How to Start a Local Head Shop/Glass Shop Business

[Porquiplane]

As the title says, Lets hear some opinions, some numbers, some facts.

With the boom in the industry, there is HUGE potential for hard-working, loving, honest shop owners who are ahead of the times and keep up with the changes of the industry. Who stray from the quick-buck 'Spice' crap that plagues our society, and the cheap glasswork of foreign countries, who keep up with the artists and the blowers and are willing to look into peoples product.

This being said, there (atleast east coast) has been a huge (triple) increase in glass/head shops. Some of which have gone to open 4 or more store (same owners, same name). There must be success there, correct?

Is this a good time to get in the industry in this field? How would you go about it? Business loan, contacting town/board for approval?

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[Jarva]

Well that might be true i live in Ny and when i went to the city the other day.
The amount of Headshops was alot there were at least 2 - 6 on a block. But it all depends where you are.(what part of the city)

 

[Porquiplane]

NYC doesnt count because it (like every over-industrialized and corporate-ran city) is its own kind of animal. And id say the majority of shops there get in counterfeits, get imported glass, and dont know all of what they are doing other than to make money.

Where this would be is a very nice area with more wealth, less corporate/industrialized bullshit, alot less population, but still a good amount of people, and a demand for good honest shops. Of which there are some good ones and there are plenty of bad ones. In this state theres probably a total of 20 shops throughout it. Meaning decent shops, not Bingbobs Kiosk or SunOil Gas (examples not real places) both of which happen to sell CRAP.

But having worked at a number of shops ive seen that the owners are behind in the times (technology, whats new and 'the next big thing', and havent been the nicest people. Rather hardened and grouchy. This isnt rough areas either so that attitude wrecks customer base, and any desire for employees to work for you.


Thats why there is a desire to start a new era of shops. More like some west coast shops probably are. With owners who KNOW the industries wants and needs and even knowing what people dont know they want yet, but will in the future! These need a revamp. Some shops based out of the heartlands have come in and know how to do it, but there is only one shop with 'the right gear' i can name out of 20 shops throughout the state. They know whats good, they know what will be big, and they have the mentality.

Add another similar shop and they will prosper and the customer benefit from that!

A shop that knows its tech and artists is a shop worth going to! All too often they have no idea what some people are saying. Ask for a Thermovape Cera at one of these shops and you will get THE STUPIDEST look and 'i dont know what that is'. Well you should. You should know your industry you work in. Foolish.