lol, yes 24 hour fishmart. because you never know when someone might need some new plants at 2 AM.
Thinking of starting own LFS!
- Thread starter cichlid_guy
- Start date
Have fish that no one else really has. I personally buy wierd fish that you dont really see a lot[oddball fish].
theres two ways you can go with a business you either go towards the cost side where you make sure you sell things for the lowest price possible. Then theres the differentiation side where you aim to sell things of the highest quality. I assume that you will want to go with the later because not only will you have less competition but you being a fish lover you won't want to sell c#*p. so know your market, know whos competeting with you and don't try to compete with those who go with cost (usually petsmart etc) Also pick a good supplier for products. the worse thing is having a supply who delivers late and damaged it costs you lots of money and reputation, you wouldn't like it if you went somwhere who had damged goods and goods that are always out of stock.
i would just like to reitterate KNOW YOUR MARKET! chose your suppliers accordingly
i would just like to reitterate KNOW YOUR MARKET! chose your suppliers accordingly
I haven’t read all the post yet. Someone might have brought this up.
I would start up good fish club; I think this could lead into a good fish store. The reason I say this is the only FW fish clubs are 2 hours from where I’m at. I think that if you got about 50 people together to help with the opening of the store it could help out a lot. There’s a lot of work trying to get 50 tanks set up in a 2 weeks.
I would start up good fish club; I think this could lead into a good fish store. The reason I say this is the only FW fish clubs are 2 hours from where I’m at. I think that if you got about 50 people together to help with the opening of the store it could help out a lot. There’s a lot of work trying to get 50 tanks set up in a 2 weeks.
What i would like to see in my LFS is lower prices...Petsmart and Petco may have "lower" prices, but horrible quality fish...one of the 2 nearer LFS has good quality fish, but for a black molly, they want $4.79! I mean honestly! Medication, ornaments, plants and such of better quality...
ditto on low price high quality
my lfs is good about that. they have the best stock of anybody around here, and most inexpensive fish like a lot of tetras are $0.75-$1.25 each. any plant is $2.50 each which works out well for most plants, not os well for others, but ends up being cheaper than ordering them online. Their prices on everything else are horrible though. The wany $9 for an aquaclear filter sponge, $3.50 at big als. I never went down the fish aisle again.
Other thigns I can think of,
-Be enthusiastic about special orders... well at least offer to place them for customers.
-have one or two REALLY nice display tanks, maybe a planted and a reef tank.
-Keep some oddballs nobody else has
It's all been covered already, but that I'd throw in my redundant $0.02
my lfs is good about that. they have the best stock of anybody around here, and most inexpensive fish like a lot of tetras are $0.75-$1.25 each. any plant is $2.50 each which works out well for most plants, not os well for others, but ends up being cheaper than ordering them online. Their prices on everything else are horrible though. The wany $9 for an aquaclear filter sponge, $3.50 at big als. I never went down the fish aisle again.Other thigns I can think of,
-Be enthusiastic about special orders... well at least offer to place them for customers.
-have one or two REALLY nice display tanks, maybe a planted and a reef tank.
-Keep some oddballs nobody else has
It's all been covered already, but that I'd throw in my redundant $0.02
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Be very picky about your staff, you should set up cameras and monitor them.
If they start barking at a customer or give them some fals info, they get shocked with a taser.
~ MyShrimpDied
If they start barking at a customer or give them some fals info, they get shocked with a taser.
~ MyShrimpDied
I don't know if this was mentioned before but you should also test people's water for free. A complete test of ph, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates for free. It helps people with new aquariums a lot. I remember when I first started the hobby and i didn't even know you had to test the water.
I'm going to suggest something a wee-bit different.
Koi.
I've found at least two local chinese resturants who'd be interested in a 500+ gallon tank containing a few koi. I'd imagine several of the higher-end houses around would also. Find a local glass supplier & a pond builder who can install them.. then maintain / stock the tank/ponds for a set fee, plus permission to put a standard business card down at the gravel line.
This lets you get your name in the area, and some revenue started without having a physical location. Branch out to other fish types, this will allow you to sort out suppliers.
If you've survived up to this point, go for the shop and still keep the other side of the business going. It might make things a bit easier if you've already got a established service business, and are just trying to add to it rather than going cold turkey.
Koi.
I've found at least two local chinese resturants who'd be interested in a 500+ gallon tank containing a few koi. I'd imagine several of the higher-end houses around would also. Find a local glass supplier & a pond builder who can install them.. then maintain / stock the tank/ponds for a set fee, plus permission to put a standard business card down at the gravel line.
This lets you get your name in the area, and some revenue started without having a physical location. Branch out to other fish types, this will allow you to sort out suppliers.
If you've survived up to this point, go for the shop and still keep the other side of the business going. It might make things a bit easier if you've already got a established service business, and are just trying to add to it rather than going cold turkey.
I wish you luck! What a wonderful idea, someone who loves the hobby setting up a store. A refreshing change from all those employees out there who don't know a dying fish from a healthy one.
My advice is this:
1. keep your fish healthy. Quarantine new stock for at least a week before selling. If fish become sick, treat them immediately, and don't sell fish from that tank.
2. If you import wild fish (please don't, but if you must), please make sure they're not fish that will waste away in captivity. I was at a petstore today and saw two SW fish on their last legs, so skinny I didn't know how they could still be alive. I can't be sure, but I think that one was a species that only eats specialized organisms off coral, and it was living in a bare tank.
3. Decorate your tanks! Stores with rows and rows of bare glass tanks stuffed with fish are not only boring to look at but unhealthy for fish! By putting the proper substrate / hiding places in the tanks you are showing the customer not only that you are knowledgeable about the fish's needs, but also educating them as to how to house the fish once they get it home! When I bought my first pleco many years ago I didn't know they needed driftwood; they lived in a bare tank at the store!
4. You might consider setting up your display tanks with different filtration systems, so you can show your customers what they look like in place, and illustrate the advantages and strengths of each.
I applaud you for collecting ideas and doing your research, I have no doubt your store will be a success.
My advice is this:
1. keep your fish healthy. Quarantine new stock for at least a week before selling. If fish become sick, treat them immediately, and don't sell fish from that tank.
2. If you import wild fish (please don't, but if you must), please make sure they're not fish that will waste away in captivity. I was at a petstore today and saw two SW fish on their last legs, so skinny I didn't know how they could still be alive. I can't be sure, but I think that one was a species that only eats specialized organisms off coral, and it was living in a bare tank.
3. Decorate your tanks! Stores with rows and rows of bare glass tanks stuffed with fish are not only boring to look at but unhealthy for fish! By putting the proper substrate / hiding places in the tanks you are showing the customer not only that you are knowledgeable about the fish's needs, but also educating them as to how to house the fish once they get it home! When I bought my first pleco many years ago I didn't know they needed driftwood; they lived in a bare tank at the store!
4. You might consider setting up your display tanks with different filtration systems, so you can show your customers what they look like in place, and illustrate the advantages and strengths of each.
I applaud you for collecting ideas and doing your research, I have no doubt your store will be a success.
