Business plans/ideas for Aquarium Shop

[mshill90]

I have really been dreading my job, as it's mindless and not something I see as a career.

I have been doing TONS of studying on all different types of freshwater fish, diets, environments, how to keep them etc... I do plan on one day working with salt water as well.

I live in Central Pennsylvania, and in my area, the only stores are Petco, Petsmart, and a Pet store that has a very bad reputation for puppy mill dogs, and animal abuse. None of them have decent fish, or fish out of the ordinary...

We have The Pet Place about 45 minutes away, but their prices are a bit outrageous..

So, I have been debating opening an aquarium store. Selling fish, taking in fish, cleaning tanks, repairing tanks, giving correct advice... and not selling fish to just anyone to make a quick buck.

There are a lot of retail shopping strip type places for rent, as well as a mall that would even let us have a store open.

I'm completely new to the business scene... so what I want to know is if you could have an aquarium shop/store, or if you were to visit one, what would you expect?

All advice is welcomed! Please no flaming.

 

[GarNiac]

maybe you could do lots of monster fishes at the front display tank, just to get people's attention when they passing by. Some big tanks too. Maybe put a monsterfishkeeper sticker too, a big sticker!
And lots of smile also..

 

[knifegill]

Definitely make a regular habit of scouting out other pet stores and carrying better versions of what they offer as well as selling anything paying customers ask about. The biggest failure in my area is that we have like 15 fish stores within an hour's drive and the overlap of available species is enough to make any person puke. When I walk into a shop I want to know what they offer that the other stores don't. And usually it's a good thing when it's not the same five strains of angelfish, BN plecos, gouramies and discus. I would carry and probably spawn varieties that aren't common but are pretty and good for most tanks like oddball cichlids and wild caught true freaks like trispinosus and anableps and smaller gudgeons, gobies and even natives that people just haven't been made aware of. You know, those fish that you call your friends about just in case they wanted to know it was for sale.

And, as much as I hate to say it, you'll turn a better dime with medium-sized species that you can easily house rather than monsters you'll never sell. I don't know your area, but around here there are way too many returned Oscars and common plecos. I get the impression that most of them are euthanized after a few months. I'd make problem species like that more of a special order item and instead steer people toward more manageable equivalents like Sunfish, medium-sized cichlids and hardy smaller plecos like L200 which you'd likely have in the shop for sale.

 

[JK47]

I will never work in anything related to my hobby. IMO one kills the other. People have good intentions, good intentions don't pay overhead. If there is not a great supply/demand of fish shops around, there is not a great demand market for cleaning, setups to maintain etc... If you create the demand market, you may have to be the guy to give terrible advice to sell 10,000+ neon tetras to keep the shop open. No one wants to be "that guy".

 

[mshill90]

I will never work in anything related to my hobby. IMO one kills the other. People have good intentions, good intentions don't pay overhead. If there is not a great supply/demand of fish shops around, there is not a great demand market for cleaning, setups to maintain etc... If you create the demand market, you may have to be the guy to give terrible advice to sell 10,000+ neon tetras to keep the shop open. No one wants to be "that guy".

There does seem to be a good demand for fish services in this area, especially pond services (which is more my thing)-- it's just the chain stores can't really order fish for you, and the other store I was talking about will order you a fish in, but it's more than you would pay anywhere else; even if you ordered them online and paid shipping--

I can see where you think that the hobby/business thing wouldn't work- but I can always give it a try... I was thinking about starting small, and just turning my basement into a fish "room", and getting some breeding going on, and just get information out there, and see how word of mouth, and advertising gets me.

I've also had a dream of successfully breeding clown loaches, butttttt.... that's another day. haha.

 

[calpoly12]

make your store something out of the ordinary, something that kids will ask their parents to take them to just so they can see the fish. Most parents wont mind taking their kids to a place if it makes the kids happy and odds are that they will buy something when they come in. Ya rows of tanks are cool, but designing it to have a little "personality" wouldnt hurt even if you have to sacrifice a little tank space. This is what happened to two basically identical lfs in my area. both in great locations, but one was just interesting to go into and look at the store itself, the fish were an added bonus. long story short the plain lfs went out even with great employees who knew their stuff..food for thought

 

[mshill90]

Definitely make a regular habit of scouting out other pet stores and carrying better versions of what they offer as well as selling anything paying customers ask about. The biggest failure in my area is that we have like 15 fish stores within an hour's drive and the overlap of available species is enough to make any person puke. When I walk into a shop I want to know what they offer that the other stores don't. And usually it's a good thing when it's not the same five strains of angelfish, BN plecos, gouramies and discus. I would carry and probably spawn varieties that aren't common but are pretty and good for most tanks like oddball cichlids and wild caught true freaks like trispinosus and anableps and smaller gudgeons, gobies and even natives that people just haven't been made aware of. You know, those fish that you call your friends about just in case they wanted to know it was for sale.

And, as much as I hate to say it, you'll turn a better dime with medium-sized species that you can easily house rather than monsters you'll never sell. I don't know your area, but around here there are way too many returned Oscars and common plecos. I get the impression that most of them are euthanized after a few months. I'd make problem species like that more of a special order item and instead steer people toward more manageable equivalents like Sunfish, medium-sized cichlids and hardy smaller plecos like L200 which you'd likely have in the shop for sale.

I really love Eartheaters.. they are easy to breed, and the different varieties are beautiful.

I also like Fronts, and I am getting some different sources together to start some breeding with them soon.

I would NEVER EVER sell someone an oscar. ugh, I know some people love them, but I just can't.. I tried... he got rehomed a week later.

Common plecos are ok.. they are too common, and get too big.. poop machines is all they are. haha..

I would keep the small colorful cichlids (mostly africans)- And do larger SA cichlids, like Jags, Severums etc... I would also steer clear from Jack Dempseys-- they are a dime a dozen.

I would do some common fish... like the BN plecos, because they are still interesting..

I plan on making some indoor "ponds" to sell koi/goldfish- I would love to have a ray tank.. I really want to have a window front display tank with lots of plants, and discus or other cool fish...

I've got lots of ideas, and the advice definitely helps!

I would also like to have workshops on tank care, pond care, and things for kids.

 

[JK47]

There does seem to be a good demand for fish services in this area, especially pond services (which is more my thing)-- it's just the chain stores can't really order fish for you, and the other store I was talking about will order you a fish in, but it's more than you would pay anywhere else; even if you ordered them online and paid shipping--

I can see where you think that the hobby/business thing wouldn't work- but I can always give it a try... I was thinking about starting small, and just turning my basement into a fish "room", and getting some breeding going on, and just get information out there, and see how word of mouth, and advertising gets me.

I've also had a dream of successfully breeding clown loaches, butttttt.... that's another day. haha.

I keep and breed eartheaters. That is my hobby and I love it, it's very rewarding. I am just saying that I could never mix the two. I am also the type that has little moderation capabilities so if you can, more power to you and I wish you the best. I have thought of it many times and for example, the thought of cleaning tanks by day, means I would probably not touch and neglect mine at night (for example, most mechanics drive crappy cars). I think it's more about the person than anything. I will say that I would shop and spend a mark up price all day long to an MFK member that had good intentions. I wish there was one in my area. Honestly, if you can and want to, go for it! I would help out at a place like that, free any day.

 

[Cookie*]

Having dog and cat foods/toys will help pay the bills. Whenever I hit a pet store, it is for fish and pet treats. If I go specifically for treats, I always browse the fish. Having quality tanks and fish, you could draw the cat/dog owners into the fish, even if to just look. Word of mouth goes a long way in business.

 

[SCGeordie]

I've thought/daydreamed about this myself as, after 25 years of 'fixing' peoples computer problems, I'm getting pretty sick of hearing some of them whine!

The 'wow factor' I came up with is an acrylic 'tunnel-tank', the customer walks through the door right into the 'tunnel', fish above, below and on both sides, it would certainly bring people in, of course the cost of setting something like that up would probably mean I'd be bankrupt in 6 months!