Europa Sports hands down, best company to get bodybuilding products from. Charge what you like and they'll dropship it to the location. Volume discounts are even better.
Even say so, I'll be honest and say that I lost a lot of money last year on nutritional supplements simply because bb.com has everything on lockdown which left folks like me lunging for scraps. Because of it, I had to change my business model and will be doing like Chris Mason did with my own private label.
Unless you plan to open a storefront, I would not even bother
I own a few retail nutrition stores (franchises). The business is good business and it depends on your location. Starting retail nutrition stores from scratch is very hard work. Private label is good for small stuff: Liquids and Vitamins. You dont want to dare try to private label protein or anything else. The margins are too slim and the investment is high for any kind of worthy return. Yes Europa is a good supplier but expensive!!!! Try some of your local distributors: 99% of the time they will beat the national distributors: Boss, Europa ect ect.
If you are serious about getting into the Nutrition Retail business make sure you have these things in place:
Good Location-Next to a major gym
Good Staff-Your people need to know and look the part!!!
Realistic Pricing-remeber you have tons of competition out there.
Inventory-Always over stock your top selling products!!!!
Every City will differ in your competition. My advice is go with a established franchise. It is too difficult to try and rely on 3rd party companies: BSN, Muscletech ect ect... Remember your market for this stuff is the 18-30 age bracket. Your customers that are looking for NO Xplode want the best price!!!!
Doesnt matter what the relationship is. Why pay $60.00 at your store when they can get it online for $29.99-your cost most of the time.
The reason you want to go with a Franshise is for the private label. Your private label is your equity! they can only buy it at your store and you are protected by territory rights. One if my stores is surrounded by mom and pop non franshise retail stores. They sell Muscle Milk, BSN and Muscle Tech. What do I do??? I sell all the stuff they focus on for a couple of bucks over what I pay for it.
They will come to my store and save money on NO Xplode but guess what? They will buy my Protein, Glutamine, Liquid Multi, MRP and everyother thing I offer from my private label. I have closed down stores because of this. My stores are based in the one of the fastest growing regions in southern california. I also private label my own pro-hormones. That is good business also.
You want to maintain at least 60% margin on your private label and you will. It will be higher with Vitamins. Your Margins on Pro-Hormones and Ephedra is anywhere from 60-90% depending on how you buy. But be smart. At first you are going to want to carry everything new that comes out.
Bad Move: Its impossible to keep up with the market. Companies come up with new bullshit every quarter to try and win back business. Dont play this game.
Here is a breakdown of your options:
GNC-Expensive and alot of corporate bullshit. You are forced to order products and tons of stuff expires: Your margins are 40%-60% tops and guess what: No Ephedra or Pro Hormones=Your money makers.
Positive: Brand Recognition and total over all sales. GNC's normally have more walk in customers that any other franchise nutrition store.
Max Muscle-Also faily expensive but the private label is bar none the best in the business. Also, you can carry Ephedra and every Pro-Hormone on the planet. Your Profit per customer will be the best! Try to buy a legacy Max Muscle and remodel it and grow the business. I did this with a few in my area. I bought one store for 40k cash and could sell it for 400k easy!!!
Nutrishop-Very Inexpensive to start up but your success is in the air. Problem with this corporation is there is no product loyalty. They do not advertise anywhere and they have no involvement what soever in the fitness industry. They sponsor no one and you wouldnt know they existed unless you happened to see it driving to the gym. Tons of these stores are closing!!! Their private label copies max muscle to the T and its obvious!!! They have a more mainsteam approach and their stores look great but they are lacking on the product. The company itselfs needs to re-invest the money into the name instead of putting it into their pockets.
Feel free to Im me if you have any questions.
