Self-service stores with boat equipment
Self-service stores with boat equipment – how the concept works
Alpina Marine Equipment has established a number of self-service stores with boat equipment at selected local harbors. Here you get an insight into the idea behind the concept and a guide on how your harbor can get its own self-service store.
Important terms you need to be aware of!
- All stores are video monitored and video surveillance is reviewed by staff.
- Cash payments are not accepted.
- Items purchased in self-service stores cannot be returned. If you wish to return an item, it must be delivered to our store in Næstved or sent to us. Contact us before returning an item.
- There may be deviations in the operation of the stores - for example, due to power outages or similar events.
- Your payment information is stored in our system. In case of theft or damage to property, inventory or products, the amount will be deducted from your credit card.
- Inventory may not always be accurate, and we cannot guarantee that items appearing as in stock on the webshop are actually in stock in the self-service stores.
The idea behind the concept
The idea isn't new to us. It stems from our own needs when working on boats in harbors or on sailing holidays and needing a spare part. We've been working on the concept for several years, and now technology has finally made it possible to implement it.
We all miss the local boat equipment store at the harbor – like in the "old days". But today, salaries, rents, high operating costs, and fierce online competition make it difficult to run traditional physical boat equipment stores profitably. We know this because we ourselves operate a physical store. That's why many stores close and continue solely as webshops.
In our opinion, a local self-service store at the harbor is a modern and practical alternative.
Availability – when you need something right now
A webshop isn't much help when you:
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drop a shackle in the water in the middle of preparation
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discover on your sailing holiday that the impeller is defective and the engine is overheating
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find out after rough weather that the pre-filter is clogged with diesel bug
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need the last bit of antifouling, an anode, or a paint roller on a Sunday evening
The self-service stores are open all day – including Sundays, public holidays, and throughout the summer. In other words: When you need boat equipment most, the store is open.
Unmanned – but never without support
The stores are unstaffed, but you're never alone.
We offer both technical support and product support by phone.
The stores are inspected approximately once a week in the low season and more frequently in the high season.
How to gain access
Sailors gain access by purchasing a product for 5 DKK on our webshop.
The reason for this being a purchase – and the price being exactly 5 DKK – is that it provides us with the necessary user information and thus higher security. The solution works for all nationalities and is therefore also ideal for guest sailors.
You can purchase access:
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by scanning the QR code on the door
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or by visiting the webshop directly
After purchase, you will receive a 6-digit access code via both email and SMS.
The code provides access to all our self-service stores until the end of the year – right up to December 31st.
Get access here: Access to self-service stores.
How to shop in the store
Watch the video below, where we show step by step how to make a purchase in the store.
The stores as a pickup location
If a product is not in stock at the store, it can easily be ordered on our webshop. Orders above a certain value are shipped free of charge and can be picked up at no extra cost in the local self-service store. In this way, the stores also function as a flexible and convenient pickup location for larger parts of our assortment.
Stock status – see what's on the shelves
On our webshop, you can always see the current stock status for each product. This provides a quick overview of whether the item is in stock at your local self-service store before you go there. This saves time and makes it easier to plan your purchases.
For marinas
In many Danish ports, the nearest boat equipment store is far away, which is why it can be attractive to have a self-service solution.
This helps both local members of the harbor/sailing club, but also provides more guest sailors.
It costs the port nothing to get a self-service solution. In fact, Alpina Marine Equipment typically pays a symbolic rent per year - typically 2-3,000 DKK.
The requirements are
- Preferably a minimum of 300 permanent residents
- Preferably a minimum of 5,000 guest nights
- Central and visible location
- Access to 230V
- Possibility of building permit
Alpina Marine Equipment is responsible for the dialogue with the municipality regarding building permits, etc. However, it is a requirement that urban/local plans allow for the possibility of creating a boat equipment store.
The shops measure 3 x 6 meters. The flat roof version is approximately 2.5 meters high and the gable roof version is approximately 3 meters high.
The shop stands on 15 pieces of 30 x 30 cement tiles. It is important that there is a flat surface, as the tiles must be placed level.
The stores have a basic assortment. It is possible to adjust the assortment beyond the basic assortment. There will also be variations depending on the season.
There are basically two types. One with a flat roof and anthracite/wood-coloured panels and one with a gable roof with roofing felt and wood-clad sides and gables. These can be painted red, green or black to match the appearance of the local harbour.
Enten fylder vi selv butikkerne eller har udliciteret til lokale. Vi har en ret præcis overvågning af varelager, så vi kan sørge for at der altid er varer på hylderne.
Assortment
You can see the stock status of all items in our webshop - both in our Flagship store in Næstved and in all local self-service stores.
You can always order items on our webshop either for delivery to a parcel shop or for home delivery. You can also choose to pick up at our Flagship store in Næstved or at one of the local self-service stores.
Der er ca. 2.000 varelinjer og varerne spænder over alt fra skrue, sjækler, pin-bolte, lak, maling, anoder, servicedele til motorer, klargøringsmaterialer og meget mere.
Self-service stores
It is quite easy to access our local self-service boating equipment stores. You are purchasing this product Access to harbor stores
You will then be sent a password via SMS and email. After a short time, you can use the code to lock yourself into the self-service stores. Your code is valid for all our local self-service stores and is valid for 1 year at a time.
Below you can watch a video about how to lock yourself into the stores, how to find the right items and how to pay.
If you wish to return a product, please contact Alpina Marine Equipment. Returns can be made by sending the product back or by dropping it off at our Flagship store in Næstved. Unfortunately, you cannot return products at the local self-service stores.
Our large physical boat equipment store is located at Bådebyggervej 1 in Næstved. You can see the self-service stores here: See the current harbor stores here.
We are working on expanding the self-service stores to cover all major ports.
We are working on expanding the number of stores to the Nordic countries and to the northern part of Europe.
We experience very little theft, but of course we have an advanced system to keep an eye on it.
To gain access to the stores, personal information is provided, which is logged along with information from our access control system and AI video surveillance. This is matched with our inventory information and any suspicious activity is passed on to the authorities. However, it is quite rare that we have to take such drastic steps.
Other
If you have any further questions or if you would like a local boat equipment store in your harbor, please contact us below.
Other questions?
If you have any other questions or if you would like to hear about the possibility of having a local self-service store near you, please contact us.