becoming a importer?i have a list of indonesian contacts&amp

[JennM]

::::Banging Head Against Wall:::::::

I don't have a coral farm. I have a Local Fish Store. I do prop some corals there, does that qualify?

My store operates with a plan, and a budget, and a wing and a prayer sometimes. I work about 80 hours per week and I have a family too.

BTW I don't use pressure treated wood, I have my tanks on metal pallet racking (like at Home Depot).

My electricity bill runs about $400 a month and mine is a small store. I'm not going to list all my expenses here, a girl has to have some confidentiality on a public board.

It's a shame you can't see the pressure-treated forest for the trees in this thread. You've had lots of help offered but you've basically rejected it all.

Flame Angel, I'm going to have a seat beside you in the old farts' corner, OK? I think I need to sit the rest of this one out, but for some reason, like a moth to a flame, I keep coming back....

I think it comes from dealing with the occasional CUSTOMER who behaves in this way -- 'nuff said (but that kind o'customer generally doesn't read a board like this).

Jenn

 

[eddie]

I may see the prob now if Anthonys book inspires 2500 or whatever # large scale hobby coral farmers to set up farms some will fail of course

It may or may not hurt the LFS & wholesalers as far as the corals go anyway(dont realy know)

but thats not what I hope just what I'd predict in 5-10 also more advanced books and tactics & serious import BAN's
so..about when I'm 35-37 mabey
just a last thought

also I knew you didnt have a coral farm thats why
I asked

 

[Anonymous]

I don't see any problem with what eddie is suggesting. It sounds like someone with a backyard garden who does it for enjoyment and pleasure and personal use and eventually ends up with more than he can personally use so they set up a roadside produce stand. And no I'm not saying that tomatos and corals are anything alike but the business models could be similar. Again as long as eddie is having fun and is not hurting the reef any more than any other pet store I don't see what the big deal is. He's not wanting to set up a public shop right this second.

However---
eddie, if I understand your plans correctly I think I'd just suck it up and pay retail for your corals. It may make more sense to contact a local fish store and see if they could make an arrangemnt with you in exchange for frags or some other future compensation. When you do get ready to "open for business" I'd contact the local business office about the requirements for a business license and get an appointment with an accountant to see about your tax requirements. You certainly don't want any surprises from the IRS.

 

[eddie]

thanks Rover for the support

and the advice is well taken

far as buying corals alot will be retail but I have talked with a few wholesalers that I can also buy from with just a business license or cash (for bulbs also) & a few other options
they have minimum orders of course .
And even have tossed around the idea of a indoor fleamarket reef & hydroponic supply store(mabey much later)

also hopefuly my little girl will be a natural and have her own but more profesional & advanced coral farm 18-28 years from now after majoring in marine biology of course (LOL)

 

[Phillyboy]

Don't be totally discouraged. there's a lot of good and sensible advice here, but it's gotten drowned out by Jenn's ranting. sorry Jenn, lol.

As long as you have cash to burn you can do whatever the hell you want. these LFS owners are bitter because it's so difficult to make a living off the business and they made that choice. You sound like you just want to experiment with a greenhouse project and keep your day job. good move.

Just PLAN to keep your day job.

 

[JennM]

Whoa Phillyboy...who's bitter? Certainly not me. I went into my own business with eyes wide open and despite some frustrating days, I'm doing EXACTLY what I want to do and loving it. No bitterness at all. BUT I knew at the onset what it would take, and will take. My "ranting" is about Eddie's dismissal of all the help and advice he was offered -- not just mine, but FlameAngel's and others who have walked many miles in those shoes. I happen to have the luxury of a spouse with a "real job" that pays the bills and the mortgage so I don't have the stress of trying to actually make a living at this -- although that would be nice someday If you read bitterness into my post, you read me totally wrong -- ask any of the posters here who come into my store.

FWIW I do buy corals and fish from aquaculture facilities, so it's in MY interest for such places to be successful. What I offered up at the onset of this tread was constructive, was it not? Go back 50 posts and see.

I agree with your statement, Phillyboy -- if he's got cash to burn that's fine. This is America he CAN do what he wants but since he requested the information in the first place, and didn't like what he heard, he'll probably go ahead and do whatever anyway. Just can't say we didn't warn him.

Jenn

 

[eddie]

and I appericiate the advice just I dont ever plan to have a LFS & dont feel I should act like I do
and also dont know how many times I said my goal isnt to make a living at it
just feed my passion for the collection and propagation of marine life


please dont have hard feelings I dont

 

[eddie]

btw MaryHM truly answered my question in the begining

Thanks for the advice which I took to heart & totaly abandoned the idea of importing

I did'nt even relize she was the moderator at the time

 

[Phillyboy]

yes Jenn, you were very constructive at first. It's this drawn-out reaction to eddie's replies that seems a bit melodramatic. I'm sorry, I'm sure you're not bitter.

 

[dizzy]

I only want to say two words. "Composite plastics" Big future in composite plastics Benjie, er I mean eddie. Just a little humor for some of the old farts out there like Flameangel. The rest may need to graduate before you get it.

 

[flameangel1]

Dizzy,, composite plastics, yep, thats the "future", :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jenn,
I understand completely about the "customer who doesn't hear a word you said, and you were really trying so hard to get them to understand to", type of day !!
It is especially hard to "really care" in this business, and then see so many others just think they can do it all so much easier and make so much money and sell so much cheaper etc.etc etc.
What really gets to me is all the "fly by nights ",selling out of their basements without any of the costs we "legal" people have.

You already know, as I and others know who have been in this for so long, that it is a more work-less pay (pay? )more frustration than most other jobs.. But, it is what we believe in and are willing to keep doing.
I have no "significant other" to help either-just lowered my standards of living (greatly )
So keep your chin up-don't let those "clueless" people get to you, be proud of what you are doing, and you'll make it to the "old farts corner".

 

[JennM]

Thanks Judy! I'd be a proud member of that club.

You hit the nail on the head about the fly-by-nighters, both the ones out of basements/garages AND those who somehow manage to get storefronts going -- those who have left a trail of unpaid bills have made the path difficult for the rest.

It's not bitterness, nor melodrama -- it's a cold hard fact of this (and I'm sure many other businesses). Just in this business we're dealing with living things, and that often makes decisions more difficult.

Admittedly this thread got somewhat away from the initial question at hand, but I still think that there was a wealth of information on this business and business in general, offered up here.

Jenn

 

[SPC]

Posted by Phillyboy:

It's this drawn-out reaction to eddie's replies that seems a bit melodramatic.

-Then I wouldn't read it if I were you. Personally I learned alot from Jenn and Judy's posts on this thread and appreciate that they took the time to try and educate some of us.
Steve

 

[flameangel1]

Steve,,
Thanks for understanding.
It is NOT bitterness , it is just that there is much more frustration in this business than anyone can imagine, especially when we are trying to do ALL things alone. (like Jenn and I-not for people like Glenn who have help maybe )

Dry goods on the shelf are what mainly pays the overhead.
(The internet has about destroyed that back up .)
Dry goods do not get stressed or die when you have twenty people waving their arms and pointing at all the pretty fishies at one time.
Dry goods do not come in stressed or DOA either.
The sale of the livestock rarely ever covers the cost of getting and maintaining it.
We expect and know this and can deal with it (most times anyway ).

We are also dealing with all levels of customers all day and equipment that needs to be fixed, phones ringing (I hate telephones) etc. etc. and
then along comes some "clueless " person who knows so much more than we do .
It is not bitterness that makes us rant, its the stress level !!
If I was a fish, the ick would never go away!!

 

[Phillyboy]

Propping for me is about studying and cultivating the animals, not my retirement fund. Of course Jenn was very informative initially, and i know her heart's in the right place. And she gave good advice to anyone starting a retail business.

 

[flameangel1]

Phillyboy,

Heck I've got one in my closet and I undersell the LFS's left and right. Sorry it means less cash for you retailors, but that's the breaks. Retail markup is too high anyway.

And if you get caught selling illegally, you will have a nice fine too !!!

If you paid all the "legal and red tape stuff" that we honest people do, believe me, you would have to charge more !!!! :evil:

 

[Anonymous]

What really gets to me is all the "fly by nights ",selling out of their basements without any of the costs we "legal" people have.

You're joking right? What about selling from your basement is illegal? You registered, pay taxes etc etc etc. What is illegal about that?

 

[flameangel1]

JustPhish,
I was referring to the many people (of which I DO know many)
who are selling out of their basements and even online, who have no IRS id, no business license, do not pay taxes,do not pay commercial price for electric/telephone etc.etc.
And I get exceedingly angry at their bragging about it !!!

If Philly Boy is not one of them, I apologize.

 

[Phillyboy]

:roll: didn't know i was one of america's most wanted! lol. spare me.

 

[flameangel1]

ok--now what is the difference between your "home based business" and retail ?????
Because I have a storefront and pay all the commercial stuff, and abide by all the government regulations- that makes me stupid and bad in your eyes ???