Import Shop - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

*transient* · 09-17-2001, 06:15 PM

Hey, so basically i've just come into a lot of money and i'm lookin into starting an import shop around here. Is there anyone out there with experience on this that could give me some nfo? It's in Rockland Maine, so it'll be basically competition free. Sure, there's autozone and stuff around here, but they don't really carry anything.

*ca18guy* · 09-17-2001, 06:41 PM

a basic business rule would be supply and demand. How much demand is there in Rockland Maine. Say the surrounding population is 50,000. lets say 20,000 own imports. Of that 20,000 (most of which would be your regular grocery getting mom) 15% want to mod thier car, of that 15% 1/2 know of your shop through ad's or just passing by and so goto your shop instead of internet or mail order, that leaves you with 666 possible connumers. Lets say the 666 consumers spend an average of $200 a year at your store. Thats $132,000 before taxes. Then of course you need to pay for the products you sell, so that $200 a person spend you make $50 off it (thats a nice ratio) thats $33200 a year before taxes and rent for shop space. It's a cool idea but you don't want to rush in to anything, research everything and see whats available. Personally if u want to open a import shop move to my old community the closest real shop was 1/2 an hour a way, you would have a whole area of about 100,000 mid class kids to yourself <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> wow sorry this post dragged on with so many #'s flying around.

*transient* · 09-17-2001, 06:52 PM

Hey, that's what I was lookin for. Ok, say I went performance shop instead of Import performance shop. EVERYONE around here that's my age wants to mod their car at least a little, whether it's an import or not. Most of them are rednecks, but of course I wanna carry import stuff, so it'd b split 1/2 and 1/2.

See, one of my Ideas to promote the place, would be to build a TOTALLY FLY car, and show the thing off, u know? Maybe an s14 or a Z32, whichever I could get cheapest at the beginning. I know that a tuning shop around here would be worth it, because there are definately a lot of people around here that are into the scene. Just not sure on the number of import owners. At the moment, I know of at least three, Me and two friends <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

I should also say, that it's more my dad that would be doing this than me, but I wanna have my hands in it quite a bit. We're also thinking of actually getting a shop so that we would be able to work on cars too. My friends and I would TOTALLY love that, not to mention discounts on parts, etc.

Oh, please don't tell me this isn't going to happen, I want it so badly, hehe <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

*ca18guy* · 09-17-2001, 06:56 PM

i almost forgot you could start a parts store on the web, can't get a consumer base larger than that. If you want a cheap car to promote your shop that would appeal to both sections try a V8 powered 240Z, it'll rip up the drag strip and have a better appeal with import owners and V8 people..anyway good luck in what ever you do.

*transient* · 09-17-2001, 07:11 PM

Definately. Hmm, a 240z would be awesome.

*Jeff240sx* · 09-17-2001, 08:40 PM

Competition for me, huh? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
I too am starting a site for import performance parts.. and am just awaiting word back from manufacturers...
Getting licensed is a bitch, but I live in FL, and it may be different.  There is so much time and effort in it, and just a warning.  If you specialize in one thing, say audio, and you have 100k... you can get great accounts with 10 different manufacturers.  That's 10k per manufacturer.  After about 2-3k, you can get 20% off.  5-9k is 30%.  At 10k, you get 35-40%.  So when you sell the inventory, you have 40k worth of profits.
Same with import auto parts.  Stick to a couple manufacturers, and get big discounts.  Get into exterior, and you have split the ammt of $$$ per manufacturer, and may get a lesser discount.  Get into domestic stuff too, and you now have say 30 manufacturers to buy from for the imports and domestics.  With 100k startup, you buy $3300 per manufacturer.  That puts you into the 20% discount range.  So, even though people are buying stuff, you only make $20k per sell-out.
Just a thought...
-Jeff

*transient* · 09-17-2001, 10:58 PM

Great to know. Any chance you could give me some more information when you get it? This probably won't be competition for anyone but the local autozone and VIP. There's a chance it could go online if it's around long enough, but I dunno. If it does though... Zilvia.net users will b on the discount list <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

carnal c30 · 09-21-2001, 03:55 AM

First of all this idea will take alot of time and effort and you cant do it by yourself. Here is a good example of what a small shop can do
www.mckinneymotorsports.com
they specialize in Nissan classics and SR20DET mods and they have pretty decent business.  I suppose they dont make huge profits but they have alot of love for what they do.  There is something to be said about specialization in a certain area. If you specialize in Nissans, you can take Nissan owners from surrounding areas and from other stores without giving the 'competing' stores a share of your market.  Its a good way to start out, its more secure and you can work form there. Start to offer bolt ons for all makes, and then along with Nissan engine swaps team up with someone with expertise in Honda/Acura swaps and build on. Think smart, dont think big money at first

carnal c30 · 09-21-2001, 03:59 AM

Also, use sponsers, have a good friend or good customer, and give him free labor or a good discount if you can feature his car on your website or at local car shows, it'll give your shop a wider exposure and it wil gain you support from the grass roots level and not through the impersonality of an ad in the paper. Also if you want a mod shop, keep in mind there are big bucks to be made from lil old ladies who want you to change their oil and do menial maintainance. blah blah blah just ask me if you need more advice, but I'm sure you know all this stuff already <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

09-17-2001, 06:15 PM	#1
transient Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 41 Posts: 2,947 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey, so basically i've just come into a lot of money and i'm lookin into starting an import shop around here. Is there anyone out there with experience on this that could give me some nfo? It's in Rockland Maine, so it'll be basically competition free. Sure, there's autozone and stuff around here, but they don't really carry anything.

09-17-2001, 06:41 PM	#2
ca18guy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Clearwater FL Age: 42 Posts: 3,226 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ca18guy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	a basic business rule would be supply and demand. How much demand is there in Rockland Maine. Say the surrounding population is 50,000. lets say 20,000 own imports. Of that 20,000 (most of which would be your regular grocery getting mom) 15% want to mod thier car, of that 15% 1/2 know of your shop through ad's or just passing by and so goto your shop instead of internet or mail order, that leaves you with 666 possible connumers. Lets say the 666 consumers spend an average of $200 a year at your store. Thats $132,000 before taxes. Then of course you need to pay for the products you sell, so that $200 a person spend you make $50 off it (thats a nice ratio) thats $33200 a year before taxes and rent for shop space. It's a cool idea but you don't want to rush in to anything, research everything and see whats available. Personally if u want to open a import shop move to my old community the closest real shop was 1/2 an hour a way, you would have a whole area of about 100,000 mid class kids to yourself <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> wow sorry this post dragged on with so many #'s flying around.

09-17-2001, 06:52 PM	#3
transient Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 41 Posts: 2,947 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey, that's what I was lookin for. Ok, say I went performance shop instead of Import performance shop. EVERYONE around here that's my age wants to mod their car at least a little, whether it's an import or not. Most of them are rednecks, but of course I wanna carry import stuff, so it'd b split 1/2 and 1/2. See, one of my Ideas to promote the place, would be to build a TOTALLY FLY car, and show the thing off, u know? Maybe an s14 or a Z32, whichever I could get cheapest at the beginning. I know that a tuning shop around here would be worth it, because there are definately a lot of people around here that are into the scene. Just not sure on the number of import owners. At the moment, I know of at least three, Me and two friends <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> I should also say, that it's more my dad that would be doing this than me, but I wanna have my hands in it quite a bit. We're also thinking of actually getting a shop so that we would be able to work on cars too. My friends and I would TOTALLY love that, not to mention discounts on parts, etc. Oh, please don't tell me this isn't going to happen, I want it so badly, hehe <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

09-17-2001, 06:56 PM	#4
ca18guy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Clearwater FL Age: 42 Posts: 3,226 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ca18guy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i almost forgot you could start a parts store on the web, can't get a consumer base larger than that. If you want a cheap car to promote your shop that would appeal to both sections try a V8 powered 240Z, it'll rip up the drag strip and have a better appeal with import owners and V8 people..anyway good luck in what ever you do.

09-17-2001, 07:11 PM	#5
transient Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 41 Posts: 2,947 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Definately. Hmm, a 240z would be awesome.

09-17-2001, 08:40 PM	#6
Jeff240sx I hate you too... Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 42 Posts: 5,828 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Jeff240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Competition for me, huh? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> I too am starting a site for import performance parts.. and am just awaiting word back from manufacturers... Getting licensed is a bitch, but I live in FL, and it may be different.  There is so much time and effort in it, and just a warning.  If you specialize in one thing, say audio, and you have 100k... you can get great accounts with 10 different manufacturers.  That's 10k per manufacturer.  After about 2-3k, you can get 20% off.  5-9k is 30%.  At 10k, you get 35-40%.  So when you sell the inventory, you have 40k worth of profits. Same with import auto parts.  Stick to a couple manufacturers, and get big discounts.  Get into exterior, and you have split the ammt of $$$ per manufacturer, and may get a lesser discount.  Get into domestic stuff too, and you now have say 30 manufacturers to buy from for the imports and domestics.  With 100k startup, you buy $3300 per manufacturer.  That puts you into the 20% discount range.  So, even though people are buying stuff, you only make $20k per sell-out. Just a thought... -Jeff

09-17-2001, 10:58 PM	#7
transient Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 41 Posts: 2,947 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Great to know. Any chance you could give me some more information when you get it? This probably won't be competition for anyone but the local autozone and VIP. There's a chance it could go online if it's around long enough, but I dunno. If it does though... Zilvia.net users will b on the discount list <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

09-21-2001, 03:55 AM	#8
carnal c30 Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 48 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	First of all this idea will take alot of time and effort and you cant do it by yourself. Here is a good example of what a small shop can do www.mckinneymotorsports.com they specialize in Nissan classics and SR20DET mods and they have pretty decent business.  I suppose they dont make huge profits but they have alot of love for what they do.  There is something to be said about specialization in a certain area. If you specialize in Nissans, you can take Nissan owners from surrounding areas and from other stores without giving the 'competing' stores a share of your market.  Its a good way to start out, its more secure and you can work form there. Start to offer bolt ons for all makes, and then along with Nissan engine swaps team up with someone with expertise in Honda/Acura swaps and build on. Think smart, dont think big money at first

09-21-2001, 03:59 AM	#9
carnal c30 Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 48 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Also, use sponsers, have a good friend or good customer, and give him free labor or a good discount if you can feature his car on your website or at local car shows, it'll give your shop a wider exposure and it wil gain you support from the grass roots level and not through the impersonality of an ad in the paper. Also if you want a mod shop, keep in mind there are big bucks to be made from lil old ladies who want you to change their oil and do menial maintainance. blah blah blah just ask me if you need more advice, but I'm sure you know all this stuff already <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>