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8/10/2020 12:53:20 PM

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Section 4: Guns/General
Subject: NOVA Armament Showroom Msg# 1093587

From:

Mark Freburg Forum Manager

Joined 4/3/2000

To:

TJ Parmele (Read)

Joined 6/1/2005

I enjoyed reading what you're up to. Exciting times indeed. Allan coined a great term for the current times, the Coronapocalypse. I'm using it now and spreading it around, as it neatly explains the hysteria evident in 2020. With guns and everything else.

Weigh in with your thoughts over in the "Dissolve NRA" thread?

For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where:
That's appreciated. I attribute 2012 as my toughest year: Getting a divorce, buying out my business partner, and having a heart attack while working full time. Gun To Head

Still I came out of it ahead (except in the divorce settlement LOL).
Had some GOOD times with this. I've been approached about opening a manufacturing facility in WV for Class 3 items, AR-15 accessories, and importing. He's made some interesting inquiries into Poland, Taiwan, Israel, and South Africa. I don't know the specifics, but he needs to show a business plan in order to get financing, which is shakier than the stuff that I had when I was thinking of opening a 30 lane facility. Oh, AND he wants a retail shop. I've offered a consulting role for a seat on the Board of Directors and a small stipend. I don't want to try and run something else right now. My fiance thinks I'm nuts for even thinking about having another shop.

Right now, I've signed back up with the range I cut my teeth on in this business and I'm one of their NRA Certified Trainers. I mainly teach Concealed Carry (no range time) and I teach new gun owners how to work their firearms or how to choose something specific to their needs. It's definitely an... interesting position to be in. They keep trying to rope me back into the showroom to check people in for the range, but I simply say no and only work when I have training appointments. It's a $50 fee for the total of an hour of class and range time. I tend to ignore that and take the time necessary

Part of me is watching this Covid / riot / new gun owner buying spree and going.... Wish I could have held on. BigGrin

The other part of me is going.... whooh! Glad it's not me!!!

I helped the new entity out during the height of Covid hysteria in their showroom. They wanted me to run background checks and be a register monkey. I hadn't learned their clunky system and basically suggested the owner get his son to be the phone greeter, customer wrangler at the entrace, then he and his regular employee (yes.... one employee) handle the background checks, and have his wife handle the payments. I told them, I'd handle the general "what should I get questions" and get them going on paperwork and if delayed, watch the approvals and call them back.
I personally "sold" 12 guns that morning. This is in a shop that is operating out of the basement I used for storage and armorer work. It's about 500 square feet if one is fudging with the tape measure.

The thing that got me was the pure PANIC people were exhibiting over looting and the end of days.
They were annoyed when the shop ran out of ammo and then ran out of guns.
I put 4 guns up for consignment: a Glock 17 Gen 3 (should have kept that), the 910S 3rd Gen, a Yugo .32 ACP, and a .38SPL Revolver.
All were gone 2 days later.
Distributors are dirty rotten bastards this time around. Charging near double wholesale for ammo, then padding their shipping. MSRP being charged for guns with the attitude of "if you don't take them I have 30 who will".

So... exciting times.

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