Gunsmith Time
It’s time to think about time… and your bottom line.
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Articles by Arthur J. Hunt
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19 matching articles
Gun Shows
Gunsmith marketing at your local gun show done right.
Changes Are A Comin’ (They Are Here!)
These ramblings of an old gunsmith may be considered by the less educated to be just that, but hard-won wisdom may be the ticket to improving your business.
Marketing How-To
One of the many problems gunsmiths face is getting the word out to the broken gun crowd there is a competent gunsmith in the area. How best to do this depends on a great many factors.
Explaining Repair Costs To Your Customer
Compared to just about anything else’a car, a washing machine, or an electric toaster’ maintaining and repairing a firearm is dirt cheap; it’s all in how you explain it.
Beware of the $2-an-Hour Job
There are any number of problems that can turn what should be a simple, profitable job into a losing proposition.
The Gunsmith: Jack of All Trades and Master of All
No profession demands as wide a range of mechanical knowledge as that of the gunsmith
Limiting Your Liability
Whether you have insurance or not, there are numerous ways to keep your personal liability to a minimum.
What Do Custom Jobs Really Cost?
Like any businessman, the gunsmith can easily find himself in the “Chapter 11 Club” if he fails to estimate the cost of custom work carefully or if he extends too much credit too freely.
Time Management For the Gunsmith
You might assume that your lathe or milling machine is your business’ single greatest asset. But no, actually it’s your time.
Managing Your Parts Inventory For Maximum Profits
With the proliferation of gun-parts magazines, catalog retailers, and gun-accessory websites, your profitability depends more than ever on an intelligent control over your parts inventory.
Estimates vs. The Final Repair
It is not unusual for a customer to ask you for an estimate for repairing a gun. Naturally you’re glad to give him one, but be aware of the pitfalls.
Increase Your Per-Gun Income
There are many ways to increase your income. First and foremost, however, you have to establish a minimum price’and profit’ for even the smallest jobs.
Soliciting Work From Gun Retailers
To build your gunsmithing business, you’ll want to build relationships with other small-business owners’and beware of wasting time with “dealers.”
The Gunsmith’s Shop: What Will It Cost?
Owning a business is a dream for many Americans, but there are many things to be considered before opening your own gunsmithing shop.
Build a Gunsmithing Library
Minutes spent doing research in your library can often save you hours of frustration at the bench. Here are some suggestions for building that library.
The Changing World Of Gunsmithing
Surplus military weapons from World War II helped to start the custom rifle business. But the industry has been changing ever since, and the successful gunsmith has had to’and will have to’change with it.
Constantly Improving Your Skills
No matter where you’re starting from, continuing education is the key to everincreasing success in the gunsmithing biz.
Making the Gunsmith Shop a Success
Competency at your craft can make you a good gunsmith, but it takes more than technical expertise to run a successful gunsmithing business.