Few Questions

[PufferFishRule]

ok this forum has inspired me to try and start my own tropical fish store can anyone give me info on what id need to start such a buisness...and perhaps lots of fish info and what i should stock

 

[Jozlyn]

Apart from the obvious - lots of money. I just wish I could afford to start my own store too.

I think if you do end up doing it, can you please put info' cards on EVERY tank, saying things like, common name/s, species name, temp', ph, kh, gh, adult size, breeding info', compatible tank mates, incompatible tank mates, etc.

Also stock replacement parts for anything you sell. None of my LFS's have any replacement parts for the hardware they stock. If I want new filter inserts I have to order them, it drives me insane. The little plastic clips that hold my heater to the glass have broken, they don't have them either and don't know where I can get them from.

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[PufferFishRule]

hmm money is really not a problem...grandfather is very wealthy guy lol and i will include very detailed info on all fish i stock...and yes spare parts...filters...catridges...heaters...even suction cup clips...also had an idea for sand and gravel substrate...thought of making it like a buffet table deal and sell it by the pound......all types and colors...and the basic stuff like food books ...ect...and ill have a info board on measurments per galon for chemicals...and substrate...any other ideas you wish to share

 

[mommyof2bettas]

hmmmm...
well, as for stocking, you should have a wide range of selections, plecs, discus, male and female bettas, guppies, platys, mollies, swordtails, tetras, danios, corys, otos, cichlids, oddballs, gouramis, pradise fish, goldfish (even though they aren't tropical) even though some are hard to get. I'd say you should give some info on the fish, like that you have to treat the water and that GOLDFISH NEED A 20 GALLON TANK NOT A TINY BOWL!!!
erm... sorry I get irritated when I see goldfish in bowls...
As for fish info, check out the fish index. And I think it is pretty hard starting a buisness takes a while...
Good luck anyways

EDIT- Just had a nice idea- you could have some kind of help section with articles on diseases and fish care info sheets posted on a bulletin board and maybe even a help desk where you or someone knoweldgeable about fish help people who... need help.

 

[PufferFishRule]

gold fish are one of the most mistreated fish in the worl...they deserve nice things....my store wont even sell bowls...and my betas will be sold in male/female pairs...in maybe a 5 gal tank......combo type deal...with filter light and such maybe 20 ....30 bucks

 

[PufferFishRule]

gold fish are one of the most mistreated fish in the worl...they deserve nice things....my store wont even sell bowls...and my betas will be sold in male/female pairs...in maybe a 5 gal tank......combo type deal...with filter light and such maybe 20 ....30 bucks

 

[invader]

I wouldn't sell the bettas as pairs, because people might put them together and not everyone is looking for 2 solitary pets.

 

[PufferFishRule]

sold seperately as well...i just dont like seeing fisf in something smsller than a coffe cup....

 

[Jozlyn]

Fish magazines, I love magazines, but I can't get any fish ones out here (I live in a small town with a population of around 1,500), could probably get them if I ordered them tho, but I like to have a bit of a flick before I buy them, if I order it I'm obligated to buy it.

No Betta Bowls, god I hate them, and no Betta's in those horrid cups.

Make sure you have every water test kit, again I can't get a Nitrate test kit unless I order it, and then it's going to cost heaps.

You know maybe you could keep tabs on what people buy (maybe by asking them for an email address for your "newsletter" or by name so that you can make sure you stock their type of "fish food"). i.e. they come in and buy a tank (week 1) you keep the stats on what they get and let's say they get a 10lt (only big enough for a Betta) then they do the right thing and cycle it but come in and want an Angel for example, you'll know that the Angel can't possibly fit ........................ Or they come back two days later, claiming the tanks cycled and want the Angel, again you'll know that that can't possible work.

Please don't sell non-aquatic plants ie purple waffle, aluminum plant, that only leads to customer disapointment and the possibility that they wont return.

Love the idea of the buffet table gravel etc. Don't forget background pictures, I don't like them myself but plenty of people do. I like basic black, maybe you could have rolls of plain coloured backgrounds, black, green, blue etc.

 

[PufferFishRule]

a nice helpful website...with facts...news...printable coupons...some type of blog or post type deal...,display tanks with fish like cichlids....angels...pretty fish...fish that catch the eye of the buyer.a small section for things like fish bday cards and fun stuff for kids....buy one get one free type deals things that would make the buyer say ...thats a great deal...ill deff come back. some type of guarentee on the fish anf tank/items...i have ideas out the wa-zoooo just making it happen...maybe something online like order now and pick up later..

 

[Jozlyn]

You know what would be really good. Something along the lines of a double row of tanks with immature fish in the lower tank and mature full sized fish in the upper tank, that way you could get a clear idea of how big they're going to grow to and what they're going to look like when they're full grown, lots of fish look vastly different when they're full grown than when they're littlies, and you can tell me that the Chinease Algae Eater is going to grow to be 30cm's long and supper aggressive but it's quite something different to actually see it, makes it easier to appreciate the eventual size of something. Only thing is it's a waste of space because if you're going to display it you can't really sell it.

 

[PufferFishRule]

very true..that could be nice if i have the tank space..pictures of customer tanks that be neat to have..maybe a growth chart for the average fish...

 

[Jozlyn]

Or if you couldn't have a second row of tanks with full grown fish, maybe you could go with a poster type thing with a picture of a full grown fish to scale, but that wouldn't have the same impact on people as actually seeing the living breathing real thing, but it could make "some" people think twice about what they're going to put in their tank.

It's funny you should do this post, I've thought so much about this subject in the last few weeks, mainly becuase I'm so disappointed with my LFS's and also the ones I visited recently while on holidays.

Having your stock in decorated tanks would be ideal too. Maybe different theme's for different tanks, to give people an idea on how to decorate a tank. Which would make it easier to sell decorations, people would go, "Oh I want the same decorations as you've got in the third tank over there". Bit harder to keep clean, than a bare bottom tank, but that's what you employ "other" people to do!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

well, get some live foods, and the dreaded feeder fish. i know you guys will think this is wrong, but what fish store in the us doesnt have feeder fish? you can keep them healthy and label them as gutloaded feeder fish or something and charge more for them. if you are serious about setting up a fish shop to earn a profit, you will have to do some things that are unethical. if you are just in it for fun, then you can do whatever

you should also have some fish that make your shop unique. in my area, there is a shop that specializes in flowerhorn, one shop that specializes in discus, and one with big oddball fish(but they arent really that great)

 

[PufferFishRule]

yea i like the decor-tank thing...ill have all diffrent types of tank...rock caves....planted tanks.....sand...gravel set ups..some of the funky lil statues and stuff for the first time buyer....im a bit peeved with a few of my lfs's alot of em like petsmart..they suck when it comes to knowledge....and very pricey on things....i hate walmart...HATE walmart and the way they treat there underwater companions...poor water conditions i really feel like shooting a few manages up there...and maybe taking a water sample from each of there tanks and sending it to other forums and the SPCA jusy to let fish lovers know that walmart is cruel and unjust...and one of the other lfs's in my area for lack of everything..fish/tanks/heaters etc he sucked...he knew nothing the store was a mess it reaked of bird crap and ferret pee.......the most intresting thing he had was a khulie loach....."wow"...me and my mother will be running the store..family owned/operated...wont need any employees...to much of a pain in the rear exterior