LFS 's and the Economy

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TheEchoPyrex

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2011
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California, USA
Two of best LFS around here are going out of business within the month and others have already gone out of business last year. Its unfortunate that the economy has gotten here, to the point where people cannot afford or do not want to spend money on items such as aquarium setups.

I live in California where this "recession" (if thats what its still being labeled as) is and has been hitting hard.

My question - Are you guys and gals, hobbyist and salesmen alike, feeling the impact of the economy on this market elsewhere and how bad is it where you are located?

Thanks for your imput,
- Ryan
 
A lot have closed around me also, and I am starting to worry about where I will be able to get stock.
 
I would assume most of them are hit pretty hard around where i am at as the prices have went up compared to what they have been in the past but i've never really asked the lfs or anything. but then again its the only lfs i've been to that is in like a 15 mile radius of me.
 
I think it's effecting everyone in the US. with that being said I've actually noticed an increase in our aquatics department lately. not as many people "impulse" buying tanks but more peopel who've done their research and know what they want. so it's a mixed blessing I think for the industry.

not to sound rude but if 2 of the best lfs by you are going out of busness.. it's either poor money mnagement skills.. or others don't share your sentiment,
 
I think it's the increased presence of the internet so we as customers can shop more for better prices.
I bought a new 30 gal tank at the LFS in the past for $60, but now...I can find far better prices on the internet.

I feel bad that I don't support the LFS more.
I'm currently earning about $20 a week since my massage gear was all contaminated and sits in storage. And LFS prices tend to be about double as the prices I can find on the internet so with wages and expenses being what they are in the real world, I'm likely to go with bargains above morals.
I will be getting some insurance money for re painting my rooms from the "disaster"...but that too will go very quickly with my synos needing that new filter.
Food stamps and un-employment payments are far more profitable then working, yet also seem to go very quickly towards paying bills.
 
Any small business nowadays is hard to manage. Throw in the large box stores and the internet it's even harder.

Years ago I managed a tropical fish store and most of the time you broke even on livestock because of losses. You made your money on the hard goods, which is now difficult because it's hard to compete with the big box stores. I think most of us understend this and try to purchase our fish AND our tanks and supplies from the LFS, but its hard.

Running a business in Cali is even worse because everything is so over regulated and over taxed.
 
Yea, it is very bad over here. In the past 5 years within a 50 mile radius from where I live about 8 to 9 LFS closed down. Currently right now, 2 LFS in my area within about 15 miles where I live, are having a out of business sale.

Some of the stores were good and some were so so. I believe that they cannot compete that well with big box stores and people buying online. I try to support my LFS by buying from them. I try my best to not buy from big box stores like Petsmart.
 
Very Bad here in New York.. especially when you look at the shops further out of the main cities. Suburbia shops have closed up by me.

I think its a combination of Internet presence and economy as both of the main culprits that cause of LFS to close.
 
Aquariums are "luxury items" not necessary staples.

All luxury items decline in this economy.
 
very true. although theres about 10 "mom and pop" size stores around me (west virginia) and theyre doing great. but not too many chain stores cause its a small town/area, but about 200 miles away is a very nice petsmart and petco in a couple block raidius and theyre excellent in quality and buisness. so it doesnt seem to be economically down around here, rather up!
 
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