Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
#6383244
11/27/18 07:10 AM
11/27/18 07:10 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606 Maine
shorthair
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Maine
|
Did a search but really couldn't find what I was looking for. What's the process for buying whole sale for retail sale and is there a minimum usually required to buy? i'm not looking to be an FNT or Minntrap products. Just push some trapping equipment/Supplies from home along with what supplies I Make. I retire in 5 years and just looking at ways to stay busy doing things I enjoy and less about a supplemental income.
Thanks for your input.
I'd love to hear (pm) from trappers that already do this and get the good, bad and ungly.
"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my traps for what I said I paid for them."
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6383255
11/27/18 07:31 AM
11/27/18 07:31 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 30,777 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
|
"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 30,777
williamsburg ks
|
if you can afford it spend the summer conventioning. I doubt you can break even. You will get your name out there though and most likely have a good time. Fix you up a trailer with a bed in it. Knew a rodeo stock contractor that put a semi sleeper behind a pickup cab. You can pay a few bucks at any truck stop for a shower if you need too. Contact FNT and MTP. Contact manufacturers of whatever you want to sell. I think your best bet is to sell stuff you produce.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6383258
11/27/18 07:39 AM
11/27/18 07:39 AM
|
Mark June
Unregistered
|
Mark June
Unregistered
|
Danny is correct, sell what you make. Shipping costs have changed the supply business in this industry and most others too. After 33 years of selling "supplies" we decided not to this year and focus on what we sell because shipping costs are dramatically MORE than what customers would want to pay. As an example, I made our MJL decision this year as I was boxing up a nice $800 order and the shipping to OH was $65 UPS after our discounted rate and we charge $22.90 >$100 order. So margin wise, we lose $40 on this $800 box and the profit margin on the 2 dozen traps and sifter, etc. was $35. Easy math.... we pack it all up and ship it out and lose $5. Not a good business plan.
Shipping at Amazon and so many internet companies has been lowered to sometimes "0", as the BIG merchants negotiate USPS and UPS/FedEx rates and the LITTLE merchants (trapping industry) rates go up each quarter.
Food for thought.... Mark
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6383444
11/27/18 12:20 PM
11/27/18 12:20 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,423 Blue Creek, Ohio
Hal
"old windy fartbag"
|
"old windy fartbag"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,423
Blue Creek, Ohio
|
Oh my.
When I was looking toward retirement the first thing I wanted to do was STOP selling trapping supplies through the mail. (I still do a few conventions. But that's mostly to visit with the folks I know.)
As folks have noted, shipping cost will kill you nowadays. Especially if you are a small volume shipper. Your shipping costs will be considerably higher than F&T, MNT, PCS Sterling and the like. That's one thing that puts you at a competitive disadvantage. Secondly, your base price is going to be higher. The large concerns by in lots of hundreds and thousands. And you'll hardly be able to mark your merchandise higher than theirs, or you'll lose business.
But here's the thing that you may be overlooking. If you're going to be in the supply business, you need to be there 24/7/365. You have to be there to answer the phone or watch your email, or however you intend to take orders. Folks will expect to have their orders filled promptly. Here again you have to compete with push button and "2 day" delivery from places like Amazon. That's what folks expect now. You can't beat that, but if you are not prompt, you will not get return customers. A business like this is not something you can just tend to every once in a while.
I don't know what you are retiring from, but running a business like this can be more taxing than going to a regular job. Make sure you don't jump out of the frying pan into the fire.
La pervenche est une tr�s belle couleur!!
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6383457
11/27/18 12:42 PM
11/27/18 12:42 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606 Maine
shorthair
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Maine
|
Thanks for all the time with the great responses. I obviously have a lot to ponder over the next several years. Although I will be young at 55 when I retire and will keep working I want more control over what work I do. Thanks again. Oh, I'm retiring from Corrections. 29 yrs plus the 4 military years I bought back. Decent pension but the biggie is my health care is covered. Thanks again
"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my traps for what I said I paid for them."
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6383517
11/27/18 01:30 PM
11/27/18 01:30 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 15,037 Greene County,Virginia
run
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 15,037
Greene County,Virginia
|
My brother does online retailing. I wouldn't fool with trapping supplies. I would do pest control products like rat poison and insecticide. Maybe specifically organic pest control and barn rat traps with a plastic pan.
wanna be goat farmer.
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: Eagleye]
#6643845
10/20/19 03:43 AM
10/20/19 03:43 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606 Maine
shorthair
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Maine
|
shorthair- what about doing some ADC work when you retire, I don't... but a lot of fine folks on this site do. That is in the plans. Maybe I'll run a hot dog stand and adc in the summer and in the fall....trap and hunt:) Just looking forward to have the options.
"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my traps for what I said I paid for them."
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6643871
10/20/19 06:48 AM
10/20/19 06:48 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,220 Ohio
OhioBoy
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,220
Ohio
|
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6643876
10/20/19 06:54 AM
10/20/19 06:54 AM
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978 potter co. p.a.
pcr2
"Twerker"
|
"Twerker"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
|
how's your fur put up.another option is putting up fur for others.
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: trapdog1]
#6643909
10/20/19 07:38 AM
10/20/19 07:38 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606 Maine
shorthair
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Maine
|
The hot dog stand sounds interesting. Maybe make hotdogs out of the critters you catch in your ADC business. LOL. I enjoy putting up my fur and think i do an above average job but I would rather take a beating than put up fur instead of trap:)
"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my traps for what I said I paid for them."
|
|
|
Re: Selling Trapping supplies after retirment
[Re: shorthair]
#6644168
10/20/19 02:03 PM
10/20/19 02:03 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,502 Southern NJ
maintenanceguy
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,502
Southern NJ
|
I have owned a couple of online retail businesses for about 10 years. My businesses are not trapping supplies. Margins are tight, the trapping industry is shrinking, shipping costs have risen dramatically in the last two years, and Amazon can beat you on price, shipping costs, and delivery times.
I think this would be a very difficult time to establish a new business in this area.
I have run the numbers on hotdog carts before - a couple of times. Kidding aside, I think a hotdog cart at the right location can make real money.
-Ryan
|
|
|
|
|