Getting An Aquarium Petshop Started

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A knowledgeable partner is definitely a good thing.

Some questions to consider: does Glasgow have a need for another pet shop? Being in a big city has advantages (plenty of customers and money to go around) and disadvantages (lots of other shops got there before you).

How will your shop compete? Will you go head to head with the existing shops, or will you find a specialized niche? High end or low? Will you offer special services beyond retail (tank maintenance service, pond design or installation, custom tank or stand construction)?
 
We have a couple of members here that are staring or have started and LFS in the last year or so, so hopefully they'll chime in. Unfortunately they are in the states.

How many LFS are there near you? If none, you have to ask why, and if there are several, would the area support another one, especially if it is specialized.

Next how is rental property in your area? Scope out space with good signage (expensive here). See if the Landlord expects a special insurance policy for water damage should the worst occur + the normal insurances.

Will they allow the sale of live herp foods? (in case of escapees)

Heating, cooling, ventilation (herps can smell just as bad as fish tanks) dehumidifier(s), special lighting for the tanks etc.

Price out tanks from your area as shipping is a major downfall.

Is there a call for any specialized fish in your area? Would you be willing to ship?

Local suppliers? Both Product and Aquatics.

That should keep you busy till Saturday :D.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Dr Joe

.
 
I'm in business studies...and have toyed with the idea of a fish shop as a possible venture but figured the need has already been met in my area two-fold so nah.

Basically if your the only shop in the area...you can get away with a pretty basic set up, as long as fishkeepings atleast somewhat popular in your area; however, if theres compitition your gonna have to do something to differentiate yourself...such as maintainance, awesome displays, or just as simple as a better location...location...loction (my marketing professors favorite saying). :D

Anyways onto location...you do realize that owning a building inthe city requires quite a bit of investment, renting out space in large(AKA reginal) mall is quite expensive aswell....if you got uner 10 grand (your in scotland so the numbers probably differ) than your gonna need financial backing and probably locate in a smaller mall and move when usiness improves.

Thats just my two cents for ya
 
I cant really decide where it will be yet because my girlfriend can end up getting a job anywhere in Britain. But if its near here, there is not one half decent fish shop, quite litrally. I honestly think i know more than all the employee's in the places.

I'd love to open a small store, get the repeat customers, good reputation, get a bigger store n keep on going :)
 
for the aquarium aspect good credit for a credit line with aquarium wholesalers as i have and for the fish store part it took me 20,000 us dollars to start mine i dont know how your country is but go to your local magistarte or whatever it is in scotland or werever and see what license you need i needed none in michigan just money
 
Me and my mate have sat down and spoke about it (sounds so *** lol) and were really gonna try and aim for it but we have no idea where to start. What are the general stages to setting up a store? If that makes sense...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom