Starting an Aquatics store? (LFS)

[Fiji Live Rock]

Hello everyone.

Most of you should know me by now and if not will in the future.

I am looking to start my own Aquatics Store in my local area. I want to hold a larger selection of HIGH quality saltwater and some freshwater aquatic livestock. Along with that, I want to carry a full range of products.

Does anyone know any places that sell at wholesale or below to Aquatic Stores?

I need to get all my costs figured out so I know what I can afford to start and what areas I will expand on first.

Thank you for your help in this matter. :)

**NOTE**
If I get my store started, and it does good enough to continue growing...I will donate to reeflounge.com on a regular basis along with giving discounts to all of its members.

I will also host forums on my site that will be for my business that will be closely tied to reeflounge.com.

[fishfreek]

I cant help you with any wholesale live stock places but I know that its rather expensive to get started with a LFS.

I know of one LFS that spent over 10K and was only able to stay in operation for a few months because they did not have the business volume to keep up with expenses.

Before you get to far into it I would make sure that there is plenty of interest in your area for another LFS. If there are LFS's around now when you visit them are they packed with customers or are you often the only person in there?

Are there alot of people in your area into saltwater?

Those are things to have a firm grasp on before you dive to far in. It would be bad to start up a store where either there is already to many stores to support the demand or there is no demand at all.


With that said I do wish you the best of luck. Far to many small businesses fail. The small business man is what has made this country what it is.

[Fiji Live Rock]

As far as the demographics are concerned, there is a strong enough draw for saltwater fish to make a living. Also, with the aid of the internet, where the customer base lacks the "pull" of business, the internet should make up for the difference in sales/profits.

As for the startup costs:

I plan on building a lot of the systems from scratch. I always have been one to do things myself. I have owned 2 businesses in the past.
1) Field of Dreams Landscaping & Design [Which I sold for a nice profit.]
2) Lehigh Valley Detailing [Which I currently own.]

So in the aspects of running a small business, I am more than ready. Back to the costs, I will build it slowly and continue to expand. People will be looking for top quality fish at competitive prices. That is what I will give them. I might not have the 6 300gal tanks completely decked out with reefs, but give me time...and who knows. Also, where the Saltwater fish lack in sales, there will be freshwater also, and don't forget all the dry goods for Marine, freshwater, cat, dog, birds, reptiles, etc. I will have a broad range of income methods.

I have been working on starting up this business for over a year. Been working on a business plan and now I am looking for my suppliers.

We will see how it goes. :)

[matrixnyc]

Here are some that I have found:

http://www.qualitymarineusa.com (http://www.qualitymarineusa.com)

Specializing in the highest quality marine livestock, aquariums and commercial related products, Quality Marine has been an industry leader since 1981.
Quality marine boasts numerous industry firsts and it's knowledgeable staff offer unparalleled industry experience and customer service.
Quality Marine imports more than 20 shipments a week from 50 livestock suppliers based in more than 30 countries throughout the tropical seas. We've traveled the globe to seek out the most consistent supply points for the finest quality and best variety.



http://www.tropicorium.com (http://www.tropicorium.com)

Tropicorium Inc. is a 40,000+ gallon facility containing ONLY saltwater animals. We have 20,000 lbs. of live rock on hand at all times. All of the tanks in the facility run on the Jaubert Plenum style system. This uses an Aragonite substrate and a "dead space" under the substrate to grow bacteria.


http://www.uwwe.com/ (http://www.uwwe.com)

HEALTHY, TOP QUALITY FISH AT A GREAT VALUE

At Underwater World you'll find the widest selection of the finest exotic and rare marine fish, corals, and invertebrates, imported from tropical seas around the world.
Established in 1975, we have become one of the largest and most reputable marine fish wholesalers in California, serving over 400 tropical fish retailers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.


What ever you choose to do, I wish you good luck :)

[ASOYER]

Where are you located? I can help you with livestock. Adam

[Nas19320]

Wow cool. Where in PA is this store going to be located.

[AWestphal]

I would recommend that you don't stop at just fish. But have complete pet store; dog, cat, reptiles, birds...

The reason I say that is because it may support you when business is slow. Also that is how I got into fish keeping. I went to a small pet store for a christmas present for my dog and cats and I feel in love with the fish. Another area to touch in is offer setups and possibly care for tanks of business. That should be a big profit.

I would also watch ebay... it was just a couple of days ago that I saw one of those aquarium fish holders. Where the tanks are on top of each other. They are little cubicles. They also have different plain tanks for sale at some good prices.

One of the LFS has an outstanding store... most of the time the fish are excellent but in order to stay in business he constantly sells inappropriate specimens to people. He still tries to do it to me. Also his prices are about a 50% increase to other LFS, yes he as a wide variety of generally great specimens but those prices kill you and it is because he can't stay in business without those high prices. Just some thoughts for you.

It has always been a dream of mine to run a quality pet store that is based on integrity and honesty.

I think you will be one of those.

Good Luck and please keep us posted on the progress.

[scooter]

Hey, Fiji Live Rock, could you email some places where you found info on starting a lfs. I have also been in the process of trying to find out available grants and loans through the gov. I would also sell exotic pets. I have done some research and think that this can be a great profit booster. Any help would be great. I would also be interested in helping rl members out and helping our hobby to grow and thrive.

[scooter]

Sorry, email address is scooterfish@hotmail.com

[michealprater]

Fiji, hows the aquatics store coming along?

[Fiji Live Rock]

Hi yall,

The store is still in the making but has been placed on hold. I plan on actually purchasing a building, and opening a fully functional store but it won't be until I am done with my military career as a Army Helicopter Pilot.

That way...once I am done in 6 years with the Army, I will come out and get a corporate job and use the supplemental income from the military to fund the pet store. Once everything is said and done...my first store will more than likely be in the Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton area (AKA: ABE Location in Pennsylvania). One thing that will be nice...I will be living in Florida and will also apply for a permit to capture fish and corals for export to my store. (I have a feeling this might be a tough one, but if it happens, will dramaticly reduce my costs.)

However, at the current moment...I have just started a small business called (CAS) Custom Aquatic Systems. I will specalize in the setup, design and installation of tanks from 90-300+ gal., but will also do tanks less than 90.

Hope all goes well...I want my new YZF R1 as soon as possible! :mrgreen:

[jgoelz]

Hey Fiji, I don't know anything about starting a pet store but I want an R1 as soon as possible to. :D The silver and black one. :twisted:

[captivereefs]

Stick with the service and you will do well. You have very little overhead and can make a good profit. I charge $70 per hour plus there is a trip charge and also the profit from drygoods. In a retail front you have so many overhead costs that it will eat your profit up faster than you can blink an eye.

[Fiji Live Rock]

See my business post for a full update.

[trigger16]

Once you get your busines liscense you can open accounts with suppliers.

Take note if you are not on the coastal states buying livestock can get pricier as shipping costs to you will be higher. That is why livestock costs on species on states like CA or FL are much cheaper than other states.

Also you will have to compete with prices on dry goods. So many times a product can cost you $100 and online shops are offering for $120. You will not be able to compete.

Your operation costs will be very high.

Make sure there is great interested locally as you will have to survive on the local customers. and do note they wil lshop around. especially for dry goods. So hooking up with lower prices from whereeve ris a must. Also offering stuff like LR cheap and lights is a must.

I know locally I can buy say a 100g tank for $100. Som shops in my area want to charge 3-6 times more. So this gu found a place he can offer that.

Locally we also have aguy that runs a shop that has solid clients. So they all know when he goes to the airport to pick up livestock and sells most of it that day!

[Fiji Live Rock]

I get all my livestock direct from the major distributors in California.

They are shipped to me via USAir and arrive at PHL.

As far as price competition online...easy! That is so not a problem it isn't even funny.

It is all about getting the right suppliers, knowing the right people, and how well you can negotiate. :wink: 8)

[gregoryalln]

i have visited most of the suppliers in cali, both the live stock, and dry goods. e-mail me and i can give you details on prices,quality. for obvious reasons we i cant list all the prices on the board. i qill say that www.uwwe.com under water world was very impressive with price and quality, and that is all who i mainly order from. they arent the biggest, but i think they were the best. talk to louisea if you go there


Greg
ExoticAquaticsPDX@yahoo.com
please only pet stores contact these places, they get alot of people calling trying to pool and order and it makes it hard on the lfs when the average joe calls. they will also ask you for more than just a business liscense

[Fiji Live Rock]

I have looked at uww but havent tried them yet. I currently use PAF and SDC for my livestock. They seem to have what the other doesn't...and another good thing is PAF refered me to SDC for items they didn't carry so SDC wanted to thank PAF by combining orders when I order from both...SDC will take my order from PAF and combine it with theirs to cut down on my shipping costs.

My normal shipping costs for around every $1,000 spent per order comes out to $70-100 via USAir to PHL.

I have shut down my business for the meantime. The temps are extremely cold here and my last shipment of a BEAUTIFUL Rose Anemone even with every precaution arived in Ice cold water and basicly DOA. It died that night in the person's tank (they provided me with photos). Since that shipment I have "closed" until the weather gets out of the single digits and teens/twenties.

I will give uww another call sometime this week.

[Fiji Live Rock]

Also, as mentioned above...

If you are NOT a pet store....PLEASE DO NOT contact these places. They require a business license + a Federal Tax ID and in some cases other proof of business.

By trying to get them to sell to you the general public, it only slows them down by distracting them from trying to do their jobs.

Each site is labled for businesses only...no retail customer purchases.

Thank you for your understanding! 8) :wink: :)