I'm thinking about getting into the airsoft gun retailer market

So I've had an ebay store well over a decade. Thinking back without telling my age, I recall ordering from ebay during my college years of 2001-2003. Making some extra money from selling didn't ring a bell until January of this year. From beer mugs to photography license, I've sold my share. Creating a systematic business was really the mountain that needed to be conquered. Here I am....a man who enjoys real guns, becoming a curious gentlemen who my have a thing for airsoft guns.

Really, it's just starting to dawn on me that there is a reason for the knowledge I have in firearms. Finally I can take the journey of setting up my own business strictly dealing with something enjoyable. Here is where the story begins. You all that may read this are the first people to know about my plans. I'm a veteran in the real firearms world, but truly a beginner in this airsoft world. I've been getting my research on and have found some interesting information. Initially I started to quit
my idea for an airsoft ebay store. These guns seriously can be mistaken as real weapons. Some are actual metal replicas of the real thing. Meaning they operate like a modern firearm. Blowback action, magazines for pistols and rifles. I've even down a model online that extracts a cartridge. Is this the thing that I should really be selling online?

Well the airsoft world isn't as small as some may believe. Businesses have followed suite. Creating shooting ranges, retail and online stores and even yearly conventions. I've discovered that airsoft is a sport and there are millions of dollars circulating in it's market. Guessing that RVA just had to have a retail store somewhere, I googled and found a local store about 15 miles from home. Richmond is known for being a family oriented, physical event type of town. You can never drive through this city without seeing someone running or biking, unless it's bed time. GI Tactical is the store I found. I'll try to pay them a visit over the weekend. Of course this makes me feel like I'm sort of on to something wanting to begin this business. What's next for me is simply studying the game and getting in where I fit in.

Ebay

Plenty sellers are on ebay. Only a small amout are have thriving businesses. That could be for reasons such as they're length of time on ebay, having top quality products, or knowledge and network of the airsoft world. I discovered that these guns can range from $10 bucks to four digit prices. Your gonna get your sellers who just want to marginalize. I'm not there for just that. Make money while giving people want they want is what I'm there for. 

Distributors/Wholesalers

Here is where the magic happens. The place where I can make or break my business. Saying that it's easy to find wholesalers all over the world is an understatement. I'd prefer a direct connect to a distributor who will give me the option of drop shipping. Bookmarking is always one of the keys to retaining all the information I run through online. Finding some distributors wasn't that hard, and they are becoming easier to work with. Some have low minimum orders. There are the one's that only work with large orders. I've found my angle, one that I'm not silly enough to blog about. 

Products

Like I mentioned earlier in this post. I enjoy firearms. If you made me admit it, I've grown a love for the entire subject. Picking quality products is definitely apart of my business strategy. Finding connections with companies that are on the brink of implementing the latest and greatest are my factors. The airsoft universe is wide open. Some of our largest firearm manufacturers are even in the game. Popular firearms like Colt's 1911 and the AK47 have airsoft versions. Three types of airsoft guns exist. They are electric, Co2 and green gas operated. Some have blowback action and some don't. Let's see what type of product base I begin to build.

The Gunversation Blog

Gunversation as a blog will play a huge role in my business endeavor. I'll display a blog review for all of my listed products. I may even do a giveaway every month on my gunversation instagram page. It's great to have an online store, but the internet works as a linked unite of multiple sites creating a funnel of consumers to retailers. I'll soon discover who what gunversation can be and who it will connect me to.