Your archery customers would love the chance to test fixed-blade broadhead flight on their own, but they don’t want to spend a small fortune on five (or more) different three-packs to determine which brand/model works best from their bow. Because of this dilemma, many bowhunters simply purchase mechanicals, even though the marketing hype of “mechanicals fly exactly like field points” isn’t always true.

Here’s where your archery shop can set itself apart from the big retailers and online competitors. Choose your favorite half dozen fixed-blade broadhead brands, then open the three-packs and build three test kits (six heads per kit). Most shooters will want to try 100-grain fixed-blade broadheads, but understand there is a push now for heavier heads due to popular YouTube bowhunting personalities toting the advantages of high FOC (front of center) numbers. For that reason, be sure to have 125-grain fixed-blade broadhead test kits, too.

Some mechanicals could be included in a broadhead variety test pack, but only if they don’t require a blade-retention rubber band or similar device that’s destroyed with each shot.

Place the fixed-blade broadhead test kits in an expensive but effective broadhead case. MTM Case-Gard, G5 Outdoors and other companies make cases ideal for this application.

Fixed-blade broadheads fly the same regardless of whether they’re sharp or dull, provided the ferrule is straight and the tip isn’t bent or smashed. Will customers damage or loose test broadheads? Sure. For that reason, it makes sense to require they leave a deposit.

Example: Let’s say you have a test kit with six 100-grain fixed-blade broadheads. Require the customer pay $80 to sign out the test kit for one week. Why so much money? To discourage dishonest bowhunters (the type who steal trail cams) from walking out of your store with the variety six-pack with a plan of sharpening them for hunting season. 

When a customer brings back the test kit, with all six broadheads in decent shape (if you wish, take a pic when they sign out the kit), he or she can use the $80 as credit toward the purchase of whichever brand/model performed best. Make it clear from the start that the test program requires they use the $80 as credit toward purchasing new broadheads, which will mean at least a couple three-packs. Of course, if you have a customer you know well, you can lower the rental fee to whatever you wish.

Note: If a customer doesn’t have a topnotch portable broadhead target, then this is the perfect time to sell them one. After all, they should be practicing during bowhunting season with broadheads to ensure they’re on target when a big buck or bull steps into their shooting lane.

Depending on the size of your archery shop, offering three fixed-blade broadhead test kits (six broadheads per kit) is a good start. If you promote this rental service, you might want to double it to six broadhead test kits.

Your customers will appreciate this service. Is it a bit of a hassle? Sure. But in the end, you’ll sell more fixed-blade broadheads, please more customers, and ensure they are shooting heads that fly best from their bows.