As more gun shops move online, finding the right eCommerce platform is critical to running a successful business. Make Ready Arms stands out by offering a platform specifically built for firearms retailers. Whether you’re selling firearms as a licensed dealer or focusing on accessories, Make Ready Arms provides everything you need to run a professional online store.
What makes Make Ready Arms a top choice is its firearm-specific features, including an FFL Finder for legal transfers, drop shipping integrations with major distributors, and firearms-friendly credit processing. The platform is designed to handle all aspects of your business, from inventory management to automatic order fulfillment. It offers an all-in-one solution that ensures your store operates smoothly and securely. With these powerful tools, Make Ready Arms helps gun shops expand their reach online and sell more efficiently. In this article, we’ll explore why it’s the best website platform for gun retailers.
Why Make Ready ArmS Stands Out
Specialized Platform for Firearms Retailers
Make Ready Arms (MRA) is not just another generic eCommerce platform; it is designed specifically for the firearms industry, catering to both gun shops and Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders. While many eCommerce solutions offer basic features like product listings, payment processing, and inventory management, they often fall short when it comes to the unique needs of firearm sales. MRA, on the other hand, builds its platform around those needs, offering a specialized solution that simplifies legal compliance and retail operations.
For instance, the platform integrates features like the A/D book, a crucial tool for tracking firearm acquisitions and dispositions in accordance with federal regulations. This feature alone saves retailers time and reduces errors by automating much of the manual work required to maintain compliance. Additionally, MRA includes an FFL Finder, which helps customers locate licensed dealers for firearm transfers. This makes the purchasing process smoother and ensures that all sales comply with federal law, providing an extra layer of trust and security for both the seller and the buyer.
Firearms-Friendly Credit Processing
One of the major challenges that firearm retailers face is processing payments. Many mainstream payment processors, such as PayPal and Stripe, refuse to handle transactions related to firearms or ammunition, making it difficult for retailers to manage online sales. This creates significant roadblocks for gun shops trying to operate in the digital space.
Make Ready Arms offers a firearms-friendly credit processing solution designed to overcome this challenge. By partnering with payment processors that specialize in handling firearm-related transactions, MRA ensures that retailers can securely process payments without fear of being blocked or restricted. This is especially important for maintaining consistent cash flow and keeping operations running smoothly. With MRA, businesses don’t have to worry about disruptions in payment processing, and they can focus on growing their online presence while staying fully compliant with industry regulations.
These specialized features make MRA the ideal platform for firearm retailers who need a dependable, compliant, and efficient eCommerce solution tailored specifically to their industry.
eCommerce Features Tailored for Gun Shops
Customizable Online Storefronts
One of the standout features of Make Ready Arms is its highly customizable online storefronts. The platform offers a drag-and-drop interface, which allows gun shop owners to design their website easily without needing any coding skills. With over 2,000 customizable templates, MRA provides flexibility in creating a unique online presence that aligns with a business’s brand and style. Whether you want to highlight your inventory, create product banners, or feature special promotions, the system makes it simple to adjust the layout to suit your needs.
The storefronts are also mobile-friendly, meaning they are optimized for users who shop from their phones or tablets. This is essential for modern eCommerce, as more customers are browsing and buying products on mobile devices. The ease of setting up a professional-looking store without needing technical expertise makes MRA a perfect choice for businesses of all sizes, from small shops to large-scale operations.
Inventory Management and Distributor Integrations
Make Ready Arms excels in inventory management, particularly when it comes to integrating with distributors. The platform connects with over 180 distributors, including industry leaders like RSR Group and Zanders, ensuring that gun shop owners can sync their inventory in real time. This integration allows businesses to automatically update stock levels, pricing, and product details, reducing the manual work often associated with managing large inventories.
In addition to syncing distributor inventory, MRA gives retailers the ability to customize product listings. You can set your own pricing rules, categorize products for better organization, and filter items by brand, SKU, or category. This makes it easy to manage products from multiple suppliers, ensuring that your online store remains accurate and up to date. These features are particularly useful for shops that sell a wide variety of firearms and accessories, allowing them to maintain control over their entire product lineup effortlessly.
Automation and Efficiency
Automated Order Processing and Fulfillment
Make Ready Arms simplifies the order fulfillment process through automation, making it easier for gun shops to manage daily operations. One of the key features is automated order processing, where orders can be processed without manual intervention. This includes drop shipping, which allows products like firearms accessories to be shipped directly to customers. For firearms, they can be sent directly to an FFL (Federal Firearms License) location for proper handling and legal compliance. This eliminates the need for businesses to manage inventory or deal with double shipping costs, streamlining the entire fulfillment process.
In addition, Make Ready Arms offers automatic tracking updates, meaning the system sends tracking information to customers as soon as their orders are shipped. This ensures that both the retailer and the customer stay informed without the need for constant communication. The platform also includes intelligent order routing, which ensures orders are sent to the correct distributor or shipping partner based on inventory levels, helping businesses optimize fulfillment and minimize shipping times.
Built-In Marketing Tools
To help drive customer engagement and boost sales, Make Ready Arms includes a variety of built-in marketing tools. One notable feature is abandoned cart recovery, which automatically sends emails to customers who leave items in their cart without completing the purchase. This tool increases the chances of converting those potential sales.
The platform also offers the ability to create custom banners for special promotions or product highlights, making it easy to feature key items on the storefront. Additionally, email newsletters allow businesses to maintain regular communication with their customers, keeping them informed of new products, deals, and updates. These marketing features not only enhance the customer experience but also help businesses maximize sales and build stronger customer relationships.
Utilizing WordPress
In addition to its specialized eCommerce platform, Make Ready Arms offers an option for retailers who prefer the versatility and flexibility of WordPress. By leveraging WordPress, Make Ready Arms delivers custom-built websites that combine the power of open-source technology with firearm-specific features. This approach allows gun shop owners to take advantage of WordPress’s robust content management system (CMS) while benefiting from the compliance and security tools that Make Ready Arms is known for.
The process begins with building a fully customizable website using WordPress’s vast library of themes and plugins, ensuring that each site reflects the unique branding and needs of the retailer. Make Ready Arms enhances these websites by integrating firearm-specific functionalities like inventory management, payment gateways designed for firearms sales, and legal compliance tools such as the A/D Book and FFL Finder.
Using WordPress also allows for seamless scalability. As a gun shop’s inventory grows or its customer base expands, the website can easily adapt, thanks to WordPress’s flexible architecture. Whether you’re a small shop or a large-scale retailer, Make Ready Arms ensures that your WordPress site remains functional, secure, and fully optimized for firearms sales.
By building websites on WordPress, Make Ready Arms provides gun retailers with a user-friendly, powerful platform that combines the best of both worlds: the customizability of WordPress and the firearm-specific features needed for legal and efficient online operations.
Security and Compliance
Make Ready Arms places a strong emphasis on ensuring a secure shopping experience for both firearm retailers and their customers. One of the main ways it achieves this is through SSL encryption, which protects sensitive customer information during transactions. By encrypting data, SSL prevents unauthorized access to credit card information, personal details, and other critical data shared during the checkout process. This gives both the business and the customer peace of mind that their information is safe from cyber threats.
In addition to SSL encryption, Make Ready Arms integrates fraud prevention tools like MiniFraud, which adds an extra layer of security. MiniFraud analyzes transactions to detect and prevent fraudulent activities before they are processed. This helps reduce the risk of chargebacks and protects businesses from potential financial losses due to fraud. These features work together to ensure that online transactions are both secure and efficient.
Beyond security, compliance with federal firearms regulations is a crucial aspect of selling firearms online. Make Ready Arms simplifies this process through features like the A/D Book. This tool allows gun retailers to accurately track the acquisition and disposition of firearms, a legal requirement for FFL holders. Automating this process reduces the likelihood of errors and saves time, as manual record-keeping can be labor-intensive and prone to mistakes.
Another important compliance feature is the FFL Finder, which ensures firearms are transferred legally and safely. This tool allows customers to locate an FFL dealer for firearm transfers, ensuring that every sale complies with federal laws. By integrating these compliance-focused features, Make Ready Arms makes it easier for gun retailers to follow the necessary regulations while streamlining operations, giving businesses confidence that they are operating within legal boundaries.
