Starting Fish Store/Hatchery

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Good luck to ya. What an awesome thing to do for a living, hopefully someday I can do something similar. Or at least have my own LFS.
 
Are you planning a wholesale or retail operation, or both? I would go wholesale. This way you would not need a storefront location. A warehouse would be fine. You would have a much larger market too; as most retail shops will not buy from other retail shops and certainly not at retail pricing.

Currently, many fish based stores are moving into the VA area. Make sure that by the time you are all set up, there is not an oversaturated market.

In terms of the rays, I think there is a large demand. Currently, there are no local distributers other than middle men wholesale shops (most out of NJ). Often their quality of rays are poor and don't ship well. Transhipping is one way to go, but Brazil is cracking down on transhipping rays and most transhippers have no guarentee on rays whether or not they arrive doa.

I do not think it is a wise venture to offer more commonly available fish. You have a good plan with rays and altums. Most stores carry decent discus and with DiscusHans in Bmore, you may be too close to offer a competitive product. I would focus my attention on filling in voids in the hobby where demand is measurable but supply is low. Rays, black arros, high grade flowerhorns, and wild caught less common cichlids.

As for offering a maintenance service, good luck. The metro area is saturated with them. Almost every store that has been around for 10+ years offers this service in some capacty, as do many hobbyists who have spent time working for their lfs... especially on tanks larger than 75. The store I manage has many contracts on large, custom tanks. Most are set-ups we installed, but not all. All are well over 100+ gallons.
 
Andrewtfw;2168272; said:
Are you planning a wholesale or retail operation, or both? I would go wholesale. This way you would not need a storefront location. A warehouse would be fine. You would have a much larger market too; as most retail shops will not buy from other retail shops and certainly not at retail pricing.

Currently, many fish based stores are moving into the VA area. Make sure that by the time you are all set up, there is not an oversaturated market.

In terms of the rays, I think there is a large demand. Currently, there are no local distributers other than middle men wholesale shops (most out of NJ). Often their quality of rays are poor and don't ship well. Transhipping is one way to go, but Brazil is cracking down on transhipping rays and most transhippers have no guarentee on rays whether or not they arrive doa.

I do not think it is a wise venture to offer more commonly available fish. You have a good plan with rays and altums. Most stores carry decent discus and with DiscusHans in Bmore, you may be too close to offer a competitive product. I would focus my attention on filling in voids in the hobby where demand is measurable but supply is low. Rays, black arros, high grade flowerhorns, and wild caught less common cichlids.

As for offering a maintenance service, good luck. The metro area is saturated with them. Almost every store that has been around for 10+ years offers this service in some capacty, as do many hobbyists who have spent time working for their lfs... especially on tanks larger than 75. The store I manage has many contracts on large, custom tanks. Most are set-ups we installed, but not all. All are well over 100+ gallons.
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Andrew,
Thank you for the sound advice, My company is going to be a wholesale /internet based company. I will allow for general public to come to my store as long as they call ahead and I will work with them. The black arros are a good idea as well.

I have a good suppler for FW rays in fact several to keep my customers happy until I get a good breeding plan in place witch will take up to 2 years.

As far as services I have several local stores that are interested in my company to come service there systems and would like to talk with me about buying direct from me.

Dry good such as tanks other supplies I have many good contacts and also plan on offering to both public and LFS .

As to location I will be signing a lease with in the next couple month to lease a 3000 sq ft warehouse /office space that will be designed to suite and built out ..... Best part of that I will be less than 1 hour from BWI and will be able to ship fish airport to airport and reach 50/60 % of the us population with in 6 hours.

As far a qulity control for fish housing here is the systems I am having built as we speak with 55 gallon tank systems and small 30 gallon racks http://www.aquatichabitats.com/systems_multirack.htm plus I plan on having 3 1800 gallon indoor ponds for the adult rays plus other habitat systems.

I will be posting updates as I get closer.

If any one has questions or wants to request items e mail me @ darkrivershatchery@yahoo.com Via attn : Jason
 
Good luck man. I hope it works out well. I am glad you hear that you have some previous experience and know what you are getting into. I didn't mean to discourage you.
 
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