any advice on setting up an LFS store

[dr_sudz]

I was mentioned this to my wife and she had one other thing to kick in! You should have a Kid friendly area of the store where the kids can go look and do/see things without having the parents worried about the kids going where they can't see them. I was thinking if you encorperated it with the coffee area that would be cool.

 

[Red Devil]

I was mentioned this to my wife and she had one other thing to kick in! You should have a Kid friendly area of the store where the kids can go look and do/see things without having the parents worried about the kids going where they can't see them. I was thinking if you encorperated it with the coffee area that would be cool.

I thought about the coffee area and decided it would be a good idea in some instances and not in others.. people can claim to get burned from the coffee,and i think you need a license to sell beverages etc.. the kids could want to play or rough house near it..so that would not be safe either.. i think two chairs.. {comfy} with a beauitiful display tank or pond with water fall and new age soft music would be okay.. but once you get into serving the beverage{ even though i agree it would be a plus in most instances} it could be a problem in others... so if a couple comes in where one of them has a disability from walking or standing at least they will have a comfortable spot to sit and yet see all the tanks around them... also i would have some picture and info magazines on display.. but too much kid friendly would turn off other customers..but a comfortable chair where mom could sit with child while Dad looks would be great.. But i totally understand why a mom would suggest that.. it just isn't a good idea for all moms and kids.. some scream while playing etc and some kids are very capable of flinging some toy into a fish tank....haha and that would end up being a distraction to all..

 

[Wolf3101]

Having a good selection of informative videos running is another good way to inform and impress custmers. I've seen it used effectivly in one of the better LFS and we used it to good advantage when I was running a huge auto parts store. A pet peve of mine in most LFS as opposed to the big chains is tank labeling. I realize theres a rapid turn over and it's difficult to keep up but the more accurate information you can provide about the fish before you or other sales people get involved the smoother everything goes. This also makes your shop seem a lot more friendly and professional. Although we lack the resources at the moment and live in a very competitive market my wife an I would seriously like to be able to give it a shot ourselves. Who knows maybe after we have everything settled we might get the chance.

 

[Red Devil]

excellent that you mentioned the label on the tank of the fish and price..that aggrivates me too.. i want to look and see myself before i bother getting someones help.. and also you always have the feeling they are making up the price as they look at the customer.. good one!!

 

[sxcsamman]

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.

were i work we have a similar thing that people love we have a massive saltwater display tank and then we have a nice comfy couch so you can sit on the couch and watch the tank, theres a coffe table in the middle with some cookies/lollies and people love it some people sit there for hours just staring at the tank, haha the other day one lady was sitting the for almost an hour and a half than i had to informer her its closing time, she jumped up let out a few chose words and runs to quickly by wat she came in for

 

[Red Devil]

were i work we have a similar thing that people love we have a massive saltwater display tank and then we have a nice comfy couch so you can sit on the couch and watch the tank, theres a coffe table in the middle with some cookies/lollies and people love it some people sit there for hours just staring at the tank, haha the other day one lady was sitting the for almost an hour and a half than i had to informer her its closing time, she jumped up let out a few chose words and runs to quickly by wat she came in for

funny... sounds like a great store...

 

[dovii88]

from working at a lfs for about 3 years..just dont be an *******, keep a quality product..clean store, have a staff that nows wats goin on...and keep your prices fairly reasonable..and dnt be afraid to think outside the box everyone likes something diffferent and fun..

 

[xEchOx]

My observations are that owning a LFS is fiscally risky business--at least in small rural towns. If you took the monthly overhead and added in the minimal amount you need to be paid to make it worth your while, and divided the total by the days in a month the shop is open, you would have the minimal amount of sales each day you would need to survive. I think a person could very quickly become very desperate to make any kind of a sale, if that's what it took to keep the business from going under. If a person were financially independent, and didn't mind putting money into the business every month (sort of as a hobby), owning an LFS could be "fun". But if a person had that kind of money, why not just keep all those fish at home as pets. You could always sell or give away fish to your friends.

Liz, I'm sorry to sound so negative, but this is my observation. Anyone opening a LFS in my area will not succeed. All others have tried and failed. The only one we have in the surrounding 35 miles is struggling badly. The last time I was there, his tanks were filthy, and he had a major algae problem taking over many of his tanks....It's really sad watching someone's life dream slowly turn into a nightmare.....

I'm going to have to agree with Pacu Mom. The turnover rate of fish is not good. That is why there are very few 'exotic' fish stores up and running. It is expensive to order a dozen EBJD's, and lose 4 in transit, and 3 to the new environment. Same with discus etc. I love the idea, but I've always heard mixing business with pleasure isn't a great idea.

I have often wondered though if a combination of stores were made... Say some type of food place... This would bring more customers in, and would help with advertising. Word of mouth is the quickest they say. You could have half the store setup to sell fish etc. and other products, and in the middle you could setup your display tanks so that people could eat, and enjoy the aros or pacus, or discus, or whatever. Maybe just make a wall between the two stores a couple of in-wall tanks? I don't know. Crazy idea, but IMO you need all the help you can get if you want to be successful selling fish.

I admire your heart, and I hope if you do infact decide to go through with it, that it does work out.

Matt.

 

[Red Devil]

from working at a lfs for about 3 years..just dont be an *******, keep a quality product..clean store, have a staff that nows wats goin on...and keep your prices fairly reasonable..and dnt be afraid to think outside the box everyone likes something diffferent and fun..

very smart.. and totally agree..

 

[Red Devil]

I'm going to have to agree with Pacu Mom. The turnover rate of fish is not good. That is why there are very few 'exotic' fish stores up and running. It is expensive to order a dozen EBJD's, and lose 4 in transit, and 3 to the new environment. Same with discus etc. I love the idea, but I've always heard mixing business with pleasure isn't a great idea.

I have often wondered though if a combination of stores were made... Say some type of food place... This would bring more customers in, and would help with advertising. Word of mouth is the quickest they say. You could have half the store setup to sell fish etc. and other products, and in the middle you could setup your display tanks so that people could eat, and enjoy the aros or pacus, or discus, or whatever. Maybe just make a wall between the two stores a couple of in-wall tanks? I don't know. Crazy idea, but IMO you need all the help you can get if you want to be successful selling fish.

I admire your heart, and I hope if you do infact decide to go through with it, that it does work out.

Matt.

Thank you so much Matt... i was thinking maybe some artifacts from fish/sea/boat related to sell.... like some antiques and collectibles that are fish and fish room/ and garden related items.. i know you and pacu mom made many good points.. facing facts i see alot of good businesses fail.. but you know you never know until you try.. but when you make the decision to try you must give it 100% effort.. and thats the part i am thinking about thanks!!!!