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>
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