Thinking of starting own LFS!

I think your local competition are the chain stores, not the other LFS. Have you been working in a fish store? On-site experience is a good teacher.

You can't compete with on-line services for hardware prices. You won't get a good enough wholesale price from the manufacturer with your smaller orders. The profits will come from maintenance service, not selling Jack Dempseys. Set up a show aquarium-- at the bank? in the mall? .

Get tight with all the outstanding private breeders within an hour's drive. Encourage them to get re-sale numbers so that you can pay them. Otherwise it's barter.They have stuff and in quality that the distributor doesn't. "Tank-raised" is a selling-point. Ditto plants.

Be a dependable source for blackworms, brine shrimp. Sell starter kits/instructions for vinegar eels and microworms.

Make sure that you always have some fish that are unusual. People will always get their neon tetras cheaper at PetCo.

Get a good window together. Put an awning up so the window is in shade. The aquarium in the window needs to be a showstopper. Consider blacking out the rest of the window. People should want to pick that aquarium up and take it home with them, just like that!

Get a big tower-type fluidized bed sand filter (capital expense) and set it up where everyone sees it working. Your water should be brilliant, or why shouldn't they be at Petland Discounts?

Develop knowledgeable staff. You need a full-time partner. And a part-time accountant.

A New York warning: everyone who eats and cooks dreams sometime of opening a little restaurant.
 
I have about 3 LFS within about a 30 minute drive from my house that range from ok to excellent. The store I tend to go to most often is the one that Lotsoffish owns , which was mentioned above. One of the finer points and a suggestion that I have based on his store is the empty tank selection. Given space requirements maybe you won't be able to have a large selection for a newbie or even advanced aquiarist to choose from. Do what you can given the space in your store. The thing I like about them is the variety of empty tanks they have to choose from...I walk around just imagining what I could do with that 44 gal corner tank, 125 gal show tank....the 65 gal with a matching stand and canopy would like nice in my living room , etc. Combine that with the show-stopping display tanks you will have showing the customers how it is done, will make them really want to go ahead and get that 72 gal bowfront instead of the 20 gal. long they thought about starting off with!!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

steve
 
This is GREAT feedback!
some great ideas! I like the tank tags. I'm sure than can be done without taking to much space up.

I have been talking to friends and others about partners, and advice with the busness side. I do plan on taking a few class, and
talking to start-ups about what to do and not to do.

so far it seems Selection! and Knowledgable staff!

I agree with all advice, and Love that everyone is thinking in the same direction! that means what i'm thinking will work!

As for where I live, I'm in SW Michigan, Benton Harbor/St Joe.
the only large pet chane around is Pets Plus, and they don't sell fish, just supplies.

there is a petsmart about a hour away.
as for what lfs are around me. there are two in the 20 - 30 min.
area. I will blow them out, with the selection.
One of the two is in St. joe, and it is a nice store, has a little more selection then most, but the price are HIGH!

As for show tanks! I'm glad everyone likes the idea/ thinks its a must! I mean, I'm sure i'll be at the store ALL the time. I want a nice tank to look at just like you would at home! I agree with the idea, EVERYTHING must be very clean! tanks should look like I injoy the fish, not just there to sell. It should be a small aquarium that sells fish! :) I also want to have space to have ALOT of tanks!
I do hate seeing tanks Packed full! I also hate tanks with mixed fish that you should be mixing! it might work for the short time they are in the tank, but is miss leading to people!

ONCE again! thanks you for all the feedback! I am collecting it all and do plan on using it!

Thank You!
Scottie
Cichlid_guy
 
Here are my thoughts

Brainstorming is a good thing, it can only help you when you start the LFS.

1. Take a class as stated before AND ask other people you know how they have thier busness set up. I dont think you have to worry about anybody stealing your idea of a LFS so let them know what you are doing.

2. I am not sure you can be the "everything" store. By this I mean, you cant beat out the "feeder" store and the "plant" store and the "cricket" store ect. The stores you are gunning aginst might be the "loss leaders" on those peticular idems. They might sell at a loss just to get other busness. Sure crickets might be really cheap online but figure out your final cost after death rate and then paying someone to bag them up.
That said, of course, some places are just price gouging so a honist mark up will show acrost the board.

3. discount cards are a great idea, I would be down with that the most. You will lose a few people though who dont want to be on a list (mailing or otherwise) so keep the info needed for a card VERY simple, basically just name so they know you are not selling the list to someone else. If you do utilize the software that tracke indivudal purchaces and tracks trends, a name is suficent.

4. Feeder cups are a great idea also, it shows a devoted customer willing to make the effort to save a few bucks and shows they are loyal to the LFS. The drawback is does it really save any money to the LFS? If it does, go for it, if not, just use the card but advertize that if you buy a large quanity of feeders at your store they get a discount.

Just because you are not a busness man does not mean you dont know what it takes to be a busness man. The majority of busness men (women) in my town are not what I call busness men, they are just people in busness. There is a difference. As long as you can see from both sides (busness side and customer) you should be OK. Be awair though, most people judging you will be customers so tend to look from thier side 90% of the time.

HTH
Stias'
 
A few things to remember if you open a LFS. Do lots of research first. Ask people if they would support another LFS opening. In other words, see if there is a large demand for another LFS. Even if you setup a great shop, you won't get customers (or at least a lot of them) if there is no demand. The first couple of years is always the worst times for a store, you need to make sure you have the customer base to get you through it. If you survive the first couple of years, then you can really start to go out there and start kicking butt.

Some things to note if you open a store.
1.) Keep up with maintenance. There's a Big Al's 15 minutes away from my house. They have a the biggest collection of SW and FW fish I've ever seen. Initially, their tanks looked great. No dead fish, clear water, etc. Lately, they're water has been getting murky (in certain tanks), I've been seeing more dead fish, and overall appearance has declined.
2.) Don't skimp on the information. Give your customers all the information they need on keeping fish. (ie. The fish's general needs, behaviour, suggested tank size, etc.). Lots of information is always a good thing, it will cut down on fustrated customers.
3.) A competent staff. If you hire other people to do work for you, MAKE SURE they are competent. I've had to dealt with many incompetent people in this hobby. Let me tell you, some of them DO NOT belong in a fish store. There's this one store that I keep on going back to. Not because their prices are good, but because the people who run the store are competent.

Some things I would like to see in a store (may vary according to what the people want).
1.) Plants. Tons of plants. Tank after tank after tank full of plants. If there's one thing many LFS lack, its plants, good plant equipment, knowledgable people in regards to plants, good algae eaters (SAEs, American Flagfish, C. Japonica shrimp, etc.), and varity of plants.
2.) Tank equipement. Not sure if this would be feasible, unless you have a large starting budget. I would like to see tons of tank equipement, of almost every brand possible. Big Al's has done a great job in this respect. They practically have everything in front of you. When you look for a filter, your not look at 2 different kings, your look at 4, or 5, etc. etc.

HTH
-Richer
 
I go in a lot of fish stores and come out disappointed. The tanks must be clean, no algea on the glass. You also need to have a big selection. Keep a lot of oddballs and catfish. Also organize your sale tanks into sections, all community fish in one area and so on. Also viquariums are getting popular so keep some of those little crabs, newts, and frogs on hand. I also like to see attractive sale tanks. I go in on LFS with some ver nice fish but the sale tanks have no gravel and only a clay pot in them. If you actually open up let me know. I am in SE michigan, maybe I would make the drive over to see your store. Also, go around looking at several successful LFS to get ideas. Good Luck.
 
Ive always thought about making my own pet shop but figure the only way I could do that is if I win the lotto. But my idea was to have a nice selection of both common any rare fish. Also next to the fish that grow big have an adult like have the small tank with baby oscars and a tank near that one letting you know this is how big it gets. Discriptions would be good like one of the first posts but one thig forgotten is tank size. Less fish but better quality not less fish as not many kinds like less fish as in instead of the lfs has 20-30 oscars tossed in one tank have maybe ten nice ones not craming 30 plecos in one tank and another thing is they die and my lfs takes forever to pull them out ive even gone one day seeing a dead fish go the next day and seeing the same dead fish being eaten by its tank mates. Sell smaller plecos not the giant commons and gibbiceps which normally end up in small tanks. I use to have a lfs that was perfect took care of the fish and had the best qaulity you could get but now its all about money they have nice fish but knowhere as nice like they use to. But ive also seen this new petsmart and there fish were all dead and dieing diseased but the mad a big improvement and now there is no dead or dieing fish and there tanks are not overstocked. Theres lots more to be said but didnt read all previous posts and dont want to repeat something someone else might have said.
 
Originally posted by cichlid_guy
I would like to know "from everyone" what you "like" or "dislike" about your local fish store. If there is anything that you think/or wish for in a fish store.
Click to expand...

One thing I appreciate in my LFS are the "not for sale" signs they put up on some tanks. Generally, there will be an explanation: already bought and being held, new arrival under quarantine, under treatment for disease, &c. If the reason isn't listed, the store people will gladly tell you why. It's little things like that I appreciate.

--Anthony
 
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