Please Moderators-- I understand that this is not completely FI related-- but the big dogs are in here and most of the time -- no where else..

Anyways-- on to the post.. I have a goal of opening a shop soon and was just curious about a few things..

I was wondering if you shop owners or employee's could take or post some pictures of your guys' shop.. I was thinking maybe frontage and signage, atual shop and a showroom/sales floor if they apply..

I would just like to get a feel for what some other shops are doing.. Plus - we always here about all these shops-- but most of us only get to visit so few..

Jotech-DPR-Payne-Motor Matrix-Full Race- RPM NYC etc etc...

Post em if you got em !!

 

get viren to post up some pics of his shop

 

Word--- Viren...

And Geoff-- I already saw the "other" pics of your guys "Country Location"... Ha- !!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Foozball26 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get viren to post up some pics of his shop </TD></TR></TABLE>

OMG I just choked on my soda!!!

 

here are the only pics i have online. BTW we are located in the middle of the desert, we have no signage outside (we dont want walkin customers) and the only thing you will find outside are a few scorpions and a TON of black widow spiders.

We have been very lucky and had A LOT of help along the way. Before you get started just learn to fear the first of the month, paying rent is not an easy thing. Also if you decide to go into this market, the rice market is where the $$ is, the hardcore market is the hardest market to make any money in. If youre not in this for the love, you wont be in it long, becuase its next to impossible to be in this for the money. Some various pics









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BTW these pics were taken in a rather "transitional" phase so its a big mess. I will try to get some more recent pics sometime soon

 

should call urselves secret services...double 0 geoff. too bad that names taken

 

So Drag_On are you thinking about opening a place in Fargo or someplace else???

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FFgeoff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also if you decide to go into this market, the rice market is where the $$ is, the hardcore market is the hardest market to make any money in. </TD></TR></TABLE>

SO TRUE

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FFgeoff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Also if you decide to go into this market, the rice market is where the $$ is, the hardcore market is the hardest market to make any money in.


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Well maybe you can try a little of both, you know selling all the hardcore stuff to people on here and such. Then sell the Altezzas and wide body kits and **** to all the ricers. I dont know, I dont run a business though. There are alot of people on this site that do make a decent living doing it though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FFgeoff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the rice market is where the $$ is, the hardcore market is the hardest market to make any money in. </TD></TR></TABLE>

how true.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FFgeoff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> we have no signage outside (we dont want walkin customers)

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this is how I'd like my shop to be...this is How Brent Rau's(Osofast racing) shop is

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TeStUdO &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
There are alot of people on this site that do make a decent living doing it though</TD></TR></TABLE>

George, you'd be so suprised on how this is so untrue. A lot of retailers struggle in this sport. The only reason why anybody would stay open with little profit is for teh love of the sport

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SiRkid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

SO TRUE </TD></TR></TABLE>

you need to know a decent amount of business stuff. if you dont, then you will most likely loose a decent amount of money in the beginning until you figure it out.

there are other industries with less profit than what the import market runs on. it can be done, u just need to know what you are doing first before you get yourself in to deep

 

I know it isn't a shop but here's a nice work area.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ray &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know it isn't a shop but here's a nice work area.

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I love your work area

 

^I just wet myself^

=O

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ray &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know it isn't a shop but here's a nice work area.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's not a WORK area, that's a show area. Shops that are busy (ie, profitable) generally aren't that nice but are in business a long time.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">should call urselves secret services...double 0 geoff. too bad that names taken</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah you should see our shop, no signs, one very small air conditioned showroom (for now). in the middle of an industrial park. Definately not a show area for sure, but some neat stuff comes out of there every now and then. Personally, I'd rather have the educated customer seek me out and give him great prices and excellent service than serve the peon that knows nothing, rip him off to pay for the big overhead and not WANT to give good service b/c of the end user. But I speak from being on both sides of the fence...

You want to make it in this industry? Start small, claim your niche, WORK HARD, stake your reputation on everything, WORK HARD, and your customers will do all the advertising for you.

 

Whoa, SW got a Skyline now?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CheezeFrog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Whoa, SW got a Skyline now?</TD></TR></TABLE>

haha are we seeking out another victum now,lol, jp, ok sorry back on topic

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by st00pid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

OMG I just choked on my soda!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>
lol... I did too.

 

me too...

I shud post pics of my shop...its not the tiddyest place in the world.

but Im tryin ringo, im tryin real hard...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FFgeoff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We have been very lucky and had A LOT of help along the way. Before you get started just learn to fear the first of the month, paying rent is not an easy thing. Also if you decide to go into this market, the rice market is where the $$ is, the hardcore market is the hardest market to make any money in. If youre not in this for the love, you wont be in it long, becuase its next to impossible to be in this for the money. Some various pics</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like any business really. My friend and i own an internet company, its 5 year olds now. But let me tell you it took 4 years to become profitable. It wasnt ever easy...it still isnt. But i can say thats its my day to day job now and i work for myself..not to mention i enjoy what i do. Its totally worth it.

to the people that can make it happened.

liam

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by st00pid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

OMG I just choked on my soda!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>
me, my COFFEE. Id post pics of my shop right now(my mas garage ), but its absolutely trashed. I just finished my brothers b20 swap, and ya, its still messy.
My pole building's footings/floor are being poured this weekend

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tinker219 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
me, my COFFEE. Id post pics of my shop right now(my mas garage ), but its absolutely trashed. I just finished my brothers b20 swap, and ya, its still messy.
My pole building's footings/floor are being poured this weekend </TD></TR></TABLE>

I hear ya man.. I'm still wraping up a double swap weekend. X2BOARD managed to wrap his built GS-R around a tree, so we had to pull off an emergerncy double swap (SOHC into DC2, DOHC into EG) and my garage is still upside down with a lovley coating of oil/coolant/PB Blaster all over the floor.. and we're not even done

 

Only happens with swaps too dont it? Turbo installs stay clean, etc. I tell you what though, I CANNOT wait to have my shop ready. Ill be able to WORK.
On a side note, no signs for me. Mainly because Im in residential, and I think I can get into trouble doing what Im doing( ), and two, because riceboys are abundant up here, so my reasons are the same as VaporTrails...