To: Fish Store Owners.

[ImperatorAngel]

Hi, I am an owner of a fish store. I am a new fish store, around 9-10 months. Around 5-6 Months I had a very good spike in customers and my store has been very busy. Customers have come and gone, tanks complete, and coming every so-so week/month. All of a sudden it has been very slow. Around Mid-December. Is it the same for you guys?
I've had the same fish in my tanks for 4 weeks at a time. All my fish are healthy and eating, none have died.

What has sales been like for you? I was told winter time was good for fish stores.

 

[Anonymous]

Depends on the economy. If people fear the R word they tand to buy less

Where are you located?

 

[ImperatorAngel]

I am located in the Carolinas, there is little to none competition around.

 

[HELLYEAH]

yup thats the slow season. it'll start pickin up after this month.

 

[Anonymous]

Hopefully you do Ponds too. It is almost certain death in the Carolinas if you dont do Pond Service/Sales.

 

[ImperatorAngel]

No, I do not do ponds. I dont deal with anything freshwater if you mean freshwater ponds. I do saltwater ponds.

Why do you think that?

 

[swsaltwater]

Economy on top the internet is taking a toll. I know of 3 stores in Phoenix that went out, 9 if you count full line stores. While I still make money and have no issues yet, eventually you gotta eventually look at what you can make in a real job vs the store. 14 hours a day x 7 in a store vs 8 a day x 5. Corporate world might start looking better and better with those numbers hehe. December and january have been great so far. December was was 2nd biggest month in the 2 years owning the store. Only slowdown I see now is new tank setups are down a bit, likely due to the shaky housing issues. Existing customers are not slowing down much for livestock, but eventually tanks get full and unless the economy picks up as well as new hobbyist the nation/hobby is in for trouble. Seems the wholesalers are feeling it as well, getting sales calls from places that never use to call out to customers....

 

[swsaltwater]

oh yeah also in december people load up CC debt for xmas, January is remorse time and paying it off a bit lol. Febuary they go back to min payments and forget it ever happened. The American way, thank god I don't use Credit Cards anymore.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey guys.... Dont fear the "R". A recession is 2 quarters with a negative GDP. Last Q isnt in yet and the Q before was like 4.4

 

[brandonberry]

I am located in the Carolinas, there is little to none competition around.

I'm not sure I would totally agree with that if you were speaking in terms of the Carolinas as a whole. There may not be much where you are whereever that is. The triangle area in itself has at least 7 saltwater aquarium stores, not counting the chain stores.

Have you tryed hosting any events like frag swaps? I know of at least a couple of stores who have built almost their entire customer base by hosting frag swaps every 2-3 months. Also, I think stores benefit from staying in touch with the hobbiest groups. In NC we have www.carolinafishtalk.com , the Raleigh Aquarium Society, as well as other clubs in Greensboro, Charlotte, and possibly some other areas. PM me and I'll be glad to help any way I can.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey guys.... Dont fear the "R". A recession is 2 quarters with a negative GDP. Last Q isnt in yet and the Q before was like 4.4

Fine, we'll call it a slow down :lol: I deal with well over several hundred LFS's country wide. Very few have reported times as being "good", while most have reported business as "unusually slow".

Friends plumbing outift, biggest in the area. Can't find new jobs, why, no new homes are being built. Why? No money Guess the reported numbers haven't caught up to the truth yet

 

[danieldm]

Ya, the report I just saw said that new home sales in California dropped 27% in 2007, and that was the largest drop since 1980. It said that home sales in California are currently at their slowest period ever recorded.

 

[Raskal311]

What about home sales in general?

 

[swsaltwater]

Foreclosures up, home sales down all over. Tucson has auctions on newly built spec homes in some areas. Talking to managers at large builders they say they loose money now to sell homes. All home related jobs, plumbing, electrical, framers, etc are out of work now. The only good news is people will look for ways to improve the homes they have since they are not likely to sell andget a new home....

 

[Anonymous]

But you'll get $600 guys

 

[naesco]

Foreclosures up, home sales down all over. Tucson has auctions on newly built spec homes in some areas. Talking to managers at large builders they say they loose money now to sell homes. All home related jobs, plumbing, electrical, framers, etc are out of work now. The only good news is people will look for ways to improve the homes they have since they are not likely to sell andget a new home....

There is a dire need for all trades people in Canada particularly Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Wages are excellent as the Canadian dollar is now higher than the US dollar.

Let your friends know.

Wayne

 

[Anonymous]

Not to mention free health care

Even with all the perks up there, and despite all the short comings of the US, I still LOVE both my country and where I live You'd have to drag me screaming and kicking!

 

[naesco]

Not to mention free health care

Even with all the perks up there, and despite all the short comings of the US, I still LOVE both my country and where I live You'd have to drag me screaming and kicking![/quote

I think you misunderstood my post. You come to work not to immigrate.

The Canadian government has a programme called a work visa which allows skilled workers and their families to move to Canada to fill the jobs desparately needed.
The programme is for two years but can be extended.
Some of these workers do apply for landed immigrant status if they want to stay permanently.

It is of benefit to Canada in that the jobs are filled. It is of benefit to the American worker because he can come up here, make big bucks and return and buy one of those houses under forclosure at a huge discount.
The US benefits because the thousands of workers bring back money into the US which in turn is spent there and thus help the American economy.

There is nothing un-American about an unemployed tradesman seeking these jobs.
Wayne

 

[Anonymous]

Never said it was "unamarican", I said I LOVE my contry and where I live. Understand? Why continue down a path I just said I won't travel?

 

[oldgrayhair]

I hope Canada is ready, there's a bunch of us getting the plans in motion to move up in 09'.

We're not going under the guise of it must be so much better there, just simply a change of pace and a nice place to retire.

Being that I've only seen snow twice in my 38 years, I'm a bit giddy to learn some of those dangerous snow sports!

-OGH