any advice on setting up an LFS store

[Red Devil]

open one that is not near petco or petsmart

I was thinking of one not too far away from a large fish,plant and livestock place ..only because it use to be a fish store and it is totally set up.. then again i am thinking maybe it should be in my little tiny town.. and just get the word out with advertising etc.. i travel pretty far for one that i like that has alot of unique fish and also high prices.. the thing is to let everyone know you exist. thanks

 

[cichlaguapote]

I also want to say it might not be a bad idea to be next to something like a petsmart if you have a good selection and better prices. I know I go to petsmart/petco at last choice and hit up the lfs in the same area first if there's one. Saying maybe conveiance to another store might bring in more customers but that's up for argument.

 

[Red Devil]

Do it...If you don't NEED to do it for a living, DO IT!!! You have everything going for you!!

maybeeeeee Miguel......... thanks !!

 

[Red Devil]

I also want to say it might not be a bad idea to be next to something like a petsmart if you have a good selection and better prices. I know I go to petsmart/petco at last choice and hit up the lfs in the same area first if there's one. Saying maybe conveiance to another store might bring in more customers but that's up for argument.

especially that you go into a petsmart..they have limited choice of fish.. good for people starting out.. but they do not have the high quality sought after type fish..even if i could only afford a little of this and that.. i would have to have as many different types as possible.. and maybe really get into breeding alot of my own too..

 

[Morledzep]

open one that is not near petco or petsmart

actually petsmart and petco employees reccommended the LFS that we go to the most.. told me i could find exactly what i was looking for there and the guys are helpful.. not even 1 block from a Petsmart.

they are good guys, but with business pracitices that leave a little to be desired. Can't beat the selection of food that they have though, kibble, flake, frozen, live.. they have it all and several brands and varieties of all of them.

 

[Red Devil]

actually petsmart and petco employees reccommended the LFS that we go to the most.. told me i could find exactly what i was looking for there and the guys are helpful.. not even 1 block from a Petsmart.

they are good guys, but with business pracitices that leave a little to be desired. Can't beat the selection of food that they have though, kibble, flake, frozen, live.. they have it all and several brands and varieties of all of them.

That is true too.. almost all the LFS places i went to never had the frozen foods on hand.. like the silversides etc.. you have to stock all that.. also i would go into the fish store that also sold birds.. and they would only sell one brand and one type of that.. i would buy it sometimes to hold me over but it was never really high quality that i normally feed my parrots.. so after being a customer and owner of several different types of pets and their needs i would definitly try to keep high qualtity foods.. of various size container.. because almost always the LFS would have this little itty bitty container that would feed a couple of my fish..like i had one 55gal tank.. but i needed jumbo cans..ps your dog is so cute!

 

[Miguel]

I can already figure it out:

LIZZ'S ODDBALLS, Inc[/B

In a country of free entreprise, entrepreneurship and, above all, DEMAND, like the states, I would not hesitate.

In Portugal you have what, 100 guys with Oddballs...10 crazy ones, 2 or 3 raving maniacs, Filiportela, myself and??

but stateside?? You just have to cater to the needs of NY State MFK'ers...Who' d have a better customer base for starters?

Go get them....

 

[Red Devil]

I can already figure it out:

LIZZ'S ODDBALLS, Inc[/B

In a country of free entreprise, entrepreneurship and, above all, DEMAND, like the states, I would not hesitate.

In Portugal you have what, 100 guys with Oddballs...10 crazy ones, 2 or 3 raving maniacs, Filiportela, myself and??

but stateside?? You just have to cater to the needs of NY State MFK'ers...Who' d have a better customer base for starters?

Go get them....

good name haha .. hope ODDBALL doesn't mind.. why do you keep making me laugh.. Theres nothing up here in the country MIguel but cows and horses and hay fields................................maybe a few fish keepers too.. when people hear NY they think tall buildings and a zillion cars.. my whole town Miquel you sneeze and pass through it.. i have to get people to travel from the cities.. .. but i know everyday someone can get interested and get hooked.. it is an addiction..and we have some long long winters up here where theres plenty of time to enjoy watching fish.........

 

[dr_sudz]

In regards a location, I know that here in canada where there are three differnt Big Al's outlets at two of the locations are small LFS one that is only marine, and the other is more generic but deals alot with exotics, and a few marine. The thing is Big Al's for instance draws people in but then they feel ripped by the staff because they are big box, and you end up getting people looking for better deals and advice. Being close to a Big Box store is not always a bad thing and in alot of ways is a great way to get noticed and have cheap advertising.

 

[Red Devil]

In regards a location, I know that here in canada where there are three differnt Big Al's outlets at two of the locations are small LFS one that is only marine, and the other is more generic but deals alot with exotics, and a few marine. The thing is Big Al's for instance draws people in but then they feel ripped by the staff because they are big box, and you end up getting people looking for better deals and advice. Being close to a Big Box store is not always a bad thing and in alot of ways is a great way to get noticed and have cheap advertising.

You know your stuff.......... thanks for all the tips.. very good advice from all of you and i really appreciate everything.. it is so good to have thoughts on something and possibilities ..but with the addition of all your imput i feel so much better.. after all we are the customer.. we know what we like and how we feel.. so thanks so much everyone..for giving me even more inspiration about this.. I think everything we do in life needs a strong foundation..once you have that in place building and adding the rest can only make things better..