Looking for input regarding an LFS....

mirical mud dosnt move at all
lfs here had the same bag on the shelf for 3 years now!
carry some of the knicknacks or at least display them ( doser pumps)

also

lower the lighting a bit ( overhead lights not tank)
that way the tanks stand out more and it gives it a more cozzy feeling like a good ol mom and pop store . and never let them play rap on the radio. that destroys the stores mood and makes people wanna run in and out fast

also make sure all your computers are networked with databases and all.. i know the lfs i used to work at used to have probloms with special orders and stuff cause of this
 
im really jellous of you people in _blank due to robs request_
its so rare that a lfs ask people what they want and ask for help
i would be so happy if my lfs did this

you should get this done in a big enough store that you could also possiably host your local clubs meeting. that will definitly help sales
 
I remember when I first started in this hobby, and was interested in purchasing a Skimmer, I went to an LFS and the owner dude there told me that this seaclown 100 was the Cadillac of all skimmers. Seeing the opportunity to fulfill my long desire of becoming a Pimp, I immediately purchased this Cadillac and brought it home only for it to behave erratically and more like a Hyundai. Case in point is that since then, I have spent literally tens of thousands of dollars in this hobby, but except for that $117.70 for the Seaclown, which I still have laying about somewhere, not a single penny was spent in that particular LFS. So IMHO, honesty would be the biggest factor for people to want to keep returning to your store.
 
be how homedepto used to be
teach employees
sell them what they need and they will come back

( aka its better to sell somthing to fix what they have for a buck then to sell them a whole new sink . ) you choose 1 buck a day for ever or 100 bucks now but never again
 
sds:
yes that is definately a major part of the plan

indoor ocean:
i actually build custom stands and canopies already and will extend that into the store as well.

goda:
thanks for the *blankity Blank*! I do play a role in 1 of the 2 local clubs we have here and yes I will host meetings.

affan and goda:
as far as sell what they need: i have decided i will definately not carry seaclones. I will however carry some of the other "entry level" skimmers that do work some what well and several other types of high end that will still fit in a stand. Beckett etc....

I plan on making the customer service as bombproof as possible. i will have cheat sheets for the staff and clear labeling to ID'ing easier for customer and staff. This will include books at hand for everyone also incase we need to id somehting or find out about husbandry etc...i will not expect the customers or staff to know about all animals and systems, but rather to say "I don't Know- Lets find out".

be preductive not destructive....this hobby is a expensive as it gets already, i dont need it to cost everyone more by screwing up!

thanks everyone!
 
the lfs in my area has this guy that works therfor like 4 months now

he dosnt know mucha bout the saltwater animals and i really dont mind
when i go there i usualy get him to help me and he usualy ask me questions and stuff and then later i hear him telling the customers what he just learned. the other day they had a seasquirt in he was under the impression that it was a coral and easy to keep.

i think it would also be good if you educate your employeese if ever you get somthing kinda uncommen in. so they dnt send it to its death ( seasquirts sponges certin shrimp and nudibranches)

ohh
also it would be great if you sold live foods
like green water and brinshrimp ( but like have a new batch every day since they loose nutritional value really fast and grow fast.)


working displays are good maybe have a 55 gallon tank with a whole bunch of skimmers on it ( could double as a lr curing tank due to the massive skimmers)

i love seing things working
also i think i said it already
carry tunze dock skimmers. these skimmers dont get the attention they deserve ( cheep for a high end skimmer and very well built better then euro reef imo)
also maybe the tunze nano streams when they come out i bet htere will be huge demand for about a month before it dies down
they are comming out end of year i think
 
ok cool. ill keep a look out for them......i thought about setting up several sytem/equipment styles for everyone to see the difference and make up their own mind of what they want.

thanks!
 
My problems with one of my LFS is their stock...

They have nice enough stuff, always healthy and usually in stock, but it is always the same stuff from the same wholesaler.

Rarely do they get in anything but "their norm". IMO a greater variety or a mix from week to week.
 
i agree, everyone always sees clown and tangs and damsels. while they have their place no doubt... there does need to be something more.
 
does anyone have any thoughts to how the layout of the store flows? what really catches your eye (other than cool displays and cleanliness)? what catches you attention when it comes to the layout. whether it be something that you hate or love.....

keep em coming!
thank you!
 
I like it when the skimmer and filters are together and everything is where you can ealy find it. I was trying to find filter brushes to clean the inside of the filter and they were by the food not by the filters. It took me about 20min just to find it and i hated that. Also have everything together and organized. test kits near the things that you could does in your tank. stands with tanks. pumps with hose and air stones.
 
I always like the looks of open top tanks you can look down into...be it frag/prop tanks or clean display tanks.

But those shallow tanks, positioned at a lower level (chest high or so) usually catch my eye.

There used to be a not so local LFS (have not been there in a while) and they had a square, shallow, sitting low, open top tank with some LR, Fish, and they used it to prop their clams... I always loved looking down into it... Purchased a clam from it :)
 
flow wise
have food and small cheep things in the front

and ofcourse have the fish in the back ( as well as the dimmer lighting in the back)

maybe have a display tank in the middle ( full blow reef) and then the tanks kinda lead away from it like spokes on a bike tire
i think that looks best but i dont think its very space effective

odd shapes are always better then rows of tanks
like if possiable have some of the display rows set up like a T . i cant stand the flow of the straight isles lol
 
Remember to not make it just a marine only LSF, carry the freshwater fish too. You get a lot of those customers too, plus converts. Overhead is going to be your biggest problem, I have seen too many LSF close because they where paying big time leases and rent. When you figure your overhead out for everything, remember to multiply it by 2, then you probably be closer to the actually amount.
 
good advice on the overhead of things alfinus..i just checked into a new strip mall with some huge ratings and views already (still under construction) and they wanted 1 arm, 2 legs, my wife and my first born just to get in. then i was going to have to build it out!!!!! geez. oh, did i mention a min. 10 yr lease with every 2 year lease increases?

thanks again all ! your opinoins really do help here!
 
Having run a LFS for several years, I would have to say the number one thing is to have some amazing display tanks. Bar none, there is no better way to get new customers than to have truly spectacular displays. More often than not, they end up paying for themselves by selling corals or plants out of them. People always want what's in the display.
 
Give discounts to return customers.. A LFS around here does it for me, if I'm looking for a piece of equipment, he'll beat any price online usually. Also will give me a discount off livestock and etc because he knows its the only place I'll shop.
 
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