will people visit a fish store...........

[skimmerman100]

i know havent been posting for a long time but i have been busy with a friend coming up with a solution to our depts lol, how do fix our debts u ask, by getting into more dept lol, for real tho, i just need to ask u guys input
i was wondering, a friend and i were discussing an issue about if people will visit a lfs in the middle of nowhere? the space isnt the problem, the location is. its not near any local shopping highways and not in a downtown district, it would be in a industrial zone, but it will carry alot of live stock and unbelievable prices. i am in noway shape or form opening a business yet, but we are planning, this place will have online prices even to walk ins. i need some feedback from u guys to see if itll be worth us investing in the business

 

[tosiek]

You obviously didn't do your research on LFS's in the area and which are succeeding and why.

And fixing your debt by getting into more debt is kinda stupid, especially on an already suffering industry. But hey, if you want to dig your own grave sure.

A little hint about the $$ side of the hobby: you lose money in retail. Stores stay open because the maintenance side of the business carry's the retail. The only reason the retail side stays open when its failing is to have livestock and pricing on hand for installs and upgrades for the maintenance side. Every successful fish store follows this basic outline.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

You obviously didn't do your research on LFS's in the area and which are succeeding and why.

And fixing your debt by getting into more debt is kinda stupid, especially on an already suffering industry. But hey, if you want to dig your own grave sure.

A little hint about the $$ side of the hobby: you lose money in retail. Stores stay open because the maintenance side of the business carry's the retail. The only reason the retail side stays open when its failing is to have livestock and pricing on hand for installs and upgrades for the maintenance side. Every successful fish store follows this basic outline.

+1

First off, look how many LFS have come and gone in the last 2 years alone. One day they're there then the next day theres a thread on here wondering what happened because a person that went there 6 months prior was in the area, went to stop in and realized that the LFS is no longer a LFS.

Also, I think that if you think you'll be able to set up shop with how high rent is in most places, get a large system running, stock it as a new vendor and still have unbelievable prices you're probably misleading yourselves a bit.


Either way good luck.

 

[jaa1456]

If you plan on opening up in North NJ where you are, you already have a major uphill fight against Absolutely Fish alone. Everyone in that area knows that place and knows they carry anything from a 2 dollar fish up to 15,000 dollar fish. They get a lot of business off of that alone because it impresses people. If you go between there and PA, I think it would be a losing battle unless that area would be able to keep your store afloat. I have never known of any LFS being in that area, and it could be for a very good reason.

 

[albano]

A little hint about the $$ side of the hobby: you lose money in retail. Stores stay open because the maintenance side of the business carry's the retail. The only reason the retail side stays open when its failing is to have livestock and pricing on hand for installs and upgrades for the maintenance side. Every successful fish store follows this basic outline.

+2 ...without a strong maintenance business...you're doomed!...there's no $ in retailing livestock/equipment at online pricing , unless you do big volume.

 

[skimmerman100]

i in no way shape or form opening without research which is why i posted here to get feed back from people and no not in nnj, i want to know if people would visit, to know if we can do well with livestock sale too. i have done research and have worked in the retail business and know what it takes to run a fail safe business, this place will be no where near absolutly fish or ocean gallery

 

[skimmerman100]

i have done all the math and have checked with local laws, permits and even checked revenues and startup cost and over head on all the place we can get is owned by my friend.. he just wants to find something to do with it. maintenance is alway where our $$$ will be mostly invested in

 

[Breakin Newz]

i in no way shape or form opening without research which is why i posted here to get feed back from people and no not in nnj, i want to know if people would visit, to know if we can do well with livestock sale too. i have done research and have worked in the retail business and know what it takes to run a fail safe business, this place will be no where near absolutly fish or ocean gallery

You say you worked in this retail business? For how long? Did you manage the store or just work there? Did you work with there profits factoring in there upkeep and losses?

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[TRIGGERMAN]

As mentioned above most retail stores do not thrive. The electric bill alone will kill you. Plus when you are dealing w/ live stock your losses will be tremendous. Most of the time the stuff is transshipped which means its shipped from the country of origin to another person then if you are lucky to you. That stuff is in transit bouncing around for 24-36 hours before it gets to you. A good portion of that stuff if not doa will be dead in a few days. It's a crappy business and definitely not one you should jump into if you are already in debt. Ask any of the vendors here how much stuff dies on them I bet it would surprise you. I've ordered corals from online from people in this country only a few states away and have had stuff die. It sucks.

 

[loneracer05]

Well to answere you questionn im on li and solong as there isn't a bridge to cross id be willing to go if the trip was worth it

 

[lfsmarineguy]

First, while most stores do follow the model of maintenance carrying the store, it is completely false to say that the retail side can't generate worthy profits. I've proven this before and it all comes down to knowing what you are doing. Maintenance is the easy part but retail takes skill and that is where most businesses fall short.

Second, there is no fail safe business no matter how good you are at it or what you think you might know. That would be a huge red flag for me if you were looking for investors and that's the best way to look at your own business. If you were being asked to put your money into someone elses business what would you be looking for in them and the business?

Third, pricing is the biggest downfall for new businesses. I honestly believe that this is where most people end up cutting their own throat and it is partially the fault of the industry. You can't compare a small retail store to an online store. Online megastores are purchasing the same products by the trailer and getting discounts that brick and mortar will never see unless they get to that size and volume. if you notice, some online stores can sell products for about what some distributors will sell to you for. You have to know what you need to live on and set your margins accordingly or you will be out of business before you can turn on the lights.

Maintenance is a huge help and I don't know of many stores out there that don't have their own mainetenance dept. because the fact is that it generates much higher margins so the bulk of a new stores revenue will probably come from it. I think most stores end up getting lazy and rely on service because it's easier and carries higher profits but to just say that the retail location is just there to carry service is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

My experience in the trade, if your curious, is almost a decade now. I have managed 3 of the more well known stores on the island, worked at 2 others and helped build a store from the ground up including completely designing the fish systems. I also helped renovate a store that was well established where we ended up cutting the electric almost in half and now I am working on my own business.

I don't think that when you deal with livestock the same rules as other retail trades apply. There are far more variables and other things to consider that someone just selling drygoods would never even worry about.

 

[albano]

...i have done research and have worked in the retail business and (I) know what it takes to run a fail safe business...

If you really " KNOW what it takes to run a fail safe business " , you can make a few BILLION $s teaching other business owners!

 

[lfsmarineguy]

As for loss of animals, it really depends on your suppliers and how well you have built and maintain your systems. Most shipments have very few if any DOAs, but I also use established companies that I have worked with for years and that I know care for the fish. How you handle them from the time you receive them is another story. Acclimation is the biggest part and I think most people do an improper acclimation because they don't want to be bothered. Which can also be said for the stores systems. If you are seeing a lot of death, than you're doing something very wrong.

 

[Wes]

Location, location, location

If you have cheap space in a desolate location you will probably do better as an Internet business.

 

[aqob]

as for loss of animals, it really depends on your suppliers and how well you have built and maintain your systems. Most shipments have very few if any doas, but i also use established companies that i have worked with for years and that i know care for the fish. How you handle them from the time you receive them is another story. Acclimation is the biggest part and i think most people do an improper acclimation because they don't want to be bothered. Which can also be said for the stores systems. If you are seeing a lot of death, than you're doing something very wrong.

+1

 

[pete_lockwood]

Location, location, location

If you have cheap space in a desolate location you will probably do better as an Internet business.

Or a strip club.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

...i was wondering, a friend and i were discussing an issue about if people will visit a lfs in the middle of nowhere? the space isnt the problem, the location is. its not near any local shopping highways and not in a downtown district, it would be in a industrial zone, but it will carry alot of live stock and unbelievable prices.

People visit LFS mostly because of the sheer stock situation. Most customers would visit a LFS because they need the stuff ASAP including live stock. They would revisit because they remember there has a lot of stuff and the chance of getting something is high.

The marketing model of unbelievable prices will kill yourself in LFS reatil unless you make LFS into a supermarket that there are no sales person, only cashier and a technical support dept. If you need good technical salesman, you must pay higher. With unbelievable prices how can you pay them a believable salary. So you would end up Petco, Petland style workers. With low level workers, even with unbelievable prices, you will be famed by ALL forums. Search how many complaints are made due to the low knowledge level workers in the trade.

If you can handle the volume and also get unbelievable prices why not simply concentrate on online business. Successful ornamental fish industry wholesalers, breeders and such need no retail of their own. If they have allowed walkins to slow down their operations, they would have been out of business as well.

IMO, live stock retail cannot be go low end.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Wingo, the wholesale side of this industry is an entirely different animal and I would never do it myself. The online portion of the fish trade is so saturated that I wouldn't even attempt it unless you can figure out a way to make yourself unique and stand out for doing it differently. Otherwise you blend into the sea of faceless websites being run out of a garage or basement, all claiming to have the best and healthiest livestock but ultimately offering nothing new.

 

[Brando457]

If it was an online with option to pickup by locals and save shipping costs I could see it doing well.

It'd give you a broader audience online + satisfy local reefers with good prices and save you staff as others mentioned.

Also guys lfs make a killing on the mark up on the livestock. Granted they have to pay their staff, electric, and for supplies, but the markup is anywhere from 30%-100%. A show size naso with streamers is $175 and I've seen the same fish at a LFS for $500.

So lfs are still making $$$ off their retail sales + factor in dry goods too not only livestock.

I've actually considered opening my own store since in NNJ all we have is AF. I think if the OP plans this out right and has a strategic vision for the first 2 years and implements it properly he can succeed.


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[Brando457]

Also without risk there is no reward. To the OP if you have your heart set on it, give it a go and give it your all. If it works out then congratulations, if not live and learn.

There are plenty of people who will say no no no it's too risky, it's too this blah blah. These are the same people who never take chances and are afraid of breaking out of the box.


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