What should the fire arms marketing people be doing to keep sales healthy? From what is happening at the range more new cartridges is not but a minute part of the answer. The average hunter doesn't seem to be a greater part of the solution either. So after really giving it some thought ,what's the answer? roger

Get the hardware in front of people who aren't in the community, take the hit that the boohooers will give it- but I think many curious people would still pick up on it that weren't there before.

Stop using dumbed-down terms like "harvest' and don't apologize for or dodge (I almost said duck) the issue of hunting, if in fact it is an issue.

Shooting/rifles/pistols/shotguns is historical, ingrained into the US culture, and were and are used by many colorful characters. All attractants.

Educate- let it be known that learning the safe use of firearms, being at ease with them without carelessness and knowing how they function, what their capabilities and consequences are can and should be considered an asset in a persons life.

Eddy Eagle for grownups.

& etc.

Jus' thinkin'

I have been giving it some thought for 77 years, I see an angry generation getting angerer all the time. it's a changing world and the internet has contributed greatly to that and its made a failing grade IMO..

Maybe we got too much time on our hands, made too much money, allowed too much corruption in high places, and folks without accountability for thier actions. I hear things on the internet that those same folks would never even think of saying face to face, it enhances suedo bravado.

Its a sad time, hopefully we can turn it around in the future and get back to basics. Get rid of welfare, rewarding joblessnes, stop illegal immagration, get folks back to work even if we have to say work or starve..I have never drawn a welfare check, not one and I have done some pretty horrible jobs, such as burning pear, digging postholes you name it..Until we wake up and get America back where it was it will only get worse and the system is as close to failing as its ever been...

The gun world is no differnt than any other business, its the times that have to change, not the firearms companies.

Teach young people to shoot, hunt and the firearms and gunsmithing trades.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
What should the fire arms marketing people be doing to keep sales healthy? From what is happening at the range more new cartridges is not but a minute part of the answer. The average hunter doesn't seem to be a greater part of the solution either. So after really giving it some thought ,what's the answer? roger

Dear Bartsche:

The firearms industry should can the B. S., and do what Gerard suggests: "Teach young people to shoot, hunt and the firearms and gunsmithing trades."

I have spent the better part of the last 13 years wending my way through the firearms' industry's bull to get accurate answers on cartridges, bullets and rifle actions.

I even made up a 100+ page reference manual for myself, since no-one out there has done so to aid a shooter or hunter in deciding what cartridge, bullets and rifles to use for big game hunting. Some of the books I read had bits and pieces, but nothing comprehensive.

My conclusion: I use 100 year old Mauser actions and 30 to 60 year old Browning shotguns. The only new firearms that I own are modern handguns.

Believe me I went through just about everything with plastic stocks and teflon coating, too over the last 13 years. In my mind, nothing is as elegant as the older rifles and shotguns. The new stuff is just plastic and teflon coating.

There is room for a new entrant, believe me. I even did a business plan, too.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Make more left handed guns!

open a season on lawyers

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
open a season on lawyers

Yup, 24/365.

There are some greater in depth answers then I expected. Is there a way that Marketing can contribute to greater interest in fire arms, fire arms safety and education? This might be a true long range cure, if possible, but what about the immediate fix? What can the marketeers achieve in the next decade? What can they do in the political arena to advance gun sales and fire arms interest? What are the positives? roger

Knowledge is power, and people fear what they do not know.
The anti-gunners have done a good job of pushing firearms, and those who use them into the corner, making them taboo in schools, etc.
Grew up with a school library full of hunting magazines, and what not. Preaching to the choir, I know.
As far as a solution, wish I had one. Think its gonna have to be a team effort. Ripples in a pond. Get your wife, girlfriend, shooting, her friends know somebody that shoots, they get curious and if you can get some of them out to the range, start em with a .22 that does,nt scare em, they might come back..
Little things. Guess what I,m sayin is, some people have been bombarded with the mainstream media "guns are evil, therefore those who use them must be evil" message. When these people see an average joe, instead of "Rambo", it gets em thinking...
Just my opinion, think Tin Can and Atkinson are on the right track. Speak the truth, in a calm manner, don,t think theres much reason to appologize for something I enjoy, hunting, shooting, plinking, reloading, etc.
There were a few guys that answered questions I had, did a little coaching as neccessary while I was learning to reload. My dad taught me gun safety first, shooting second.
Without somebody else taking some time to teach me that stuff, I would,nt have learned.
Anyhoo, thats my long winded way of saying that shooting can be a lot of fun, and it pretty much sells itself, IF you can get somebody to try it..
As far as marketing, either we are the guy next door, a neighbour, buddy that likes to go hunting, or, by default, we get painted as a bunch of nut cases.
Nuff a,that. I need more coffee. Or maybe less.

Aside the above, look what Savage has done from listening to customers- target rifles, receivers and barreled receivers made available, full camo, left-handed rifles, etc.

Savage is preaching to the choir with this, but I'm sure more than a few gun owners have bought a Savage so they could swap a barrel, etc.

They chamber in tried and true cartridges, but a person can change that without surrendering their rifle for a number of months or longer.

I think all this has paid off for them.

While I'm at it, one word: women.

Ya know, having shows like "Top Shot" and "Sons of Guns" on probably does,nt hurt..

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:


Savage is preaching to the choir with this, but I'm sure more than a few gun owners have bought a Savage so they could swap a barrel, etc.

They chamber in tried and true cartridges, but a person can change that without surrendering their rifle for a number of months or longer.

I think all this has paid off for them.

I bought 7 mod.200s and a 12bvss within a 6 month period. 4 of the mod. 200s have received
different barrels. I agree their marketing has been in a good direction. Even the accuracy of their barrels indicate this. The quality of their accutrigger ,however, leaves something to be desired. roger

More options, like stocks, wood or composite, standard or full Mannlicher length, and more chamberings to choose from, and barrel lengths, and contour.

quote:

While I'm at it, one word: women.

BINGO!! Expand the base. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait til my dad had time to take out the old Mossberg and stand up some cans...recite the "rules of the road" and then have a shooting contest with my brother. Expand shooting leagues for kids/teenagers...young men and women. I can't think of any other discipline that teaches proper conduct, procedure and respect for others than shooting.

Germany requires an enormous amount of education and practical experience to get a license...and I'm not suggesting that....but...with that education, they have made a great effort to represent the hunter as a necessary part of responsible management (terrible problems with hogs). We need to stop hiding and speak proudly of the role we play in management, predator control, disease prevention. Also, game is healthy to eat...every licensed butcher in Germany can process game...and sell it in the store....its a part of the general diet...every restaurant offers game....no better way to make it part of daily life.

This won't be popular, but I'll say it anyway...we need to be part of the solution when it comes to slob hunters...not because we will ever stop the press from writing about the few bad apples....but because its the right thing to do. If I find out who's been shooting racks (and leaving the carcass lay) off season on "my" mountain, he's mine.

There's one pistol range left in Manhattan, the NYRPA has two "womens days" there(they do this around the state)and there's always a capacity enrollment for it. There are other such gatherings, I believe, sponsored by one of the gun companies, those terminate with a trip to the skeet/trap range.

Always sold out.

There was an article in the WSJ on the topic recently-

http://online.wsj.com/article/...066650781670254.html

no hunters/shooters = no gun sales, regardless of the marketing techniques.

the young and women are the future of hunting/shooting.

The firearms manufacturers cn help themselves the most like it was said above, by marketing to women and young fathers to encourage shooting as a family pursuit.

I've made it a project of mine to invite young people to join me on trips to the range, shooting matches, etc. every time that I go out anymore.

With the exception of Savage, the gun companies are pricing themselves out of business..and it's even worse now with the recession. The same is true for the ammo companies...for the average decent box of CF rifle cartridges you are looking at 30-40 bucks. Buy the gun and can't afford to shoot it much. The reloading scene ain't no better either. I can't remember the last time I went to the range for a blasting/fun session. Now it is either to make sure a rifle/handgun is shooting to the known POA or to work up a load that might be more accurate..and even that is a lot less than before the crazy increases in reloading components. The majority of these companies are killing the goose that laid the golden eggs...and their head honchos are too dumb to realize it. Their death is coming...ever so slowly....keep raising prices.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
With the exception of Savage, the gun companies are pricing themselves out of business..and it's even worse now with the recession. The same is true for the ammo companies...for the average decent box of CF rifle cartridges you are looking at 30-40 bucks. Buy the gun and can't afford to shoot it much. The reloading scene ain't no better either. I can't remember the last time I went to the range for a blasting/fun session. Now it is either to make sure a rifle/handgun is shooting to the known POA or to work up a load that might be more accurate..and even that is a lot less than before the crazy increases in reloading components. The majority of these companies are killing the goose that laid the golden eggs...and their head honchos are too dumb to realize it. Their death is coming...ever so slowly....keep raising prices.

A lot of truth. Sad, but I'm not sure whither or not Marketing has a lot of control over component pricing with metal costs the way it is. roger

Lower their prices a bit? Things ARE getting a bit silly..even Savage are not the great deal they once were. I remember just a few short years ago the top end Savage (which back then was like saying a fully loaded KIA LOL) was 400-500$. Now, that is where they are STARTING and going up.

Also, I'd rather see rebates for scopes or something vs package rifles. They always cheap out and put crap glass/mounts on those packages, but the average joe is too green to realize or care. Savage (again) is doing better this year by pairing up with Nikon and putting Pro Staff's on the rifles. But I'd still rather see a "Buy this Remington and get a 50% off coupon on any Nikon/Redfield/Burris" or whatever.

I always said they should bring the "classics" back instead of constantly wasting money on "new" cartridges. Limited runs every year with a classic like Remington used to do.

Much cheaper way to market to rifle loonies than a new cartridge. Ammunition manufacturers would get a boost by offering new loads for these classic rounds.

I'd love to see them come out with limited runs of

250 Savage
257 Roberts
6.5x55
7x57
300 Savage
8x57
338-06
35 Whelen
358 Win
350 Rem Mag
9.3x57
9.3x62

A great example is Ruger's RCM Rifle. Great rifles. I really like what they did with the 338 RCM but why bother with the 300 RCM? A great lineup for that rifle would have been.

7mm-08
308 win
338 RCM
358 Win
350 Rem Mag

Sheesh.. We can,t afford any more "hope" or "change". Another four years of it probably, what, double the current prices?..
Between the EPA and others, metal recycling has gone overseas. Costs to ship it over, costs to buy it back, costs to ship it back. A lot of manufacturing has gone overseas. Costs the American manufactuers more to build, then try and compete.
So there are certain economic realities that I have to deal with. Which, being a bit cheap, requires me to sit still and look at what will be available to me in the long term. So I support the NRA, life member. I frequent local gun shops, and buy most of my guns locally. Being a little out of the way, for obscure stuff, Graf, Sinclair, and Midway get a lot of my business. The ones I stick with, are the ones where I get the best service, maybe not always the cheapest prices, but the best service.
Suppose its the same with the guns I buy. If I get a gun that I,m happy with, that fits the design parmeters I have in mind, then I,m a repeat customer.
Bottom line, I,m willing to pay a little more for a good product,along with good service.