Business plans/ideas for Aquarium Shop

First topic message reminder :

I have really been dreading my job, as it's mindless and not something I see as a career.

I have been doing TONS of studying on all different types of freshwater fish, diets, environments, how to keep them etc... I do plan on one day working with salt water as well.

I live in Central Pennsylvania, and in my area, the only stores are Petco, Petsmart, and a Pet store that has a very bad reputation for puppy mill dogs, and animal abuse. None of them have decent fish, or fish out of the ordinary...

We have The Pet Place about 45 minutes away, but their prices are a bit outrageous..

So, I have been debating opening an aquarium store. Selling fish, taking in fish, cleaning tanks, repairing tanks, giving correct advice... and not selling fish to just anyone to make a quick buck.

There are a lot of retail shopping strip type places for rent, as well as a mall that would even let us have a store open.

I'm completely new to the business scene... so what I want to know is if you could have an aquarium shop/store, or if you were to visit one, what would you expect?

All advice is welcomed! Please no flaming.

Words of wisdom right there. Might call you sometime myself! ;0)

Garage set-ups= cheap easy and awesome because you can have a couch in with the tanks.

Well, not in the tanks, but you can lounge while watching the tanks.

Fern wrote:

KMX wrote:

What happen to funds for felix and having no money?? You need $$$ to start a business. I would take care of my family, pets ect ect before I opened up at pet store. Just my 2cents.

And again I will say opening a store front is a very very bad idea

And again I will say people go through with bad ideas all the time. It doesn't alwAys work out but sometimes it does. I really don't get why you are always coming off this way.


All you keep posting is the same thing yet you have no EXPLANATION as to why it's a "very very bad idea".

Its a 50-50 shot that this works out.

Also keep in mind that the online market is 1/3 the price than a LFS. Most consumers now are just ordering there stuff due to prices and with SW, they offer guarantees. Most LFS dont offer guarantees. I agree with starting up in a garage or Xtra room, cuts overhead by a ton.

mshill90 wrote:

And again I will say people go through with bad ideas all the time. It doesn't alwAys work out but sometimes it does. I really don't get why you are always coming off this way.

All you keep posting is the same thing yet you have no EXPLANATION as to why it's a "very very bad idea".

Its a 50-50 shot that this works out.

We are all here to only help. But remember, we are all fish freaks who spend a lot of money on fish. If you notice we very rarely ever say we got something (fish or goods) from an LFS. An LFS to us, is normally a place to look around and see what we want to buy from a cheaper source. Its not a place where we spend money.

Many many lfs are having to close their doors due to the economy thats why

I think it would be easier for a LFS to stay in buisness if they offer tank cleaning service and leasing like some LFS do.I think its harder to stay in buisness if you just sell fish and tanks only unless they have a well established customer base.

Do your research! If you get a bank loan and you fail, you still need to pay it back. No one is going to give you money and not get paid back. Check your local laws. If you can run a business out of your house and have customers come and go, do it part time to start. I started my businesses part time and built them from there. Retail space can cast you $20 - $50 a sq. ft. Office warehouse space can be $8 - $12 sq ft. Now is a tough time to get started. As you know, people have been cutting back on the pet expences. Know your laws and do your research, do your research and did I say do your research! GOOD LUCK.

ALL lfs are not bad. Some of us are here to promote the hobby and are still hobbiest but we still need to pay the bills. Support your lfs when you can.

I do!!

mbovinet wrote:

I guess I could add a few things here since that's what I did. Well Working on almost 2 years ago now. I don't really know where to start.......

I guess here's what I did. I started selling things out of my house. You have to get your name out there and in a good way. There's also several problems with selling things out of your home or garage. One thing is is with suppliers. Mainly on the dry goods area of it but they won't really deal with you as they feel you'd be a back-yard breeder and too small time. Another is having folks wanting to stop over at countless hours of the night. It's not impossible as I did it that way for years while holding a full time job, going to school full time, we have 3 kids and a dog and I still managed to handle it all.

There's plenty of other things that go into the above but I don't have the next week or so to type it all out. Your welcome to call me and I'll share a bit more with you on it.

I had been thinking on opening a LFS in my area here as there is nothing really to show here as far as cichlids go. (That's basically all I carry in the store now). So I talked things over with my wife and we dicided to give it a go.

I looked around and found a space to lease that I thought would suit my needs. Worked on the lease, signed up and Starting building it out. I quit my job and opened it up full time and haven't looked back. I'm very glad I did it but it took alot of planning, hard work and a laundry list of other things.

I just recently moved the store into a larger place. The first few months in the 1st store were a little rough but since then I'd say it's working. Could it be better? Yes but it's working for us and it's getting better all the time.

If you'd like to call my number is 402-934-8588

Good luck with whatever you do, just make sure to look at the whole picture before doing anything

Thanks

Mike

Mike B is the man. I have been doin business with him for 5 years or so now, and I cant say enough good things about this guy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take his advise. I run a fish shop out of my house and I take all of Mikes advise and apply it to my business. I do decent money but if I had a retail space I would do better. With that said I would have ALOT more overhaed also. It is a rough economy out there. Sell from home and see how it goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!