picture. i mean, i'm not looking for a dive shirt with a unicorn and kittens & i don't like 'cutsie-poo' either, but can't someone come up with some non-testoterone-driven freakin' t shirts? a reef, some fish, somebody with acceptable trim & position, a critter 'life-list' you can check off with a sharpie, that pic of gi3 and the stroke (what a funny shirt that would be!), *somethin'* other than 'bottom time' for my t shirt. gag!

actually, i have a top ten list of reasons for chicks to dive that i need to put on a t shirt at cafepress or something. let's get some estrogen going here! woo hoo!

You're going to the wrong shop. While most shops will have some of that, lots of shops have other selections as well.

[BradfordNC]

t shirts that don't have nekkid girls or sharks biting nekkid girls or caves full of nekkid girls...you get the picture. i mean, i'm not looking for a dive shirt with a unicorn

they make shirts without nekkid chicks on them?

wow, who'd a thunk it?

[peterbj7]

Brian is absolutely right and I would like the economics of life to be different. But the fact is that most dive shops find it very hard to survive at all now, and many are going under. If I don't get the added discounts etc that I'm referring to I simply can't keep my shop open. Better to be tied mostly to one major manufacturer than close completely, especially here as there aren't any other dive gear shops for people to go to.

[ScubaHawk]

Remember my response was to the question, ". . . What would be your favorite goodies?"
NOT - "What policy of stocking brands in a dive shop makes the most fiscal sense - given the profit margin and brand loyalty discounts offered in the market today?"
My answer stands :
It would be nice to see a shop that stocked more that one brand. It's hard to believe that one brand makes the "Perfect" everything for me.

[Diverbrian]

Remember my response was to the question, ". . . What would be your favorite goodies?"
NOT - "What policy of stocking brands in a dive shop makes the most fiscal sense - given the profit margin and brand loyalty discounts offered in the market today?"
My answer stands :
It would be nice to see a shop that stocked more that one brand. It's hard to believe that one brand makes the "Perfect" everything for me.

Hawk,

See my mention of the "Candy Store" in my last post. I agree with you, but I don't know how the guy survives carrying that much inventory . Oh, and they DON'T sell on the internet either.

[ScubaHawk]

It sounds like a shop I'd enjoy - I have to give the man his props!

[jextract]

t shirts that don't have nekkid girls or sharks biting nekkid girls or caves full of nekkid girls...you get the picture.

I've SO been shopping at the wrong dive store...

[drbill]

There are t-shirts with "Dive Naked" and the like on them here, but I don't think either of our dive shops sells them. I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one (I'd only look at it in the privacy of my own home), although a French co-researcher of mine had to have one.

[TraceMalin]

I'm glad I read this thread before making any solid plans to open a dive center. I now know how to be successful in the diving industry. Thank you for starting this post Nicolle!

My plans:

I'm going to open a dive center & call it "Diving Ho-Sailors" specializing in used equipment." I'll use the two entrance system like that psuedo surf shop clothing store you find at malls.

When the guys enter their side, they'll be greeted by nubile naked girls in sailor hats who will "lei" them and hand them a beer as they walk through the door. I'll just throw the gear around in piles on the ground along with spare parts and anything else that isn't corroded fast to a bulkhead. I'll have tools & test machines available so they can try the breathing performance of various first & second stages. All t-shirts will be black and feature divers being ripped to shreds by sharks, squid and naked girls. There will also be boxes of pizza around to munch on while arguing over what components are better for what piece of gear and episodes of Home Improvement, Baywatch, & action diving movies will loop on the wide screen TV when sports aren't playing. I'll hire GI3 to stand there and shake his head in disbelief if he even sees something put together that isn't optimal and streamlined and tell the guys how much they suck & are going to die.

For the ladies, they'll be greeted by handsome Australian models in tuxedos and escorted to choose various chocolate treats and be handed glasses of expensive wines to sample as they browse endless aisles of purple gear. The t-shirts will all be purple, pink or baby blue and will feature scenes of orcas, dolphins, divers in trim holding hands, and unicorns framed by sunsets, rainbows, reefs and flowers. Nothing will be naked except the Australian models for a fee. They can expect full service when it comes to trying on gear and there will also be stylists & nail techs to change hair styles & nail colors to match the gear they may choose. There will be plenty of accessories from which to choose so the ladies can make their gear look like Christmas trees and no matter how poorly their gear choices might be or how much drag they have, there will be several therapists on hand to assure them that, "Everything will be okay," and that their choices are genuine and valid and that they are still worthwhile human beings despite dangling equipment.


I'll also have a box of plain black tube snorkels just for Walter.


Trace

[chinacat46]

So Trace where and when are you going to open this store???

[TraceMalin]

So Trace where and when are you going to open this store???

As soon as I can find some investors!

Trace

[sudsymark]

the shop should have lots of fun little things like decals for the car, tank decals, colored tank boots and caps. Lots and lots of colors are important.

I like the idea of used equipment. I am in the process of becoming an instructor but like the to buy used equipment. I dont know yet what I want and until I know what I really really like, it doesnt make sense to invest in expensieve equipment. It is more fun to buy used and try it out first.