Snowshoes

Create a snowshoe store to maximize your winter weather bottom line
By Angela Roe, Freelance Writer Stock your store with a variety of snowshoes and snowshoe accessories to create interest in the sport and meet the demands of your customers. Look for snowshoe distributors who can become your primary snowshoe vendor, then take their advice on how to stock a snowshoe store as a stand-alone business or as a snowshoe section within a larger sporting goods store.

Research snowshoe manufacturers and products to get up to speed on the industry; know what to expect to pay and what to stock for the maximum profit. Stick with the best-known brands to take advantage of brand name loyalty and develop a professional reputation as the source for the best in snowshoe products.

1. Buy snowshoes for your winter-enthusiast customers.

2. Remember snowshoe bindings when stocking your snowshoe equipment.

3. Consider helping customers locate antique snowshoes.

Stock snowshoes and snowshoe equipment for your customers

Consider the types of snowshoes you want to stock. Choose a few styles of hiking snowshoes or day or trail snowshoes to help your customers select the snowshoes that are most appropriate for their application. Providing this type of superior customer service will not only sell your products but it'll turn your customers into loyal and repeat customers.
Try:  Tubbs Snowshoes has a good selection of snowshoes for men, women and kids. Atlas Snowshoes is prepared to meet all of your snowshoe needs including racing snowshoes.

Help your customers find the perfect snowshoe bindings

Educate yourself on the styles of snowshoe bindings so you can educate your customers on snowshoe bindings. Whether your customers are looking for traditional leather snowshoe bindings or the latest in thermo-plastic leather bindings, the more you know, the more you can help your clients.
Try:  Havlick Snowshoe Company offers a selection of snowshoe bindings for men's snowshoes or women's snowshoes. Cabela's has heavy-duty snowshoe bindings that are easily adjusted to fit anyone.

Sideline in antique snowshoes

Take advantage of the desire many snowshoe enthusiasts have for antique snowshoes. Create a profitable sideline in finding antique snowshoes for your customers by keeping a few pair in stock or by having a system in place with which you can locate and deliver the antique snowshoes to your clients.
Try:  TruckeeMercantile.com has vintage and antique snowshoes and is often adding more products to their website to meet your customer requests. Log Home Accents has antique snowshoes for sale intended for decorative use only.

• Read snowshoe reviews so you have an idea of what to expect with each brand and style of snowshoe you're considering for your customers. The more information you have, the more you can help your customers find exactly what they want.