Paintball games are the next big thing within the sporting industries. As the #1 sport for growth, paintball is up more than 84% to 9.4 million U.S. players within the past five years according to the National Sporting Goods Association. Harquebus Paintball, Inc., (HPI), will be a small retail company that focuses on paintball in Bombarde County, Ourstate. The prime location of HPI is ideal because it has only two other paintball shops that are not as good as HPI, creating very little competition.
HPI will focus on the sale of quality paintball equipment like guns, parts/accessories and apparel. They also host local tournaments and provide quality services such repair and upgrade of products. To serve the customers needs, all employees must be knowledgeable in the various types of paintball. HPI will have an extreme advantage over the little competition that does exist, as it will have an online store, very competitive pricing, carry a much greater selection, host sales and promotions, gift cards, and membership benefits.
Harquebus Paintball’’s current opportunity to get into the unique paintball industry is unbeatable. This market is relatively new and expanding quickly.
Future Goals and Expectations – HPI’s future goals include a significant expansion through physical storefronts as well as unique high-quality paintball field locations. They also plan to dominate the national retail paintball market. Harquebus Paintball will be the “Best Buy” in the retail paintball market.
Keys to Success. HPI believes that there are certain key factors to success. For example, you must have a product selection, be able to sell products, and have a strong knowledge of your industry.
Ownership. HPI is owned by its CEO Padraich Peard and COO Geoffrey Gunnar. The CFO Petra Pistolero is responsible for day-today operations like inventory upkeep, accounting and financials. Dolores Derringer is responsible for HPI’’s advertising. Claude Carabinerie is responsible for HPI’s service section.
Requirements : HPI will need start-up funds to purchase start-up assets. This includes expenses such as advertising, corporate identity/forms and remodeling. expenses/assets.
Products: HPI will sell a wide variety of quality paintball products such as guns/markers, paintballs, upgrades/accessories, apparel, magazines, paintballs, and hoppers via its physical and online store. You can only get repairs or upgrades to your equipment in the physical shop.
Market: HPI’s market audience will be males, ages 12-24 that actively (actively = plays at least once a month) play paintball in Bombarde County, Ourstate. HPI’s market research revealed that about 3.9% of Bombarde County men aged 12-24 play paintball. 2,144 players. According to the NSGA National Sporting Goods Association, paintball has increased an average of 16.8% per yr over the last five years. HPI believes this is not a fad. They expect paintball to continue to grow in strength and stability throughout the nation. HPI’s marketing strategy includes a strong and rapid approach to its local market. They will be able to dominate it from the beginning and compete with other players through local advertising, giveaways at grand openings, sales, contests, and local advertising.
Industry – The industry of retail paintball includes both online and physical dealers (HPI). Online and physical dealers have their pros and disadvantages. The cons of being a physical dealer include a low product concentration and limited pricing competition. HPI will take the cons of physical/online paintball dealers and turn them into pros, in which Harquebus Paintball will become a dominant paintball retailer.
Retail paintball has many factors that can influence purchase decisions. These include product features and reputations, word of mouth, availability, pricing as well as up-sales, cross sales, and impulse purchases. HPI will make use of all these factors to increase sales, and improve profit margins.
Advantages: HPI will have many advantages over the competition such as hosting sales and promotions, gift cards, membership discount cards, product servicing, online store, larger product selection, an attractive clean store, team sponsorship, and tournament hostings. These advantages will increase Harquebus Paintball’s chances of winning customers.
Marketing Strategy: HPI’s sales strategy will help it gain and maintain customers. It will include sales, promotion, gift cards, membership cards and product selection, all which are not available to the local competitors. HPI projects explosive first year’s sales, and a corresponding net profit.
Web Plans: HPI will have an online home at HarquebusPaintball.com, where potential customers can view and purchase in-store products all from home. Customers will also have the option to buy online and pick up their merchandise from the store, which will eliminate their shipping charges and waiting period on their products. HarquebusPaintball.com will host community paintball news, and have an employee login so that employees may check online for certain duties they may have, and their work schedule. Advertisement for HarquebusPaintball.com will be through in-store banners, TV and radio, web banners, and search engines.
Break even. HPI estimates what HPI needs to sell each month in order to make ends meet with all its liabilities and expenses. HPI does not expect any trouble with meeting this obligation as long as the “keys to success,” and certain goals and objectives listed throughout this plan are achieved. Rent, utilities, insurance and payroll taxes are the current expenses and liabilities.
The purpose of this plan is to provide in-depth detail on how HPI will achieve everything stated above, from its marketing plans to its projected revenues all the way to its web plans.
1.1 Mission
Harquebus Paintball will work hard to ensure its customers are satisfied with their purchases, promotions, sales, excellent services, and, in the future with beautiful tournament-like fields and friendly staff who are highly qualified in the field.
HPI will always be responsive to customers’ needs. Our research department will constantly be providing the store with updated inventory, current trends, improving on areas our competition has already advanced on, and providing what the competition does not.
1.2 Objectives
Harquebus Paintball has two sets of objectives, “short-term” which will be the main focus for the first three years of operation, and “long-term” which will mainly be ideas for the next four years, or until the short-term objectives have been met. The new HPI’s primary objectives will be the longer-term “ideas once the short term objectives have been met.
Short-term:
- Your goal is to be the top Bombarde County paintball retailer, servicing at least half of the area’s paintballers.
- Host the best promotions, sales, selection, tournaments, servicing (repairs/upgrades) of any paintball store in Bombarde County.
- Sell product/service the first year at a rapid-fire rate, sufficient to meet HPI’s approximate break-even revenue.
- Sales will increase by 10% every fiscal year
- Open a high-quality paintball facility and another HPI retail location in southern Bombarde County.
Long-term:
- You can open three additional Harquebus Paintball retail and field stores and shops, one in northern Bombarde County; one in Howitzer County; and one in Cannonade County.
- Franchise Harquebus Paintball stores are located throughout Ourstate. From there, you can access the entire U.S.
1.3 Keys to Success
Harquebus Paintball’s success will be determined by the following seven factors:
- Sales and Promotions – HPI will offer weekly and monthly sales and promotions to attract customers and outperform the competition. A ‘#8220’ grand opening sale will also take place to attract potential customers.