any advice on setting up an LFS store

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
bryan.olsen;927995; said:
:headbang2 theres one by my place thats how you described...

if i could give any advice, always remember that your not in it to be rich...face it, if you were youd probably be doin somthing else. you are in it for the hobby if you keep that in mind i think that suggestion made by VFC will be more obtainable.
goodluck i think its a dying hope thanks to big box corperate places going up all around the world. we need these little places to fight back:headbang2
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you are so right.. we need to fight back.. these LFS stores lack the knowledge and warmth and display as far as i am concerned.. but of course they can sell very cheap {also cheap quality at big quantity.. yes definitly this is not a get rich quick business...just holding your own is okay with me and enough to keep good quality stock.. thats why you must earn a reputation and not expect that you will be a success until you do earn that reputation.. thanks for the tips.......;)
 
You want to open one? Liz
 
santoury;928659; said:
You want to open one? Liz
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tossing it around... no definite plans yet.. our son and his wife were thinking of making it into a family business.. they live out of state so it would be after they are relocated to live near us.. so a big maybe ..but starting to get ideas and plans..........
 
Do it...If you don't NEED to do it for a living, DO IT!!! You have everything going for you!!
 
Always remeber to count your costs, You would hate to start something and then not have enough money to get it off the ground. The nice thing is that you can get overseas suppliers pretty easy these days, as long as you meet the min money requirement they don't care. Keep things that people really want as regular staples, but draw in the hobbiest with exotic fish for those who are ready for the next level. The hardest bit is getting people to get into your store, one thing that you can take from a store like Big Al's is that they use the shark tanks as a draw to get people into the store. Have some mind blowing aqarium set ups that you can get the really amazing looking exotic fish so when people come in they feel like they are dealing with not just a store but a public aqurium. Along with what everyone else is saying about being friendly and not just selling for the sake of selling. Trust is something many people will not find anywhere else, its sad to think that could make your store very unique. Also try to get other business to join with you such as aquarium maintinance guys they will praise your store to their clients and have them go to you if they know they get great stuff. Umm I am not sure what else I can say right now but one thing that is poping into my head is have a coffee area where people can come in for a coffee and sit and enjoy your fish. I don't know how that could work but its a thought.
 
dr_sudz;928758; said:
Always remeber to count your costs, You would hate to start something and then not have enough money to get it off the ground. The nice thing is that you can get overseas suppliers pretty easy these days, as long as you meet the min money requirement they don't care. Keep things that people really want as regular staples, but draw in the hobbiest with exotic fish for those who are ready for the next level. The hardest bit is getting people to get into your store, one thing that you can take from a store like Big Al's is that they use the shark tanks as a draw to get people into the store. Have some mind blowing aqarium set ups that you can get the really amazing looking exotic fish so when people come in they feel like they are dealing with not just a store but a public aqurium. Along with what everyone else is saying about being friendly and not just selling for the sake of selling. Trust is something many people will not find anywhere else, its sad to think that could make your store very unique. Also try to get other business to join with you such as aquarium maintinance guys they will praise your store to their clients and have them go to you if they know they get great stuff. Umm I am not sure what else I can say right now but one thing that is poping into my head is have a coffee area where people can come in for a coffee and sit and enjoy your fish. I don't know how that could work but its a thought.
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your terrific with thoughts and ideas and i love the part about the sitting area.. maybe a real tropical sitting area with outdoor {indoor pond with water fall and plants and even a little low music.. ahhhhh that would be awesome so they would come in and feel the atmosphere and feel like they are in the tropics with all the unique tanks surrounding them..perfect.. you should have a fish store DR. :grinno:
 
IMO(and that's all any are giving)

Start with a nice clean well laid out store. Lots of selection, good prices, knowledgable overall on all setups including salt if you stock it but not overpowering to new customers(you're pretty good with being nice).

We have a local store that just opened. Clean/new store but the woman is on an ego trip thinking she knows everything about fish and other animals. For the average customer she has a decent layout but she sells fish but no supplys and just her attitude is enough to turn you off.

I think you need to stock whatever the majority consumers want and not what you like to keep as well. And if you can get special order fish for people definately make sure that's known.
 
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