[R-390] [Glowbugs] Update on visit to SkyCraft Surplus and Parts - Orlando

[Tom Bridgers]

I had the same question about how does SkyCraft survive.  But here's what I observed.
 
Large numbers of buyers are in this store all the time during the week and they mob it on Saturdays.  Everytime I was in the store, there were at least 10 to 15 people exploring the store looking for parts.  During the week days that I was there, I noticed home owners and electrical contractors buying all manner of electrical items ... some priced at $25 to $100 each.  Which apparently was a lot cheaper than they could buy a Lowe's or Home Depot.  How do I know they were electrical contractors?  When I arrived and left, their panel trucks were in the parking lot!
 
On Saturday I arrived about 2pm and the place was like an ant hill.  There must have been 50 people scrounging around looking for parts.  About a third of those were clearly students looking for semiconductor and robotic type parts.  Another third were probably hams.  And another third we DIY home fixer uppers...  Now bear in mind that was 2 PM.  I'm guessing the crowds starting showing up when they opened up at 9 AM...  And on and on it goes all day long on Saturday.
 
Regarding SkyCraft's nut.  I imagine their rent is not too high.  They are not located in the high rent district.  Cutting the other way, though, is on Saturday, there must have been at least 5 or 6 (or more) sales people roaming the floor helping people find what they were looking for.  And the sales people were busy, busy, busy.  None of them were standing around chewing the fat....  It was very nice to have someone to turn to ask about things, but then I wondered how in the heck can they afford to pay these people?  Dunno.  One thing is for sure they didn't make much off of me or probably other hams.  So they must be making it off of the home owners and electrical contractors....  It's a puzzle for sure.
 
One other thing I noticed.  Behind the counter, just to the left, there was a guy on the computer the entire time I was there.  I'm guessing he was probably buying surplus from some source .... and maybe selling stuff to other buyers....  
 
Anyway, judging from the volume of people coming in ... and buying, SkyCraft is not going out of business anytime soon.
73,
-Tom

 


From: kargo_cult at msn.com
To: tetrode at googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Glowbugs] Update on visit to SkyCraft Surplus and Parts - Orlando
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:50:39 -0800





What I don't get is, how can these places stay in business selling small parts like that?
They have to crack a nut of several thousands of dollars a month in rent and wages,
even if both are below local market average. Maybe I shouldn't ask, because asking
breaks the spell. But I have seen so many surplus stores disappear after a few
seasons trying to make a formula I see as unworkable, work. Again, how can you
make a surplus store formula work by selling small parts??? -Hue Miller 
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