Fish Stores – Why not?

[Miles]

Hahahaha..

If you try to operate your fish store based on 'What the advanced Hobbyist wants', you will be out of business in no time. The reason you don't see these type of pet stores, is because they don't exist.. Why? Because they don't make money, and they eventually go under. The market is just not there, especially with the advent of PetCo, PetSmart, PetLand, PetsBarn, and the Internet.

It is ALOT harder then you would ever, ever imagine. A local fish store near me used to carry specialty fish, they are gone. There is one right now that carries specialty fish, in the process of being gone. I attempted to do the same thing, but pulled out long before I got in too deep financially. If the online service of our company could ever support a $1000 overhead, than I would be all over it. Rent in commercial spaces is higher than ever, Electricity and Heating bills are killers. You can't pay the Bills with Frontosas, Datnoids, and Motoros.. and it used to be that you could pay the bills with Danios, Mollies, and Barbs, but NOW, now you have the corporate competitors like PetCo.. Good Luck. I think majority of the money that was made in this hobby in the past 20 years was made from ignorance and mis-information.. and as consumers and hobbyist are becoming increasingly frugal and informed, the money is just not invested as regularly as it used to.

Take the words of the wise DW and run with them.. "If you want to make a million in the fish business, start with 10 million.."

 

[Hawkeye]

I pretty much gotta agree with Miles but I also feel that in certain areas it could work. For example where I live its 65 miles to the nearest fish store. Well we have a Wal-Mart but I dont consider that. When I go in there I look for fish that I feel I should save and give a good home, usually orandas. Well there was this little girl with grandma and wanted a fish. She almost bought an oscar for this 4 year old kid. Then it hit me, where I live if you have some knowledge a fish store would work, people wouldn't have to go 65 miles or just buy from WM on an impulse. Guess you would have to just sit down and weigh the pros and cons. Tough choice.

 

[loach43]

Selling livestock (the fun part) would only be a supplement to selling dry goods to survive IMO. Might as well open a shoe store instead unless my theory is wrong.

 

[Miles]

It's hard to sell dry goods with competition like PetCo, PetSmart, BigAls and DrFosterNSmith..

 

[fishboy]

you dont get any profit selling the fish, its the products that go along with the fish...heaters. aquariums, gravel all that stuff. You also get a lot of profit off of dog and cat foods, all the small animal supplys and animals themselve equal profit. it can be done you just have to have a good location where ppl will be willing to buy. the specialty lfs by me is doing great, they actually just opened up another store. and you can make millions a year if you do it right.

 

[skinless]

I've always believed that the big chain stores main income comes through dog/cat food sales. I'm gonna assume thats why the dry goods are almost always at the back of the store. In fact, thats the only reason i go to the all in 1 chain store.

Making millions seems alittle optimistic, especially as a new lfs in a competitive market, but hey, just a consumers opinion.

 

[dacox]

You could always try getting a license to import fish and sell them out of your home to start. Start off small and if you have success with that, then consider expanding and maybe opening a shop. It would definately be a tough industry to break in to though. Like they said, most people only want 10 gallon tanks with a couple tetras, danios, etc. The market base for monster or rare fish keepers is small.