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Brick & Mortar Prepping Supply Store

7K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  arizonafusilier 
#1 ·
We do not have many options in Arizona for a one-stop shop to pick up or stock up on prepping supplies.

I work for a solar installation company in Chandler that services all of Arizona, and we are looking to expand our building space to include a small store where we can supply small solar equipment for individual sale vs. purchasing a complete solar system (i.e. just inverters/converters, car chargers, storage batteries etc.) and we are looking to branch out into the prepper market as well.

We are interested in carrying various types of batteries, litium ion and lead acid are on the menu so far, as well as chorline products for water purification/pool water storage, a small dried food section for those quick impulse items, etc.

I wanted to reach out to the community to see what else you would love to see in a brick and mortar prepper store. We are hoping to get to expand this storefront idea to multiple towns after it kicks off, so all feedback is greatly appreciated!

As a prepper myself I can't wait to go off grid and having a convenient location where I can pay in cash for many of my harder to find necessities (i.e. batteries, chemicals, individual solar panels, portable electricity, etc.) in order to keep purchase records to a minimum is something I've been looking for for several years now. I'm excited to get to participate in this prepping initiative with my company, and can't wait to hear what other preppers would love to shop for in a cash environment/brick and mortar retail store.
 
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#2 ·
The problem with "prepper stores" or stores that sell such supplies (Sportsman's, Cabelas, ext.) is they all have massive overhead. I have yet to see a brick and mortar store compete with Amazon when it comes to price. I've seen knives at Sportsman's for $50 when its $30 on Amazon. Same goes for solar anything to. The Gole Zero stuff is sky high at a store.

The cash option is great but if you are charging significantly more it might not be worth it.

Good luck.
 
#7 ·
Prep business
This is a little of the information from a business plan I did in 1978 for a Prep Store w/a few new items.

Safety equipment: First-aid Kits, Trauma Kits, Kit refill items, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, burglar alarms, security locks & devices, respirators, radiation monitors & meters

Sanitation equipment: Chemical toilets, porta-sinks, sunshowers, pest control items, chemicals & supplies, James Washer, clothes washing plunger

Utility equipment: Generators, water pumps, ventilators & filters

Camp equipment: Ice chests, cots, chairs

Field & wilderness equipment: Maps, compasses, packs & bags, etc

Communications equipment: FRS, GMRS, MURS, CB, Business Band, Public service band scanners, Amateur radio gear, antennas, towers

Storage containers: water cans, fuel cans, dry storage containers, cache containers Drinking/purified water machine w/1, 3, 5, 6, 7 gallon containers available:

Food, water, heating, cooking, lighting equipment & supplies: Candles, kerosene lanterns, kerosene heaters, Mountain House, Provident Pantry, Sam Andy, Alpine Air, Healthy Harvest, Abbey’s Best, Freeze Dry Guy foods, flashlights, batteries, Country Living Grain Mill, Diamant 525 Grain Mill, Sawyer, MSR, & Katadyn water filters, canners & canning supplies, dehydrators, mylar sealers

Other items: PRI products (PRI- G, PRI-D), gold coins, silver coins, books, specific tools, off grid power systems & components, non-hybrid/open-pollinated seeds, manual gardening equipment

Services:
Canning station for #10 cans, #2 ½ cans, Super pails
Conversion of shipping containers/culverts into shelters
Custom communications systems
Custom specific situation kit development
Custom storage/use kit/product containers
Periodic check & repack emergency kits & replace dated items
Creation of custom household utilities shut off instruction cards


Some additions:

Pen flare launchers & flares

12 gauge flare launchers & flares

26.5mm flare launchers & flares

Allweatherfirestarters.com mag rod/ferro rod/striker, Wet Fire tinder

Open fire water still

Reusable diapers

Manual baby food grinder

Reusable feminine hygiene items

Open fire spits w/supports, grilling baskets, fire grates, fire tripods, fire tongs, cast iron cauldrons, large kettles, large solar ovens, cast iron dutch ovens and pans

Manual blender & manual mixer

Collapsible evaporative cooler shelf unit

Plastic garden layout stakes, layout twine, planting dibbles, manual wheeled garden seeder, manual high wheel garden machines w/attachments, scythes, sickles, scythe/sickle peeing kit, gathering baskets/buckets/pouches, bee head nets (other garden tools or let them go to the hardware store)

Game snares

Fish/frog replaceable tip gigs w/poles & spare tips, fish traps, gaffs, cast/gill nets w/line, weights, & floats

Meat smokers, meat grinders w/sausage stuffer & tubes, crimper, & ringers, jerky shooters, cloth smoked/dried meat storage bags

Reusable toilet wipes, toilet wipe rag containers, toilet wipe soaking containers, toilet wipe washing container, plunger type clothes washer, laundry tongs

Laundry ladles, stirring paddles, laundry tongs, clothes line posts, anchors, line, clothes pins, Fels-Naptha laundry soap

Hand sewing kits, Janome 712T treadle sewing machine w/custom stand, bobbins, needles, thread, scissors, scissor sharpener, bobbin winder, set of sewing machine accessories, straight pins, safety pins, spare parts, basic patterns for men, women, children, in several sizes, bolts of cloth (denim, khaki, etc.)

****ies khaki work pants & shirts
Carhartt winter clothing
Propper Public Service line of khaki cargo pants & field shirts
Silk/wool long johns

A custom line of medium weight wool field clothing in khaki/coyote brown/medium gray/brown herringbone/medium gray herringbone

Long sleeve shirts with neck and yoke lining with two button down flap pockets with pencil slots, button down collar, 8-button placket, long tails, sleeve pockets with pencil slots, and epaulets.

Long pants with waist to knee lining with button down rear flap pockets, two-slash front pockets, 2 watch pockets, 2” belt loops, blousing tapes on leg hems, and 8 suspender buttons.

Bibs and jacket for severe weather
Hooded Great Coat for extreme weather

All leather suspenders
1 3/4" leather belt with zippered money slot



Custom specific situation kit development

Custom storage/use kit/product containers

Periodic check & repack emergency kits & replace dated items

Evaluation and recommendation of procedures for specific disasters & events

Creation of custom household utilities shut off instruction cards

Drinking/purified water machine w/1, 3 & 5 gallon containers available

#10 canning station for customer use

Super pail/mylar bag sealing station for customer use

Many of the products can have company/store logo/name imprinted when
ordered/made


Preparedness manuals

Created on desk top publish system and printed at commercial printers

Complete specific situation manuals using plastic comb bindings

Basic/limited information manual in three ring binder
Situation specific additional sections sold separately for insertion
Updates to replace existing sheets
Phone list/contact update sheets to replace existing sheets

The entire plan in in the .pdf attachment.

Just my opinion.
 

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#9 ·
All are good suggestions. However I would add that as some have mentioned already it's hard to compete with the Amazons and big box stores on price alone. So maybe items that are not so mainstream and touchy feely type things that shoppers really want to see up close to get a feel for.
Watch your margins and move things that don't sell well. Typical business model should apply.
Good luck I think we're all pulling for you.
 
#10 ·
I completely agree!

Since we are a solar company and our storefront will be in our main office/warehouse building (it's our only building currently), we are going to specialize the store to solar batteries and other solar equipment replacement parts.

The survivalist gear and other preps would be more of a convenience category to supplement the solar equip to help draw people in and serve a local retail location that's not a big box store for those who prefer to spend cash and/or shop locally. It won't be a one-stop-shop for prepping supplies, but maybe if it's a hit we can continue to expand until it is! (crosses fingers). :cool::thumb:
 
#14 ·
Great idea, but (for me) one minor problem. I don't live in the great state of Maricopa. .... (Nor Tucson ).
I would support a store like what you are looking into. Also it is hard to find everything in one place.
I support my LGS but do buy on line as they are very high priced. So the same mentally could set in with a shop for preppers, I would hope not.

Just a couple of cents worth of my thoughts, but still you have a Great Idea!
Lateck,
 
#15 ·
There is a shoe store in the next town over from me. Shoe and boots is there main thing. However upstairs is an outdoor type department. Hiking and light camping. No hunting and fishing. Like a mini REI they carry packs, clothing, boots, small tents, knives, etc.
Name brands moderately priced and no junk.
I was kind of amazed when I walked in.
My wife has been shopping there for years but never told me about it. Even if I couldn't really afford to completely outfit myself there it would be nice to buy a piece of kit every once in a while.
 
#16 ·
While you have some great suggestions here, the real question is how much money do you have to invest in inventory? Most manufacturers have minimum order amounts (at least to qualify for free shipping to you - and if you don't buy in at the free shipping amount, your margin shrinks and you have to elevate your retail price above market.)

$750, $3,500, $5,000 are all minimum order amounts with some of our current suppliers. Then you have to know which products in their line will turn over consistently.

Talk with some current solar customers and see what they suggest. Then I would establish a "short list" and start applying to the manufacturers. Just know that all manufacturers are not willing to take on new retailers/distributors - have your business case ready to present to them. If approved, make sure to talk with their dealer manager to determine what their best selling product mix is and order accordingly.
 
#18 ·
Unfortunately, no, but as far as I know it's possibly still in the works! My CEO decided to focus on something else first, not an option I would have remotely suggested, but it's his company so his decision! The demand for the store front is so strong though, we really need to open something up soon. Heck, if he doesn't, then I'll open my own!
 
#21 ·
I think it's a great idea, and hope you get it off the ground.

Sometimes it is not about price points. Being able to network, face to face, with like-minded people, and get ideas spontaneously while seeing products on the shelf that help give form and substance to concepts, is worth the cost and travel.

At least to some people over 50.
 
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