How Hard Is It To Run A Lfs?

[petertr]

Does anyone on here actually run a LFS?


There's a Pet Shop that has closed near me recently, and I can't help but be interested in taking it on.


I have a relative who loves fish - he got me into it - and Im sure he would like nothing more than to run it.


Is there any profit in it as a business?

 

[Davo86]

I think the first thing to do would be to find out why it closed in the first place,
with the recession looming I feel it would be hard for a small privately owned store to stay afloat.

 

[drobbyb]

It's not as easy as you would think. Having to deal with suppliers that constantly send you sick fish, missed or late shipmnts, dealing with people who steal your inventory, etc.

That being said, at least you could spread the message of how to keep fish properly.

 

[fishyfeet]

its no where near me otherwise id help you out, di

 

[always4lora]

cant see there being much profit really, well not for a wile , once you get going you'll most liekly be able to live off it, word of mouths a wonderfull thing and if you get a good rep i'd imagne people wouldnt bother about pets at home or other larger shops.

 

[ChrisXL]

My LFS is part of a whole garden center. A source in the LFS tells me that aquarium sales bring in more than half of the garden centers income. Very profitable, providing you live in a popular area, and can get good advertising. Why did the LFS close down in the first place?

 

[Nick16]

they make alot of money on the accessories like juwel filter stuff and little bottled potions. this way, when you get these in they cant be sick or injured! so you are almost guarenteed to ave some stock, well unless the shipment goes arwy. hope you do take it on, as, as said above you can spread the word.

 

[petertr]

It was half pet and half fish.


I would make it all fish.


Being very fanciful here - can't see how I'd possibly get a loan to buy it in the current climate. Was just curious

 

[Davo86]

maybe TFF should all pull together and buy it

 

[Jazzzz]

probably be better to start one from scratch would probably be cheaper

 

[petertr]

maybe TFF should all pull together and buy it

Anyone want to buy shares???

 

[TheMerovingian]

I'm not even in the same country or I'd totally help you out. I need a job lol

 

[Colin_T]

It comes down to business management. If you are good with people and can sell ice to Eskimos, and you know how to keep fish, then it can be easy enough to run a shop. However, if you don't know much about fish, diseases, etc, and you can't find good staff, then don't even think about it. Also as mentioned above, opening a new business in the current economic climate could be rather risky.
Check the neighbourhood and find out if there are any other pet/ fish shops nearby. Any other shops within a 5km radius from the shop will be a direct competitor.
Do a business management course at night school.
Try to track down some suppliers of fish, (on the internet and usually located in Asia) and look into a quarantine room. You might need to get a permit for the quarantine room and to import fishes into your country. Check with your quarantine and fisheries department.
Measure the shop and see how many tanks you can get in there.
Be prepared to work long hours and not have a social life for a couple of years

 

[aaronnorth]

do some research on the area first, send some questionnaires around etc, look at crime rates - there is loads of things, any one could be the cause of the closure in the first place. Dont go into marines though.

 

[Colin_T]

what is wrong with marines?