wds21921
New member
I think many of the stores see the better profit margins without thinking it through very clearly.
Most of your stores who carry SW fish and or Inverts/reef seem to be around longer and have a little steadier customer flow. I think the retailers see this and then expect to be able to jump right in and start reaping the rewards in a short time.
What many don't realize is it's a long term investment filled with huge risks.
The mark-up on SW fish and Inverts is better than freshwater but look also at the care and maintenance required. The overall cost is at least double and sometimes triple that of FW.
Then of course along with maintenance is the problem of finding reliable people to do the water changes/sales/customer service. This kills many businesses IMO. Getting the right information right from the beginning is more important than the sale itself but a lot of stores look right past that fact.
When I worked at Pet's Emporium in particular, I turned many people away from SW simply because they didn't have the time required to maintain the tank. Most balked at the investment cost also which saved us both time.
At the same time the stores are no different than many hobbyists, they too want the look and the enjoyment of having brightly colored animals and unusual specimens. It's not always about profit but I think for the shortsighted it may be very true.
Running a business also has it's drawbacks too. You get sedated or bored often times and it's tough to get out of that rut. The important element here is to surround yourself with people who can also be self-motivated and take the challenge to change things up a little.
It's easy to sit back and criticize and not understand all the variables involved. At the same time it's also healthy if the business is accepting of some criticism and is willing to at least consider there customers opinions. When you rely on the public for direct sales and you think you know more than your customer of there needs, your finished IMO. There's a healthy balance here that must be maintaned at all times.
That is why I think your seeing many more of these Pet Superstores opening around our area.
First they have the capitol (cash) to get nicer displays and take some chances.
For the mom and pop stores they are limited by there customers cash flow, inherently. That's also a big factor that can work for them. The owners have a closer and more personal relationship with there customer base and should use that to there advantage.
The Superstores can also afford to carry a better variety of products although many don't. They can throw a couple hundred dollars in some food and see if there customers like it. A small loss to them isn't a big deal.
Mom and pop can only try a few cans or packs. A loss of sales of that product is a bigger deal to them when they can't afford a comparable volume. Volume has it's rewards when you walk into a store and see a nice display, as well as the discount when buying in bulk (retailer).
I'm not taking away from the responsibility factor of any of the LFS. At the same time, if we held ourselves to the same standard for some of the mistakes we've made as hobbysists I don't think there would be much difference?
The best approach is to offer feedback, your the customer and it's your responsibility to tell them what you want. If they don't want to listen or don't care, then attrition has a way of taking care of that problem for us
.
When your a retailer and you place an order, you very seldom get what you order in time to keep the customer happy. For those who are able to do that, you should count your good fortune. We're not dealing with widgets here we're dealing with animals.
I've talked before about the emergency factor also. How would it be if your living in say NorthEast Md or even Elsmere De and you have to drive to Lancaster or Baltimore just to get salt or a replacement heater because yours broke??? Call it convenience or an emergency but the point is we need them as much as they need us. It's symbiosis at it's best/worst lol.
Some of the local stores are better than others, thats common sense working. If you want to see some great business models and stores shoot up to That Pet Place or Even Dr. Mac's. They are both on totally different ends of the spectrum but they do have some very similar characteristics. Both are very clean and well lit. Both have a good selection and also excellent customer service.
That Pet Place offers volume, selection, and very good pricing.
Dr. Macs offers high quality specimens, personal care and high quality experience and knowledge.
For a person considering how to better there business locally, I'd definitely take a look at each of these places from different perspectives to be able to achieve your goal.
For us as customers, it's our responsibility to provide feedback even if it falls on deaf ears sometimes. It's just as much our fault sometimes that some of these stores even remain in existance. The stores who actually enjoy and care about what and how they do business will be around, those who don't???
Goodbye.
Most of your stores who carry SW fish and or Inverts/reef seem to be around longer and have a little steadier customer flow. I think the retailers see this and then expect to be able to jump right in and start reaping the rewards in a short time.
What many don't realize is it's a long term investment filled with huge risks.
The mark-up on SW fish and Inverts is better than freshwater but look also at the care and maintenance required. The overall cost is at least double and sometimes triple that of FW.
Then of course along with maintenance is the problem of finding reliable people to do the water changes/sales/customer service. This kills many businesses IMO. Getting the right information right from the beginning is more important than the sale itself but a lot of stores look right past that fact.
When I worked at Pet's Emporium in particular, I turned many people away from SW simply because they didn't have the time required to maintain the tank. Most balked at the investment cost also which saved us both time.
At the same time the stores are no different than many hobbyists, they too want the look and the enjoyment of having brightly colored animals and unusual specimens. It's not always about profit but I think for the shortsighted it may be very true.
Running a business also has it's drawbacks too. You get sedated or bored often times and it's tough to get out of that rut. The important element here is to surround yourself with people who can also be self-motivated and take the challenge to change things up a little.
It's easy to sit back and criticize and not understand all the variables involved. At the same time it's also healthy if the business is accepting of some criticism and is willing to at least consider there customers opinions. When you rely on the public for direct sales and you think you know more than your customer of there needs, your finished IMO. There's a healthy balance here that must be maintaned at all times.
That is why I think your seeing many more of these Pet Superstores opening around our area.
First they have the capitol (cash) to get nicer displays and take some chances.
For the mom and pop stores they are limited by there customers cash flow, inherently. That's also a big factor that can work for them. The owners have a closer and more personal relationship with there customer base and should use that to there advantage.
The Superstores can also afford to carry a better variety of products although many don't. They can throw a couple hundred dollars in some food and see if there customers like it. A small loss to them isn't a big deal.
Mom and pop can only try a few cans or packs. A loss of sales of that product is a bigger deal to them when they can't afford a comparable volume. Volume has it's rewards when you walk into a store and see a nice display, as well as the discount when buying in bulk (retailer).
I'm not taking away from the responsibility factor of any of the LFS. At the same time, if we held ourselves to the same standard for some of the mistakes we've made as hobbysists I don't think there would be much difference?
The best approach is to offer feedback, your the customer and it's your responsibility to tell them what you want. If they don't want to listen or don't care, then attrition has a way of taking care of that problem for us
. When your a retailer and you place an order, you very seldom get what you order in time to keep the customer happy. For those who are able to do that, you should count your good fortune. We're not dealing with widgets here we're dealing with animals.
I've talked before about the emergency factor also. How would it be if your living in say NorthEast Md or even Elsmere De and you have to drive to Lancaster or Baltimore just to get salt or a replacement heater because yours broke??? Call it convenience or an emergency but the point is we need them as much as they need us. It's symbiosis at it's best/worst lol.
Some of the local stores are better than others, thats common sense working. If you want to see some great business models and stores shoot up to That Pet Place or Even Dr. Mac's. They are both on totally different ends of the spectrum but they do have some very similar characteristics. Both are very clean and well lit. Both have a good selection and also excellent customer service.
That Pet Place offers volume, selection, and very good pricing.
Dr. Macs offers high quality specimens, personal care and high quality experience and knowledge.
For a person considering how to better there business locally, I'd definitely take a look at each of these places from different perspectives to be able to achieve your goal.
For us as customers, it's our responsibility to provide feedback even if it falls on deaf ears sometimes. It's just as much our fault sometimes that some of these stores even remain in existance. The stores who actually enjoy and care about what and how they do business will be around, those who don't???
Goodbye.
) 
. I agree with most of it though.
) 
