getting into the business

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philhawk;537919;537919 said:
what are your guys thoughts on joining the corporate ranks over at petsmart. from my experience with them on the retail side they have a perty tight operation and seem to be doing well.
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It's easy to just toss advice out there but ill advised for you to take it. We have nothing to go on. In other words, this is backward.

Tell us something about yourself. College? Major? Age? In a committed relationship? Settled or willing to relocate? Willing to take a job that requires travelling? Desired income to start? Why pets? Animals? Fish? Birds?

Another angle... pretend one of us could hire you. Why would we want to? What are you good at? What's your specialty?

How do you feel about these statements? Going to Petsmart for tropical fish is like going to Goodwill for retro furniture.

I got my nutritional training at Jack-in-the Box but I'm branching out. I start at Purina next week.
 
u might have read that thread about money made by lfs owners u gotta start with dog food a stick with dog food and put a few tanks on the back wall to look the part till u make the big bucks hope u majored in buisness lol.
 
im 20 and am going to be graduating in december 2007 at the University of Northern Iowa. im a Management: Business Administration Major. i think that the pet business is the best option for me because i know how much my pets past and present (a clown knife, tinfoil bar, and 2 cats) mean to me and how much they affect the lives of their owners. helping someone find the pet that will affect their life would be a thrill and helping people find the materials to have those pets live the happy and healthy lives is greatly rewarding to me. aquarium keeping has been a hobby since grade school and now its part of my daily life. i am in a commited relationship and am not strickly tied down to any perticular state i love to travel and have traveled the globe visiting most of europe and japan, korea, and centeral america, but i wouldn't like a job where i traveled every day. i enjoy interacting with people and animals and can think of no business where that would be possible other than the pet industry.
 
It looks like u got all the right credentials and a good attitude i wish u the best of luck PHILHAWK dont let all that collage partying screw u in your last year at scool get that diploma dude.
 
I was just hired by a LFS. They have others things like snakes, hamsters, dogfood, and various other pet supplies. They asked me about experience and i told them fish were my thing. I go in tomorrow for my first day, "to get my feet wet" i told him i didnt think you were supposed to put your foot in the tanks. he smiled. But im very excited its my first job and ive at the LFS's at least 2-3 times a week. I know this isnt going to be long term for me, Forestry is truly my passion.

But the best thing you can do is just follow your heart, if its something u love it wont be work at all.
 
Okay, the reason for the questions.

Age? most want someone under 30 with 20 yrs experience. They rarely get it but from the questions they ask they feel there's someone out there like that.

Degree? Although a degree isn't a requirement to be a success, most employers would prefer the candidate have one. Granted, most pet industry employees don't have one. Most pet industry employees don't make enough to pay their rent unless supplemented by someone else's income.

Relationship? Most manufacturers looking for reps will require travel, normally more than half the month. Most are tied up in one event or another almost every weekend. This doesn't bode well for most relationships, either the job or the relationship goes.

Interaction with others? I didn't ask about this but since you brought it up... how much interaction do you think you'd have in an office cubicle handling paperwork? If you went to work for PetSmart at their corporate offices you probably rarely get out in the field. If you went to work for a local PetSmart, you'd be overqualified from the start. Not enough experience to be a manager, too much education to take orders.

You avoided my aptitude questions.

At this point I'd say that a smaller chain might be a better fit than PetSmart. An alternative... use your degree to put yourself into a higher wage group. Put money aside and start your own store or chain when you have the finances.

If I had a friend about to drop 1/4 mil in a store I couldn't tell him it'd be a good investment.
 
im looking into interning this summer and hopefully i can find something somewhat related to the pet industry. that way i can get an inside look at how it would be and if it is a good fit for me, without having the long term commitment of a job. i know that i am no where near the idea of opening my own store and dont want to. the dream line of events would be to get a corporate job, get some experience and to have a good lookout on when retail management jobs open up and hope that they would be willing to hire from within the company.
 
DavidW;538891; said:
the surest way to get to hate a hobby that you otherwise love is to try to do it as a living....
if you like animals and people and want to help then maybe study to be a veterinarian or become a vet assistant......

best advise I can give you is STAY IN SCHOOL
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HHhhmmm thats how tatoos went with me :) THough i still love them and love doin them i am very picky as to who.. and I only do what i WANT to..

IF your going to go that direction i only have these suggestion ...

JUMP IN HEAD FIRST ALL THE WAY AND DON"T STOP AT THE BOTTOM !! SWIM BACK TO THE TOP!!! YOUR GOING TO MOST LIKELY LOSE BIG AT FRIST !!!.. bUT ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING ALL THE WAY!!

As for the girl... Your 20 LOL she'll follow or not.. And if not there will be another and another and another after her ... LOL
 
If you are considering opening your own pet store, there are many points to ponder. It is NOT financially rewarding. It IS hard work, with long hours and little time for family, pets, and hobbies. I worked at LFSs for many years before taking the jump. Those years earning and learning are hard, but not as hard as those years running your own store. Save at least 10% of all your earnings. Forgo the typical postgraduate shenanigans of drinking yourself senseless every Friday to Sunday. Invest every leftover minute and dime. Learn bookkeeping skills like your life depended on it. You had better enjoy customer interaction, because you will give of yourself and your patience every day like you wouldn't believe. Most employees can't cut it on that alone. Combine that with poor pay and there is little going for it.

The upside: I look forward to every day I go into work. I am my own boss (with both the perks and requisite pratfalls). For many people, those two bits make it all worth it.

You may prefer to take the normal career course for those with business degrees, and bide your time until you are more financially secure. I would recommend volunteering at a public institute affiliated with animals in the interim. You may find it to provide the balance between success and passion.

Or get a sick, rich uncle :)

J
 
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