Business Idea - Sports equipment store... need your help/ideas

[NolemurraY]

I've been set a task at school to create a new business idea, I want to have a sports store in my local village, however it needs to have a USP (unique selling point, something that will attract customers to this store instead of going to other big name stores that are already around.

The USP is my main problem, I'm struggling to think of how I could make the store unique, apart from the fact that village does not have a sports equipment store nearby without having to travel on the bus or by car for 20 mins to get to the large sport stores.

Do you think that is good enough for a USP (that it would be the only one), do you have an opinions/ideas on what could make the store unique and what sort of things would make you visit the store, please think in terms of a business, (so not really cheap prices etc. as that would mean the business would make less profit).

I thought I would rack the brains of fellow posters to get any extra ideas, thanks for any feedback given.

P.S, if any of you can think of a better idea, eg non-sports related businesses, that are unique and could be successful please tell me, thanks again NolemurraY.

 

[Racer41c]

It think a great idea would be to have a store that offers clinics with mfg reps. Similiar idea to golf stores where TaylorMade shows up with 100 drivers and a couple of mfg reps to talk to the masses.

Your USP needs to be focuses in getting people into the store, which leads to selling them a product. As you mentioned, if you do it on price, then you need to be virtual, a storefront can't compete on price.

Coincidentally, here's a post that illustrates my point: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=334032

 

[AudiOphiLiA]

Make it a specialty boutique. Stock only high-ticket items. For example, no baseball mitts under $120. Don't stock anything that big box stores would have.

 

[Geezer Guy]

Have something that people can come and DO, with the hopes they'll buy something while they're there.

For instance, a sporting goods store here has a 3 story climbing wall that people can climb for free. There's always a 30 minute wait, so people walk around and shop to kill time. There's a tennis store near here that has a hitting alley with ball machine in the store, so you can demo racquets on site before you buy them. You could have a golf store with a driving or putting stations so people could try out clubs. You could have pitching machines in stores for batting practice.

Pick a specific sport that's the most popular (or underserved) in your area, and then build around that.

 

[NolemurraY]

Thanks for all responses so far, so the general idea is that the store should have something for the customers to do whilst they are at the store (maybe a cafe or something more practical), as well as it having areas for customers to try out the products before they buy them.

Does anyone have anymore ideas, please remember I am open to more business ideas, not just sport related, so if anyone knows a 'gap in the market' and they would like to share their idea with me, please do, thanks again NolemurraY.

 

[hollywood9826]

Around where I live the only kind of sporting goods store that still maintains decent business is the bicycle industry.

The big stores wont stock the higher end name brands so they have a place in the market for that.

Also the golf pro shop at the driving range has a distinct advantage due to the fasct they can let you hit the clubs right there.

But they key is to have experts on the subject matter, and offer a more hands on aproach to customer service.

BTW, where are you located.

 

[sureshs]

Are you in the US? The term village is not used here.

 

[NolemurraY]

Cheers for the responses again,

sureshs - I am from England

hollywood9826 - Thanks, so again having the ability to try the products out would give the store a big advantage.

Anyomore suggestions welcome ....

 

[r2473]

Make it smell like a locker room to give it that authentic feeling.

P.S, if any of you can think of a better idea, eg non-sports related businesses, that are unique and could be successful please tell me, thanks again NolemurraY.

I think a combination

geisha house / pub / casino

would work well.

 

[sureshs]

Somehow village and sport equipment store don't seem to fit together. Maybe you are talking about affluent country people in England living in family manors a 1000 years old with a tennis court on the estate, enjoying high tea as they watch couples play against each other.