Im starting an AQuarium/Fish store....

[Red Devil]

i have a old thread started from way back when i was thinking the same thing... it did not develope for me... it was so so great..things i never thought of...so many people really had great information.. i will try and find the link for you..

 

[freshwaterz]

best advice on here. not only business school, consider the sciences too, there is always more to learn. I know that if i walked into a LFS and the owner had a PhD in Ichthyology or a marine field, I'd trust him more than someone with just a bachelors in business or something. expand your horizons.

ha ha ha ha ha ...
do you really think some1 with those kinds of credentials is gonna waste his time as a fish store owner!!??

 

[Danger_Chicken]

The fish industry is challenging, but worth it. It took me 2 years before I found a decent supplier. Once you find him, he'll be your best friend. If you are getting fish via air cargo, bulk is the cheapest. Make sure you have a large car for all of the boxes! Remember, your dealing with living creatures, mark up percent is key, you'll lose a lot of money if you don't mark up right, expect to lose fish. The average pet store marks up around 300%. If you carry a good supply, people will always talk about your store, if your supply isn't so great, people will never hear about it.....carry all types of fish. Make it unique, make it a place people will remember. Feel free to look at my site, get some ideas.

www.freewebs.com/jthefishguy

listen to J, I don't know him but he's well respected in the area for having quatlity fish.

 

[niblit]

stock up on top ramon

 

[Knowdafish]

ha ha ha ha ha ...
do you really think some1 with those kinds of credentials is gonna waste his time as a fish store owner!!??

For some people it is the love of what they're doing, not just $ !!

 

[Bottomfeeder]

dont order any large fish until at least 5 ppl who can accommodate ask for them because if you have Arowanas and nobody buys them you are stuck with a bunch of growing Arowanas

 

[woofy]

dont order any large fish until at least 5 ppl who can accommodate ask for them because if you have Arowanas and nobody buys them you are stuck with a bunch of growing Arowanas

u dont know ow many times ive seen my lfs order fish in that get huge just becuase one person wanted just one. best to only make a sepcial order if there are multpile people asking for the fish. And dont always think that" can u please order this fish?" means that they will always be there a week later to get it.

 

[Fishfood?]

Alot great feedback, didnt see it posted, Offer Trade ins to your regulars great way to get big fish you can make cash on quick. you sell 120 feeder fish for 10.00 or one big trade in you gave store credit for about 45-50. i love the mama papa shops who do trade ins the give me half retail value. If they charge 20 for it I get 10 store credit. im kewl with this..

 

[fishman646]

Thank you everyone you all are making this fun. If I do open a LFS my location is not the best but heres what it is theres 7 towns around me all fairly large withing 10 miles of the town i live in the biggest and the middle town and I know alot of people have fish tanks and I live in a mountain place in colorado where everyone is a millioner. For the people up here who need to get fish supplies its a 100 mile drive to the Big city of DENVER and up here people hate the city. I will also start with both FW and SW I will run each tank off it own filter,sump,heater,lalalala. I have 18 tanks in my house ranging from 30 gallons to 500 gallons so a display will be easy....I will display both Large fish and small community fish. rent and utilities will be around 600 a month and I am going in halfs with my best friend who also has been a fish keeper for years. We will be taking out a 200,000 d9ollar loan which should get us making money within a year or 2 we have been planning this for a long time......thanks everyone keep the copmments coming!

 

[salsa]

where in colorado are you looking to open up?