any advice on setting up an LFS store

[TheBloodyIrish]

Keep an agenda... don't expand too much. Someone's grandfather I know of used to run a birdhouse and seed store. He bankrupted himself by purchasing things people were not interested in -- like cards, antiques, collectibles, jewelries, etc. In businesses like LPS/LFS -- remember KISS is the key.

Most of your money is going to come from feeders. So look into live feeders as well as frozen and dry goods.

Get a business grant as well, so if you have to claim bankrupty, it won't be your lifesaving going down the drain.

 

[Red Devil]

Keep an agenda... don't expand too much. Someone's grandfather I know of used to run a birdhouse and seed store. He bankrupted himself by purchasing things people were not interested in -- like cards, antiques, collectibles, jewelries, etc. In businesses like LPS/LFS -- remember KISS is the key.

Most of your money is going to come from feeders. So look into live feeders as well as frozen and dry goods.

Get a business grant as well, so if you have to claim bankrupty, it won't be your lifesaving going down the drain.

You have mentioned two very important things.. thanks so much.. you have all have been very impressive with tips and knowledge.. great free advice right here..thanks.

 

[mike dunagan]

Here are a few things I have learned.

First find a person or two to help that you will pay well, but they know their stuff. Otherwise you will always be there, and once in awhile you will have to go pick up an order or something.

Keep it clean, people like fish, but many complants about stores is the smell and look. Have a good lay out that helps. Put all aggressive fish in one area and community in another. Sell salt water. i hate it, but it makes more money than fresh.

get to know your local clubs, and let them know you are around.

Try to buy from local breeders as well. You can offer a lower price since they need to get them out for other fish and you can make same profit and sell for less. Plus you will know where they come from...

 

[jus1time]

Theres a lfs here that is the same way. Knowledgeable & friendly,also sometimes you can bargain with him and he will reduce the price if your a regular. Also he will buy fish from you if you breed them. If you have fish that out grows your set up he will buy it back. These are some of the reasons i keep going back to him even though he costs a little more. Besides all that he has a great selection of fish, not just the regular ones,but gets a lot of the uncommon fish as well

 

[Red Devil]

wow all these tips of information are great thanks so much each and everyone for taking the time out to offer your advice.. i am really gettting excited and hope i have some definite plans soon

 

[12 Volt Man]

Most of your money is going to come from feeders

I disagree there...at least here in Canada.

during the summer months, you get lots of people buying feeders for ponds..

in the winter though, the sales rate drops right off - then you are just supplying the oscar and pirahana guys with weekly food

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

I disagree there...at least here in Canada.

during the summer months, you get lots of people buying feeders for ponds..

in the winter though, the sales rate drops right off - then you are just supplying the oscar and pirahana guys with weekly food

In case of feeder fish, I can see your point.

Eh, there is one fish store I knew of -- most of their money come from flake food, fish pellets, dog food, cat food, rabbit/rodent pellets, seeds, guppies, goldfish, minnows, crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, superworms/morio worms, earthworms, land snails, prawns, waxworms, horn worms, and a lot more that I cannot remember. Any feeder items you need, they had it for your pet.

Of course, they would sell other stuff on the side, but they only have them on the shelf when a costumer want them to order it in. For instance, the only time I ever seen UV sterilizers in their store was when their costumer placed an order -- so they figure they could buy a few for their inventory and hope it sell off.

 

[Red Devil]

I disagree there...at least here in Canada.

during the summer months, you get lots of people buying feeders for ponds..

in the winter though, the sales rate drops right off - then you are just supplying the oscar and pirahana guys with weekly food

i don't know if feeders would really be worth keeping all the time since they take up alot of tanks etc to breed them.. maybe a local person would be a good supplier.. mainly i want to have dry foods of all kinds on the shelves and have a suppy of crickets and meal worms on hand..

 

[Red Devil]

In case of feeder fish, I can see your point.

Eh, there is one fish store I know of -- most of their money come from flake food, fish pellets, dog food, cat food, rabbit/rodent pellets, seeds, guppies, goldfish, minnows, crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, superworms/morio worms, earthworms, land snails, prawns, waxworms, horn worms, and a lot more that I cannot remember.

wow that is a great list

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

i don't know if feeders would really be worth keeping all the time since they take up alot of tanks etc to breed them.. maybe a local person would be a good supplier.. mainly i want to have dry foods of all kinds on the shelves and have a suppy of crickets and meal worms on hand..

I think yourin case, you need to look for feeders that don't cost a lot to maintain. Mealworms and superworms are great ideas since they are easy to maintain, do fine at room temperature and a lot of people use them. I know sometimes I would use the mealworms to feed my backyard variety of robins and bluebirds.

Try looking into European Nightcrawlers and Red Wigglers too. Really easy to maintain and a fair amount of people buy them. I don't think the profit margin would be too great, but at least it is something supporting the income. Take a look at baitshops and "copy" them.