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What are you going to offer that can't be found in one of the "big box" sporting goods stores? You probably aren't going to beat them on price as they buy huge quantities and get the lowest prices. You need to offer something that will make people want to spend a few dollars more and get something they can't find elsewhere.
Being a soccer coach and selling soccer equipment are two totally different things. Do your homework!
Good luck in you endeavor.

That is called Marketing, like a Marketing Plan. LUCKIEST

While I agree with your point of view, there are quite a few small mom & pop shop sporting stores opening up.
They run off of referral and name. Perhaps he has a name in his community or maybe he doesn't.
That is something that he should be speaking to a consultant, accountant, or lawyer about.

Good information never-the-less Buffalo.

CC08

While large chains (like Footlocker) have their own buyers, a small start-up like yours would purchase Adidas products from an authorized wholesale distributor (middleman). These distributors have specific quotas, and must accept a certain amount of "dog" product (undesirable, won't sell) from the manufacturer in order to get the hot product that will sell with a high profit margin. In turn, you are going to have to accept and stock product that you don't really want in order to get enough of the product that you do really want (that's why there's always an amply supply cheap shoes in sporting goods stores).

That's just ONE example of the many cost challenges you have to understand and factor in to your business plan (I have a sporting goods manufacturer and several retailers as clients). You also have all the normal things like buying/leasing retail space, paying your utility bills and insurance, advertising, meeting an employee payroll, etc.

As others have already advised, you want to start by working on your business plan. If you discover that you don't have enough merchandising or retail knowledge to complete the plan, my suggestion would be to take a part time job with a sports equipment retailer for awhile, so you can learn all the ins and outs of the business at someone else's expense rather than your own. Having first-hand experience in a that type of retail operation will also increase your chances of finding lenders or investors who will back you you're ready to open your own shop.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I had the idea from when he first got on here he really wasn't sure about this business.
No preparation shows lack of enthusiasm. We will have to wait it out and see what he has to say.

CC08

It sounds like you have a good idea of who your market is. That's an important first step.
You might want to pick up a book called the E-Myth by Michael Gerber. Lots of good ideas for running a business.

NCcoach,

Seems you are getting good advice. One question - do you really need to open a store, or could you market and sell products to the clubs, colleges etc direct. I could see you calling on each of the contacts you have and tell them all the merchandise you'd have available. Maybe you can find a way to use a combination of a website, direct marketing at the fields/places players frequent, mailings to the clubs etc to do the trick.