In your pet store.... you make the choices....
- Thread starter mshill90
- Start date
I have my "vision" of what I want the store to be like. I want to have tags about the animal like they would have at the zoo, and how to keep them. I would also make note card type things on how to keep them etc..
I will do a return/store credit type thing to some extent. I am not going to for example sell an oscar, and then have someone bring it back with HITH and give them store credit. That is just absurd because the first thing I am going to think is that they are going to treat the next fish just like that.
I am actually in the process of writing up a how to book, and I am going to focus on not only aquarium fish, but pond fish, turtles, and maybe some others once I start learning more about them. The pond fish-pond keeping section is pretty much complete. It could really be it's own book. haha.
I will do a return/store credit type thing to some extent. I am not going to for example sell an oscar, and then have someone bring it back with HITH and give them store credit. That is just absurd because the first thing I am going to think is that they are going to treat the next fish just like that.
I am actually in the process of writing up a how to book, and I am going to focus on not only aquarium fish, but pond fish, turtles, and maybe some others once I start learning more about them. The pond fish-pond keeping section is pretty much complete. It could really be it's own book. haha.
I wish you nothing but good luck. I'm sure as you know starting a pet store is a hard thing to do and as you know many local mom and pop stores in our area have closed. Have you ever considered doing some consignment sales from local reptile breeders?
I want to bring in reputable reptiles, so yes, I would definitely do consignment sales.
I will also do this with fish, but many of the fish (SA/CA cichlids) will be from my own breeders that I am getting together.
I do know all the mom and pop stores have closed, and that's why I am so determined to do this. I mostly noticed that they were run by older people, or they didn't hire very nice/helpful people.. it was just as bad as going to petsmart. I've got a few people in mind to work for me once I need helpers, and I have many things I want to make sure they know before they get into helping customers.
You have been to the pet place.. they lately haven't had too much variety, but everything has been super expensive. I will do everything I can to not be like that. Even if I can't get much variety at times, I don't want people to pay $50 for a midas. lol.
Just over 17 years till I open mine. Gl with the project.
Something that always attracts peopke is a store pet esp something exotic. If legal in ur area a caiman would be great.
Something that always attracts peopke is a store pet esp something exotic. If legal in ur area a caiman would be great.
Caiman are legal in this area.. i think a permit is required..
I do have someone with a baby raccoon, but that could be a disaster. lol.
I'm thinking a large water monitor.
Or a tank with a HUGE fish.. like a goonch. lol (i wish)
I do have someone with a baby raccoon, but that could be a disaster. lol.
I'm thinking a large water monitor.
Or a tank with a HUGE fish.. like a goonch. lol (i wish)
Both of our LFS have been going for years. One has been going for over twenty years. Both of them also deal in other merchandise* and from what I've heard, this is where the profits for a store are. Live animals are low profit margin as they require ongoing expenses related to taking care of them and could potentially die.
* As said these shops have other merchandise besides aquarium supplies. The older shop sells general hobby supplies. The other newer shop is a feed store and sells gardening supplies and everything else a feed store usually has. I think it would be a good idea to study a successful shop and follow their examples.
Now from my standpoint, reasonable prices on the supplies with a couple of good sales would bring me in. I mean I'm not going to buy supplies from the LFS when the prices are double of what I can find online.
I am am willing to pay a bit more to support a local place as long as it's going to be reasonable.
Well, there are some key things that I have in play for the store when it happens...
Koi/goldfish food.. It's going to be supporting a koi farm.. and I can get top quality koi for good prices from them.
Turtles- I know someone local that mods the turtle forum, and he breeds terrapins, sliders, and tortoises- as well as exotic birds. Got some of them covered.
I have been to a local store up here that was open for years.. had a bad reputation because they sold mill dogs, but they had new tanks that sat in the place for years, and collected dust.
Why not sell used things for a fraction of something new?! I am an advocate for reusing fish tank stuff as long as it works! I would give everything a 14 day warranty for filters and such.. I was also thinking about offering tank resealing, and possible maintenance.
My fiance wants to do pond building services.. but i will let him dapple in that.
I've got a lot of ideas, and I know that it's going to take a bit to get them all into focus.
Koi/goldfish food.. It's going to be supporting a koi farm.. and I can get top quality koi for good prices from them.
Turtles- I know someone local that mods the turtle forum, and he breeds terrapins, sliders, and tortoises- as well as exotic birds. Got some of them covered.
I have been to a local store up here that was open for years.. had a bad reputation because they sold mill dogs, but they had new tanks that sat in the place for years, and collected dust.
Why not sell used things for a fraction of something new?! I am an advocate for reusing fish tank stuff as long as it works! I would give everything a 14 day warranty for filters and such.. I was also thinking about offering tank resealing, and possible maintenance.
My fiance wants to do pond building services.. but i will let him dapple in that.
I've got a lot of ideas, and I know that it's going to take a bit to get them all into focus.
Our older shop odes offer maintenance as I recently learned. Honestly it must be profitable for them as they don't seem to put much effort into it. I stopped looking at the tanks because they were upsetting. A foot long pacu, some irredescent sharks and other tankbusters in a 125 gal. I would say someone picked fish for these tanks with a blindfold. I had no idea for a long time that our LFS did this.
They have started reselling used aquariums, which seems like a good idea as it offers another option. Not everyone has time to go searching and driving around.
They have started reselling used aquariums, which seems like a good idea as it offers another option. Not everyone has time to go searching and driving around.
I am compiling a list of fish that I REFUSE to sell, no matter how great of a seller they are **pacu, oscars, common plecos**
I also have a great feeder plan for those that feed live, which doesn't consist of goldfish or rosy reds. haha.
I also have a great feeder plan for those that feed live, which doesn't consist of goldfish or rosy reds. haha.
