I just received this email from a subscriber:

I am a first-time retailer with a Fanmats cart in Tennessee (thanks in large part to information from your publication!) and I am looking to expand into a small in-line with some fairly specialized types of sports gear. 

Any resources you might be able to get to help me in "assessing" the possibility of moving to an in-line store would be greatly appreciated.  Specifically, do you know of a resource that gives typical or average sales numbers for small inlines?

I don't have any stats on the average sales of inline stores. This number would vary greatly based on types of products sold, merchandise and geographical region. I suggest you go to some of the local malls in your area and network with some of the store owners to get a feel for how they're doing. You can explain you're considering opening a store, and see if you can ask them a few basic questions. 

Here are a few you might consider posing to them:

1. How long have you been a retailer in this mall?
2. Have you been happy with your store sales?
3. Do you have additional locations outside of this mall, if so, how do your sales there to compare to this location?
4. Are you staying in '08?

Good luck in your venture!  Please keep me posted!