Stringing Businesses

[robertwedlake]

Hi All,

I am a newbie to this site, but really glad I found it.

I am wondering how many of you are using stringing as a full time job, or maybe a part-time supplement to their existing job?

Ive found that there is a real lack of tennis or squash stringing in my area, so am advertising in my local sports shop, in my club and online at www.tennis-stringing.co.uk (http://www.tennis-stringing.co.uk) - any comments much appreciated.

I will be running the business with a friend and would also like your comments on how you manage the finances, who buys which stock and gains which revenue etc.

Regards,

Robert Wedlake

[M0rgan77]

I am just starting a small stringing business out of my house. I bought a Gamma X-2 at $130. Then I got a bunch of inexpensive string. Gosen Polylon Ice 17 and Luxilon Original 16 were my polys. Technifiber E-matrix was my multifilament . Gamma Wearguard and Head PPS 17 were my synthetics. I also got 2 sets of natural gut. all this came to around $230. If I charge $20 a string job with any string, it should pay for it's self after 12 racquets! P.S. I got my stringer off ebay and my strings of www.tennis-warehouse.com (http://www.tennis-warehouse.com) . My site is www.acestringing.netfirms.com (http://www.acestringing.netfirms.com) it still needs some work. :)

[robertwedlake]

hi there, good to see someone else looking to start a small business!

Your range seems a lot more extensive than mine. I currently offer forten nylon, technifibre synthetic and wilson synthetic. Whilst I have strung many rackets, i need better string knowledge, partly why i joined this site.

i can recommend some simple changes to make your site looking more professsional. Use a light background with darker text, its a lot easier on the eye. The optimal is blue text on a white background. And choose a smaller font size. Then it should look quite profesional as long as everything is consitent and you dont stretch your images too badly

[M0rgan77]

Thanks for the advice however I think I will stick with the dark blue back ground. I find it easier on my eyes :confused: . I will get a smaller font though. What do you think about 12? Let me know if you have anymore suggestions!! Thanks!!!

[robertwedlake]

Hi Morgan,

Yeah size 12 would be much better. Its coming along nicely though!

Heres a few other tips:

-i would have the banner perfectly central with the hyperlinks also central below it
-i wouldnt use bold text for your links
-i would use the same font throughout the site, ideally Ariel as you already have in most places. you need it to be consistent as its different on links page etc
-i'm not sure about the strings page presentation. to tidy it up you could use a table and have string name, image, price and availability of each string you offer.

hope that helps!

[M0rgan77]

Hi Robert, I changed most of the font to size 12 and unbolded my links. I turned the strings page into a table and it looks great. I also canged all the font to ariel. I still need to do some work on the 'Links' page. Let me know what you think!! P.S. thanks for all the advice :)
www.acestringing.netfirms.com (http://www.acestringing.netfirms.com)

[robertwedlake]

Hi Morgan,

Much better! Now I would change the logo on home and links so that it is the same as on strings, in white text and in the middle.

I would allign the link on the links page on the left, and have them a size larger so that they are the same font as the home page. Then you can start to add more content to each page.

The strings page looks awesome now. :)

Robert

[uk_skippy]

Hi Robert

I checked out your site...very nice.

Def better than mine www.theracquetstringer.co.uk (http://www.theracquetstringer.co.uk)

I run my business from home on a part-time basis, but I'm looking to go full-time with a pro type shop.

I string for a couple of local tennis clubs and have a contract with a large chain of sport shops too. I decide which string to carry, but as I used to work for that chain of shops I still retain the original string supplier contacts. I have accounts with most major string suppliers in the UK, along with Smashsport(Tecnifibre) and Volkl for rqts etc. I need to look into getting more squash/badminton business this winter. There are a fair few squash clubs around my area so I'm going to try and do stringing demos at those clubs.

Regards

Paul

[robertwedlake]

And you met Andy Murray? Awesome! He played at a tournament down here in Wales once and slughtered my friend, who was a lot older than him!

Your business looks really promising, I hope to move into other sports and racket sales eventually, but without devoting more time to it I think I will struggle.

Managed to get a trade account with Appollo, so first big order coming up!

[M0rgan77]

I fixed the links page and banners on my site. My stringing machine and string just came in the other day! I am officially open for business!!
www.acestringing.netfirms.com (http://www.acestringing.netfirms.com) I was thinking makeing a FAQ page. :) :) :)

[Matthewfirth]

I'm wanting to start a tennis buissness but i want to get all the decisons 100% correct and not doubt if i should have done it.

So first can someone recommend a stringing machine. I've been looking at eagnas hawk 26, klippermate and gamma x-2. Can anyone tell me a better one becuase i want a long lasting easy to handle machine. the eagnas one looks the best but i don't know. You guys are the experts.

Second tools please can you tell me all the tools you think i should buy.

Third the string i should use.

Fourth the accessories i should buy, cover, tension checker, repair tickets, racquet bags etc.

And last the price i should charge for getting your racquet restrung and should i include strings in with that price.

I LIVE IN BRITAIN SO ALL THE PRODUCTS NEED TO BE AVAILVBLE TO BRITAIN

[robertwedlake]

Hi Matthew,

I have an Eagnass machine, with a drop arm. IN fact I have 2 as I operate with a colleague who has one. For a business I would recomment a elekton tensioner though.

For string we use Technifibre synthetic gut, forten nylon and wilson synthetic gut. Advice on changes for us much appreciated.

The tools came with my machine I think

[Matthewfirth]

So would you reccomend the eagnas stringer to me for personal use?

Matthew

[M0rgan77]

Matthewfirth,
For your stringer I would buy the Gamma X-2. It comes with a bunch of tools and a 5 year warranty. It is a soild well built machine. In my opinion eagnas machines are terrible. The customor service is bad and I have heard of countless people buying a brand new machine and haveing it come broken. Then eagnas wouldn't replace them! The klippermate would be my second choice however it looks cheaply built. The kind of strings you should buy depends on your budjet and how many people you will be stringing for. Will this be a service you offer out of your house of will you be opening a store? Keep us posted :)

[Matthewfirth]

Ok this service is out my house, i may set up an online store later on down the line, and i will be stringing for club members, family and friends. So mabye 1-2 raquets a day.

Matthew

[M0rgan77]

Matthewfirth

What's your budjet for the string? :confused:

[uk_skippy]

I'm wanting to start a tennis buissness but i want to get all the decisons 100% correct and not doubt if i should have done it.

So first can someone recommend a stringing machine. I've been looking at eagnas hawk 26, klippermate and gamma x-2. Can anyone tell me a better one becuase i want a long lasting easy to handle machine. the eagnas one looks the best but i don't know. You guys are the experts.

Second tools please can you tell me all the tools you think i should buy.

Third the string i should use.

Fourth the accessories i should buy, cover, tension checker, repair tickets, racquet bags etc.

And last the price i should charge for getting your racquet restrung and should i include strings in with that price.

I LIVE IN BRITAIN SO ALL THE PRODUCTS NEED TO BE AVAILVBLE TO BRITAIN

Hi Matthew

Obvious starting cost is important, but if you intend to continue this for many years get a good machine to start with. Consider a certain auction site. You may get a good bargain.

Get a good range of tools. Obviously clippers, pliers and awls are standard equipment. Other good purchases are Starting clamps and grommet grinders. You also need a cailbrator.

As for strings, choose a good range. Go for a stanard basic nylon, and good quality syn gut and a poly. Having the poly will allow you to construct a hybrid with the syn gut. Most suppliers in the UK have a 24hr delivery service, so you can get any special requests quickly.

For accesories, get the most commons stencils and ink. Stencil the rqts for a good finish. Several of the string suppliers offer the poly rqt bags. Use them as they increase the professionalism of your service. Also use frame stickers to show details such as string type, tension, date strung and your details. You can use PC labels for this. Alternatively use the labels that come with the string.

How you charge the cost of the string + stringing is upto you. Its easier to have 1 single charge though.

Hope this helps

Paul

[Matthewfirth]

M0rgan77:

I am needing a cheap quailty durable string, which will come free with the raquet getting strung. Pay £10 for labour and get free string, and i need high quailty string which is affordable for the workingclass man.

All:

What strings is it best to sell??What strings sell like hot cakes???

Also

Gosen seem to make good quailty low cost strings any comment on them??

Matthew

[M0rgan77]

I use gosen polylon ice as a durability string. Luxilon ALU power and Luxilon Original are the most popular strings I find (anything that the pro's use like hurricane is also good). For a multifilament I would buy 2 packs of gamma live wire and see how they sell. Now you will probably want some cheap synthetics. Babolat super fine play is pretty popular . :) So here is your order in review from http://www.tenniswarehouse.com/

1 reel of gosen polylon ice 17 $30
2 packs of Luxilon Original 16 $23.50
2 packs of Luxilon ALU power 17 $25.50
2 packs of gamma live wire 16 $24
2 packs of babolat superfine play $8
Express Shipping approx $20
Total=$131 USD
So if you charge roughly 20 a racquet the it will pay for it's self after 7 or 8 racquets. But your prices should vary depending on the string cost. :)
Hope this helps :)

[paul220tcoupe]

What is the best way to advertise do you think?

So far ive got an advert up at my local club, with a selection of strings that I use (in little see through bags), and a brief explanation of strings.

Where else is a good place to get ya business going?

[M0rgan77]

The world wide web is always a good place to show the professionalism of your business.

[Matthewfirth]

I have given up on the idea of a stringing machine for now becuase my local sports shop just started stringing!!! How dare they!! Anyway i set up www.tennismatters.co.uk (http://www.tennismatters.co.uk) Which should have lots of new stuff on soon. Check it out and any comments would be appreicated.

Matthew

[Andrew.W]

Mathew,

I don't think you should give up on stringing just because the local sports shop is doing it, if you take a keen interest in stringing you'll probrably do a better job than most of the sports shops out there.

It doesn't take long to recoup your investment on a stringing machine, and the last thing you want to do is send your customers, who want a restring, to the competition.

Regards,

Andrew.

[M0rgan77]

I paid of my machine in about 2 months.

[rhyslewis]

Hi
I have set up my own small business at home. I started off just for myself and now i do my mates and other peoples.
I have a drop weight machine Pros Pro Challangeer. I bought that off ebay and i tend to get my string from tennisware house or ebay as they are the cheapest.

[gamby]

Toward the Americans reading this:

What do you do about sales tax??? w/ regard to getting audited, I want to do the sales tax thing correctly.

If I were to charge $20 labor and simply sell the string at cost, would it even apply?

Also, what is the feasibility of mail order? I mean, Priority Mail is cheap and fast, so it seem like a good idea.

Skills-wise, I'm coming off of an 11-year retail stint where I stung somewhere around 10,000 rackets. I'll be grabbing some of my old clientele, which is in another state (MA), but I want to grow my biz closer to home (RI).

Thanks...

[ggtennis]

Sales tax laws may vary per state. In my state we do not have to charge sales tax on any service performed, but do have to charge tax on goods sold. My accountant advised me the best way to handle this is to invoice the customer for the cost of the string and stringing service separately. This is what we do.

We only charge customers our cost for the string, (with cost of shipping calculated into the cost). Following this model instead of the more accepted industry trend of doubling the cost of the string, we end up having to charge and collect the minimum amount of sales tax. Helps the customer save a few pennies...so why not? Some of the local retailers charge sales tax on the string and the service, so in those cases my customers are saving a couple of dollars. Because we are not doubling string costs, we have a higher than average labor charge. We charge $18.00 per racquet, but give discounts to juniors through our junior player development program. In the end our prices are in general $1.00 - $3.00 lower than local tennis retailers on most strings.

We also string and repair racquets via mail order. We have customers in several states, though overall it represents a small % of our business. We tend to get Power Angle racquets via mail order as well as customers who reside in some pretty rural areas and of course customers seeking our version of proportional stringing to help with tennis elbow. Priority Mail works well. Customer pays the cost of shipping to us. We pay the first $4 of return shipping and the customer pays the difference. Our mail is delivered each day between 2:00 - 3:00 and the when possible the racquet is strung and shipped back the same day prior to 5:30, but always shipped back the next morning if same day service is not possible. Either way the shipping time is generally not much longer, perhaps shorter, than the wait the customers would get at the big box retailers and the quality of the string job is most likely much better.

Good luck in your venture.

[gamby]

Good LORD, gg!!!

Thanks SO much for the thorough response. Just fantastic!

[Tim Strawn]

GAMBY--
Virginia tax laws are the same as John's so I have two separate charges for stringing--one for labor which is non-taxable and one for the product itself, which is taxable. This is also helpful for those instances when players provide their own string because you already have built in "labor only" items in your accounting system (I have several for various clients).

As for shipping I've been using USPS Priority Mail w/insurance on the GSS web site. The web site online software allows me to download the USPS shipping tables so the shipping charged to the customer is "real time" in terms of accuracy. I've programmed in a small handling charge as well as having the system automatically calculate insurance based on the retail value of the items sold. I use the USPS Desktop Post Office, figure the shipping and print the bar coded labels right off of my own system which saves me time.

Hope this is helpful
Tim Strawn

[ZxStringing]

hey i have a new buisness too, and im just a kid! here are a few tips:

1. Image is everything. you need to geta logo like mine
2. start cheap then get into stuff like natural gut

[westy]

that is a nice logo!! any tips on how to make one like yours?

[ZxStringing]

Hey westy, my last final is on wednesday, and so then if you want, I can make you one on Wednesday/:)

[westy]

wow that would be great!! im guessing "final" is an exam or something? im in UK and mine finished last week!

thanks again zxstringing! email me on ben_west1@hotmail.co.uk if you need anything to do with the logo!

[ZxStringing]

hey westy, yeah finals are justlike the last exam of the yearfor summer break. just email me the name of your company, what u want the logo to look like, etc. at my new email adress: zxstringing@gmail.com

[westy]

ive kind of managed to make one myself! i'm pretty happy with it! one question though, how do you get rid of the white around the cross section of the string, before putting it on your stringbed background?

thanks

[westy]

i have a question for all that have website advertising their stringing businesses. how do you ensure that people looking for a restring over the internet find your page? and how many extra rackets are you getting, say, per week?

[ZxStringing]

hey westy,,... i dont understand your question , anyway.... since i am changing the name and logo of my company, my new alaias will be Reel Big Stringing

[westy]

i have simply called mine BW Stringing, BW being for Ben West! maybe i will try to think up another name but my initials seem the easist way to go!

[ZxStringing]

ok here is my name and logo

[westy]

niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!! loving the colours!!!

[ZxStringing]

thanx

[lacrito]

Need help to decide between stringing machines
I saw the post of M0rgan77 where the first option is the gamma x-2 (the problem that I've read with this machine is the clmaps that are not so good and the strings slips sometimes at high tensions) second option the klippermate ( i Don't know the tension system [Fixed Cam Action Gripper] works probably it's easier to use the gamma), and finally I would like to ask if it would be better the silent partner swing (it says it has 6 point mounting) and the clamps are better than the gamma, I have never string before so I'm afraid of braking a frame or distortion it. Is it worthy the extra $50 dollars for the mounting system of the silent partner
Thanks