LFS Survey

One point on display tanks--yes, they are good. Having a beautiful tank will do much to sell fish. However--don't have things in the tank that you don't/won't sell. One of my favorite LFS has a gorgeous display tank with a huge coral--they won't sell it, and never bring it in for us to buy. Very disappointing.

While I agree that it's important for sales people to work with customers on what fish are appropriate, it is also important to recognize that not all hobbyists want or appreciate this service. If I walk in and say I want a yellow tang and a pair of rams, I am going to be ticked if I start getting the second degree about how these fish can't go in the same tank and that I shouldn't buy them. Acknowledge that some customers are not idiots, just as I acknowledge that some LFS workers are not idiots. :)

My best advice--offer classes. Have sessions on how to test, how to read test results, how to setup some of the more complex plumbing, etc.

Also--don't think you have to offer 'everything' for sale. If you wouldn't use a product in your own setup, don't offer it for sale. For common plumbing needs, keep a list of where carries the best variety. Same for different substrate options. Not only will it keep your shelves available for fish stuff, it will show your customers that you're equally concerned with them getting their tank done right and making a successful business.
 
Like every one says:
Friendly knowledgable service,
clean tanks, store.
Good display tanks - my LFS uses only the products he sales on his display tanks. So if he carries 10 different filters he sets up 10 different display tanks. even nanos.
Make sure you reconize repeat customers.
Good prices

good luck with the store
 
possibly an index book (or several) near the tanks where people could look up each fish you sell and find tankmates, appropriate tank size, max growth size, what kinds of foods, general pH/kH parameters, and special requirements/needs.

that way if people are too shy or don't want to ask "stupid questions," they can thumb through the book and have a general idea of each species' needs.

another thing is have a book on a stand for beginners explaining cycling, tank maintenance, and basically anything that's on a sticky on the forum... Break everything up with pictures, make it really basic- that way people won't be too overwhelmed and will actually delve into it.
 
Better yet, you could print up little pamplets/info sheets on subjects like water testing, cycling, setting up a new tank, etc. I'm a big pamphlet (sp?) person. I'll grab a bunch on anything that looks interesting and read it later. And if its good info I'll keep it for reference.

I really like the idea of books and classes though too! I'd love to go to little workshops or info sessions on different types of setups, fish compatability, all the different equipment out there...

And its been said before in this thread, correctly labelling tanks! It drives me nuts not knowing exactly whats in the tank at my LFS. "Lg Cory Doras" and "Sm. Plecos" don't help much. Perhaps the proper name and the max size would be good.

It might be near impossible to have an entire staff of knowledgable people at your store, but it would be awesome to have someone with actually fishkeeping experience (not "Umm I think that oscar would be great with your tetras in your 10g") around during the busier times to answer more in depth questions, and the less experienced staff have someone to refer questions to, that they can't answer...

Anywho, just my two cents. Good luck with your venture!!
 
Who would have time for classes to learn about fish? Sure - we would all like to have done that when starting out, but that is in hindsight. And as they say, hindsight is 20/20. Ask me this same question 20 years ago... my answer would have been much different.
 
OrionGirl said:
If you wouldn't use a product in your own setup, don't offer it for sale.
Click to expand...

But isn't it hard enough to start a new store? I can imagine it might be very hard to stay "afloat" so to speak if you only kept things on stock that you (personally) would use. This is just a concern of mine. What do you all think?
 
The Home Depot and Best Buy have lil classes. I was in Best Buy at the time of one of these and there was a good turnout, maybe 10-15 people there to learn about digital photography.

But on the flipside, both of those stores are HUGE mega stores. On a decent day a little specialized fish shop may get that many customers.

Also, no matter how educated your staff may be, some people (customers) may not want to know that the goldfish they want will grow big and will need a fairly large tank. They just want a fishbowl.

Back to my point - classes might not work, but if there's a local fishkeeping club, keep that info on hand, and some good websites too.

Last little idea - good hours. Only three days a week is it open til 6pm, the rest of the time 5. And most weekdays, I work til 6pm >.< I'd love it if my LFS was open, even just one or two days in a week, til 8pm

Alright, enough from me :D
 
in addition to all the very important things that everyone else has already said, i'd like to add that my favorite LFS has a whole laboratory in the back of their store where they will do any kind of testing you need on your water for free, as well as doing different kinds of examinations under microscope for diagnostic purposes for fish. i realize not very many people are going to bring in their dead fish or a stool sample or a live but sick fish to get it examined, but some of the really invested fishkeepers with really expensive fish and all that appreciate it, and even people like me that would probably never bring in a fish are still impressed that you offer these services. another thing that my lfs doesn't have but i would like to see it have is a good website with an inventory, perhaps updated weekly, of what fish they have. that way if i am looking for one specific fish i don't have to travel to 6 different stores in the area just to see if they have one specific fish. i am also always very impressed when the lfs is willing to special order in a type of fish, even for people like me who aren't "regulars" or don't spend a lot of money there. have a good warranty on fish too, i always feel like i am sort of taking a risk when i buy from places that won't replace fish if they die after 48 hours. i would give a replacement if it died within say a week, contingent on them bringing a water sample to prove they didn't stick it in a non cycled tank or something.
 
I've always thought that every fish sold should have a free handout/leaflet that comes with it. The customer should be able to get all the info they ever need on a fish at the store. This would hang right beside the fish's tank. This would reduce impulse buys and be just plain interesting for people, like me, who like to learn about every fish they see.

It would be easy to do and pretty cheap, so I've always wondered why some of the big chains, at least, don't do it.

Apart from that decent prices (I don't like feeling gouged when I look up the price online) and the ever popular knowledgeable and friendly
staff!
 
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