Will never forget Kentucky Saddle Shop that was in Louisville Ky on Bardstown road run by Louis Fintual (sp?)… he had anything made of leather, if he didn’t have it he would make it and you got to chose the hide from his inventory of hides. Then you could watch him cut it out, sew it together, dye the leather all the while he would tell you stories of the past
Just a wonderful old world shop that even to this days the smell of a good leather halter reminds me of the shop.
My area (Lexington KY) has a tack store where the upstairs is new tack and apparel, and the downstairs is all used tack. It gets a lot of traffic
A) because Lexington has a lot of horse people
B) it’s located near the KY Horse park where there are constant competitions
C) horse people always have tack that doesn’t fit anymore/isn’t useful for them, and who has time to sell stuff online? The used section is extremely popular and sets this store apart from others in the area
That’s exactly how I felt about The Saddler in Wilton, CT. They had tailors up on the second floor with all the britches and coats and fine things like stock pins. The tailors had a room full of bolts of different wool and silk fabrics, sewing machines and different coats and jackets in various stages of completion. I remember getting fitted for my first custom show coat. The tailors were all older gentlemen, but so fun to talk to. I think this a dyeing art now - if such a place still exists. I still have the coat. 
Market research is the next thing after a business plan. I can’t tell you how many tack shops have opened and subsequently disappeared in my area over the last 15 years. You have to offer exactly what the riding population in that area wants/needs, and then some. And sadly, established stores with 30 to 50 years in existence that went poof as well - just couldn’t compete with Dover or SLT, etc. So sad.
Shopping online is great, but it will never compare to walking into the likes of The Saddler, MJ Knouds of New York or similar places. At least I have memories of them. <sigh>
Maybe start a mobile tack shop that travels to shows or local barns. At other times, you could have it open “by appointment” if someone needs something they call you and you open up for them. If there are no other brick and mortar stores around, people will appreciate being able to get something when then need it vs. waiting for it to come in the mail. You could host “girls shopping days” or things like that as events.
This thread is six years old.
And darn, @olim2005 has not been around since the middle of 2024. It would be fun to hear if they did start a tack store.
Some of my happiest childhood memories. When I returned to riding after a long break, I visited a tack shop and was hit by that lovely, distinctive fragrance. Leather and fancy scented tack cleaner and all the rest. I could have cried. I felt
as though I had come home.
Are there a lot of horse shows in your area? What about buying a large(ish) pull behind enclosed trailer and making a small on the go tack shop in it? Maybe sell as much consignment or used equipment to keep prices down. When I showed there was a lady who had this kind of set up, though she has a mix of new and used items; I thought it was a good idea. If you did this and then found there was a need for a larger actual tack shop, then maybe a good idea to take the plunge.
Geez, six years later, venerable old Smith Worthington has been out of business for a few years. Both of the Amish shops in my area are out of it. The one that specialized in English is entirely gone because that man retired and nobody wanted to pick up that business. The larger shop that sold western tack including show and reining and trail saddles cleared out all of the tack except bare essentials like halters and stable supplies every horse owner needs, and a few utility western headstalls, cinches, and breastcollars. A few utilitarian buggy and work harnesses. He expanded his line of work boots and shoes, Amish hats, and such. And the second floor that used to be wall to wall saddles got converted to a big housewares market, That owner said he couldn’t make any money on it because buyers would buy a saddle, use it for a few shows, then return it saying it didn’t fit. Or they were buying on Amazon and other online places now. He still does repairs on saddles and tack, but no non-amish stuff during spring planting or fall harvest. The local horse show circuit is maybe 1/10 of the size it was back in the early '70s when all the area manufacturing facilities still existed and employed thousands. It’s a different world now.
I hate it when this happens. I was reading and then realized I had already liked one of the replies and was very confused. lol
It’s still a relevant topic to discuss.
I needed a new girth and friends told me the local tack store sold the brand I needed. It’s a 30 mile drive for me but I decided to support local instead of buying online. Guess what, the store doesn’t carry the brand I needed so I ended up buying it online. 
I’m not dishing on the local tack store because they can’t keep all brands in the store. I had bad “intel” and didn’t call the store first to confirm.
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