Business plans/ideas for Aquarium Shop
- Thread starter mshill90
- Start date
nes999;4690277; said:
Eh, I can agree with you to a point, but it also depends on the area I am going to be located...
There are some really great traffic spots that I've found.
But big tank displays will wait until I find a place obviously to see what's available.
Study hard and make a solid business plan. You know your area and market better than we do. If this is a dream of yours, do it. You definitely don't want to look back on your life with a big "What IF" staring back at you. Just don't go in blindly. Take small calculated steps and with each quarter of success improve your store and business plan. Having an eye-appealing store, varied stock, and a strong resolve will bring growth to your business. Like others have mentioned, you should offer the bread and butter items and stock for dependable income. Having a few exotic tanks will keep the true hobbyist coming. Before long, word of mouth and a solid reputation will make your LFS stand out above the rest. Above all else, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. When you think like that you have already failed. Good luck to you and your new venture.
I haven't read the whole thread so if this is a repeat sorry; but, you are unlikely to have a successfull business selling just what you like. If you refuse to carry Oscars, everytime someone comes in to buy one they will leave your store disappointed and go to your competitor and give them the sale. Most likely they will keep going back to the store that had what they wanted. You have to sell what the public wants or you are just paying rent to have a huge open to the public fish room.mshill90;4687815; said:
Danger_Chicken;4690378; said:
The only things in my store you won't find are Oscars, common plecos, pacus-- the typical ones people think that can live their entire life in a 55.. If they want to give Petco that sale, they can drive right over. I'm not gonna be the sucker who gives him a fish and then he releases it in a river because it's too big.
You'll really want to do a good amount of research before stocking african cichlids. They have an even narrower slice of the aquarist pie than catfish. There will always be a few people with serious interest in them but the majority of aquarists that I know either outgrow them into more interesting types of fish or get bored with them and just revert to sloppy community tanks of livebearers.
Definitely attend a few local aquarium club meetings to have your ear to the ground on trends. Talk with other shop owners to keep the competition friendly. Even your competitors are fellow fishkeepers most/all of the time so the camaraderie usually outweighs the business battles in the end. I'm sure some circles get vicious but what's the point?
*For the Oscar situation, you could keep a little booklet with pictures of different oscar types and wild localities and let the customer choose the exact oscar they want while you make sure they understand what they are getting themselves into. Then have it shipped in with an order of other fish and everybody should be happy.
Definitely attend a few local aquarium club meetings to have your ear to the ground on trends. Talk with other shop owners to keep the competition friendly. Even your competitors are fellow fishkeepers most/all of the time so the camaraderie usually outweighs the business battles in the end. I'm sure some circles get vicious but what's the point?
*For the Oscar situation, you could keep a little booklet with pictures of different oscar types and wild localities and let the customer choose the exact oscar they want while you make sure they understand what they are getting themselves into. Then have it shipped in with an order of other fish and everybody should be happy.
I agree with not stocking pacu's, most fish keepers don't have tanks big enough to home them for life. I'm even with you on the common pleco. But no Oscars...there is a reason they are in every LFS. You can't control what anyone will do with the fish they buy. I'm sure there are plenty of guppies set free because someone got tired of maintaining the tank. The best thing you can do is educate your customers.mshill90;4690385; said:
I'm opening a fish store across the street from yours called "We sell Oscars, Pacu's, Common Pleco's and everything [Your Store Name] sells but for 15% less", it turns out it's going to cost a lot of money to get that put on the sign so I'm working on something a little shorter.
I'm not trying to start a fight, just show that every sale counts, especially in a young business. If you open your business you will find quickly that you don't want to let your competitor have any of your sales. The guy that bought the oscar also buoght a tank and filter from that store. LFS are hard to keep going. Just because you build it doesn't mean they will come. What you need to do is go talk to some LFS owners and ask them, contact some out of town by phone or email and ask their advice or opinions. Also go take some business management classes before investing a lot of time and money into this; don't expect to succeed on luck and hope - prepare yourself to succeed!
I say go for it. But if you do there is one thing you should do. Just because I have never seen this.
A suggestion box. If you don't have the fish or product someone is looking for, let them drop a note in the suggestion box. I would love to see a LFS with one. Have a sign that says " didn't find what you're looking for? Leave us a suggestion!".
A suggestion box. If you don't have the fish or product someone is looking for, let them drop a note in the suggestion box. I would love to see a LFS with one. Have a sign that says " didn't find what you're looking for? Leave us a suggestion!".
Younglin;4690511; said:
That's a great idea... I'm posting that on my list..
Then, if someone says "Oscars" then it gives me reason to add them. haha
