Killer Ideas For Selling Guns in D.C.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008; Page B01 Now that District residents can legally keep handguns, prospective gun dealers will need creative ways to target them. Based on my survey of gun shops nationwide, I suggest they start with a catchy name. A name can reflect a state of mind or an ideology. Take, for instance, Gunslinger in Oak Lawn, Ill., or Ready On The Right in Kailua, Hawaii. Or you might choose to convey the threat implicit in the merchandise, with a name such as Ready Aim Fire in Bristol, Pa., or Smoking Barrels Guns in Lutz, Fla. Then again, if you're aiming for a younger clientele, playful-sounding names might work better, such as Guns 4 U in West Plains, Mo., or Guns N Stuff in Bloomington, Ill. The point is not just to kill the competition, but, as any good marketer will tell you, also create a need in the consumer... [read full story]