Wanna start a LFS?

[mtreef]

Anyone ever looked into starting a LFS? Only one LFS within two hours of where I live. And that one is in such demand that they don't really have to keep sharp (still sell undergravel filters as their primary system, waiting list for fish which are expensive and small, always out of stuff, people competing over stock, etc).

I know it isn't easy as I have seen two LFS start and fail in the last 5 years here, but it has to be doable with money and hard work.

Can you start small? Sell LR, some fish, corals, food, etc. Grow from there? I know you can deal with distributors like Walt Smith and get stock.

Would take some investment as you would want to make sure your tank setup is good and can maintain healthy specimens, not to mention the typical expenses of starting a business.

Any thoughts, negative or positive are appreciated. How would you do it?

[Firefish]

I'm game, people could use a quality LFS around here. Where are you from?

[Ralph]

Hi
You sound like a friend of mine , and heres what I tell him. I would rather put my money in a pizza shop.Every body that lives on my block eats pizza, only one person on my block buys live corals and thats me! I'd rather put my money were there was a big demand. Not in a low demand buss. like a LFS. I've seen to many lfs come and go to put my money in that type of investment. The only way I would even think of trying this is to start a small buss. in my basement and then expand.
HTH
Ralph

[Venaman]

if i were to start any sort of fish store id do it online for sure

[mtreef]

I live in northwest Montana, in the Flathead Valley. Almost to Canada. I would normally agree that LFS would be too much of a unique hobby to survive, but I guess I keep needing something for my reef tank and can never find it locally. Maybe I am the only one buying corals.

How about pizza and coral? One-stop shop!

[ReeFGeeK]

Yeah i can see it now people buying that pizza then eating a slice while looking at the tanks and droping some sauce or a olive in the water it wouldnt be a pretty site your fish might like it though

ReeFGeeK

[FishKid]

If i were you, i would definatly go for it, but you have to plan it out! If i was opening an LFS by me, I would consontrate more on Fish at first, as corals are not in demand at all! Koi are in such high demand on long island! make a couple of phone calls, see if there are any whole sellers in driving distance. Pamphlets for beginners would help to (If I was a beginner i would like the fact that you went out of your way to tell them how to do it)


mark

[Lock]

I think in that business you need to be diverse. You rarely see a store do only marine that's because the customer base is too small. The fresh water customer base is much larger since it is easier for a novice and much cheaper. If you can branch into other areas outside of aquatics then you increase you customer base even more and there by make it more likely you will survive.

[rotorh60]

This is something that I am seriously considering. I've done alot of reasearch, and have established contacts with some wholesellers. I also have an LFS owner who has given me advise on how to get a new place up and going, and has offered to help me get a place up and going (partnership).

To start a new store, small marine only, will take close to 40 grand. And that is doable for me. I have 3 more years until I retire out of the Navy, and I plan on giving this a shot in DFW, Arlington to be exact. I've been to just about every shop from Ft. Worth to Dallas, and selection is rather limited in species or colors, and with prices that do not match what is offered, ie too much for too little.

I know that if things are slow, I could always work on aircraft (A&P Licensed), but I will work for someone else. I am sick of working on and aircraft, and me and the family get too much enjoyment from our reef. Myself and significant other has had many a long conversation about this, and have location in mind already. Only thing stopping me right now, is that I am too close to recieving a monthly retainer to quit, and stuck in Japan.

We are willing to start in "garage", and work up from there if need be. Our goal is that our LFS can develope and grow into something that will be the "your total marine resourse".

[ReeFGeeK]

If you start one in DFW let me know cause ill be a weekly customer as there arent that great of LFS's around here and when you get going i might work for ya

ReeFGeeK

[rotorh60]

Thank you ReeFGeek,
You are offically the first customer at Aqua Works Sorry that it will be a few more years till I come home to Texas, but it will be worth the wait!

[alf3482]

I word to the wise. I am bizz owner in the city of Arlington. There was a small SW only shop here it did not survive. We have only two places in the city to buy Sw stuff. Petco(They suck big time) and Pet land (they suck big time too).

Things are not all that great in Arlington right now, things are closing up left and right. Hopefully when you decide in a couple of years the economy in Arlington will be better. If you decide to put a shop in Arlington then make sur you go far North Arlington or deep south Arlington cause this is where the money is.

As for one stop shop deal I have thought of doing this here out of The DQ myself. But the Health dept. Said NO WAY. I could not get the permits to do so.

[Northman_with_reef]

We have like 2 stores in norway....

One sells things 5 times as expensive as normal and the other is full of flatworms and no knowledge....

You guys are lucky!!!!

I get all my stuff from fellow hobbyists.

If i would start a store I would sell alot of frags and try to be positioned easely accesible .

There's alot of ppl here that start stores in their basements, wich is a pretty good idea...


Thomas