moving to the area

[MileHighFish]

People always like options, in so-cal there is maybe 15 stores in a 30-mile area. They aren’t all perfect and of course there are about 4 that are spectacular. I would always give each a chance and again people love options. Power outages in Rio Rancho is a concern of mine, my wife works as a Manager for the Victoria Secret call center and she says at least once a week the power goes out. I'm not sure what the comment about 10k a week in up keep means? Maybe you could further explain that to me? I have looked into rent here and it is nothing like renting in So-Cal. From the few people I know that own stores most have gotten up and running in the $50 - 60k range. If I have to create the market this will take time but with repeat biz it can be done. I'm not looking to take food out of the mouths of SWRC. I would like to just offer people the option of seeing the way I would do it. I appreciate your guy’s comments and advice. Greg

 

[MileHighFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13748886#post13748886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by YODA666
I already hear the bank laughing. While you're at it tell them you have between 7 and 10 thousand a month in upkeep with the possibility of having all your livestock die off at the drop of a hat due to a 4 hour power outage in the middle of the night or even better yet come up with a single industry reference to back up your experience. I look forward to the new "Wal-Fish" Step up or step OFF. :lol:

Wow thanks for your encouragement, I guess your saying I don’t have a clue as to what I’m doing? Well I do have a nice portfolio of tanks I maintained in so-cal so coming up with a "single reference" should'nt be so difficult.

 

[reign]

G I think he meant like "I ve known Eric from SDC and done business w/ him for 9 years..Or I have had an account and used Greg from Bayside for 7yrs.and purchased 68k in merch. from him here is his # call to verify this..
These are professional references w/ vendors not I maintained this persons tank for 3 yrs..or I did a custom install on this business ..those are references although you would have to show income from them..
IDK but how bad things are now banks are very scared to lend...I have friends who are successful multimillionaires who are having a hard time getting financing for future projects..

 

[MileHighFish]

I'm not saying it’s going to be easy to do any of this. Banks are not the only way to get financial backing. I'm not looking to start off with a Mil in merchandise and fish. Slow and steady has worked for me in the past and I think if I apply my self at this or anything I set out to do I will be successful. I'm not looking to shut down the doors of other LFS. I'm here to help them step up their game, and make sure people are happy. As far as working with vendors at a wholesale level, I may not have that experience. I have good friends that have been doing this from several years to twenty and I feel I’m as knowledgeable and as dedicated as them and they run very successful LFS. The great thing about these people is they have already offered up their help and know about my good intentions to help customers. As far as wholesalers go they are in the business of making money and will gladly sell. When Jen told me at SWRC that all of their fish and coral were coming from the LA wholesaler I knew right away why their selection is sub par. I asked her so they good all the cherry picks and you get what left over? Her answer was "pretty much” I really have a hard time believing people don’t want to see what else a LFS is like. I understand people have loyalty to SWRC, and that’s great and it should remain that way. But I feel there is enough pie to go around. Don’t get me wrong guys I want people to have a good biz and I think SWRC has been very good to this area and I commend them for that. It's like eating at Village Inn every Friday, it's good but sometimes you want to go to Denny's. (Probably a bad reference b/c neither is very good )

 

[crazy4acros]

Hey Hey Now i like Village Inn!!! NOT :lol: I think some of the replies were in response to your first post of this thread and not on the fact you want to open a store i mean it was kinda harsh. Again I would love to see more LFS opening up in NM and have more options as you said previously. I think there is no doubt lots of room for the market there in NM and i wish you the best of luck. Sounds like just recently 3 LSF could not keep the doors open this might very well be a good oportunity for you.

Go for it! I would love to visit your shop whenever i visit NM

 

[MileHighFish]

Thanks crazy4acros, your right I did come off harsh and at the time I think I was just a little awestruck that they were the only game in town. I felt like the advice I got was a little weak but I think I was over judging and maybe they were having an off day. I have gone back and they do seem to care about their people.

 

[Mrs_Witchdoctor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13754072#post13754072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by g stone
When Jen told me at SWRC that all of their fish and coral were coming from the LA wholesaler I knew right away why their selection is sub par. I asked her so they good all the cherry picks and you get what left over? Her answer was "pretty much” I really have a hard time believing people don’t want to see what else a LFS is like.

I'm not sure who you talked to or if there was a miscommunication but this is not the case. We do not get the leftovers. We get the same list everyone else does and we order nothing but exceptional livestock accross the board. Over the last three months we have been preparing for our expansion which is now underway. Due to the nature of moving livestock we have not had the full selection that we normally have. Once we get into our new location you can expect to see our normal stock start to come in again which has been and always will be exceptional. It's pretty shameless that you think you know who you're quoting but you are not sure and I don't appreciate it. I would never tell you that we "pretty much" get leftovers because it's simply not true.

 

[sgallant04]

g stone

I’m looking forward to your new store opening. Competition always drives the marketplace & as a consumer I’m looking forward to your newer merchandise & lower prices. Please come back onto this forum when your open and we will be happy to compare and spend our money at the best shop.

Although, it would be just poor class of you to aggravate and demean your future educated, organized and interested customer base before your new venture has the opportunity to succeed or fail. From what I can determine on here; you’re not having the best of times with the interpersonal relationships, building trust & good will between yourself, your future customers and competitors.


Let us know how it works out for you.

-sg

 

[MileHighFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13770994#post13770994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mrs_Witchdoctor
I'm not sure who you talked to or if there was a miscommunication but this is not the case. We do not get the leftovers. We get the same list everyone else does and we order nothing but exceptional livestock accross the board. Over the last three months we have been preparing for our expansion which is now underway. Due to the nature of moving livestock we have not had the full selection that we normally have.

I know what I was told, and i have no reason to lie. I can't wait to see how the store improves after the move. I'm not going to sit here and go back and forth with you. I will wait and let your livestock speak for itself. Here are two of my buddys website's check out there livestock and let me know what you think.

http://www.amazingaquariumsandreefs.com/index.html

http://store.fishcollection.com/

 

[MileHighFish]

BY the way these corals are hand picked out of L.A. each week, not picked off a list.

 

[reign]

I would call this "missing the point"...
1. Of course your "buddies" have great prices and an awesome selection they are hand picking all of their livestock as it comes in. There are individuals in L.A. that make a livelyhood off of this type of geographical advantage alone..
Most people do not have this availabe to them as they live in other states..I have done tranship before..You pay literally nothing for livestock..now factor shipping it to NM..still pretty good..
2. Of course it is irrelevent "who said what"and in what context (honestly I think you werent talking to who you thought you were..still irrelevent), the fact is we veterans have seen everything change and are open to change..bottom line we have paid our dues/done our time..For the most part nothing to prove..the tone in which you started out rubbed alot of people the wrong way(no one knows who you are and your personal experience) this is something you have realize..We are not backward and trying to slow down our lfs evolution.
.
Good luck in your personal endeavors just dont think you are "reinventing the wheel" here..
reign-

 

[MileHighFish]

i keep getting told I'v talked to the wrong person, that may be but please remember SWRC has a web site with a pic of there emp's and their names. I will step off this thread now, I have posted that i was harsh when i 1st saw the store but i have also praised them for what they have done. I'm not here to inflame anyone and i'm not looking to get into some heated battle with NM reefers. The reason i posted my friends sites is to show that my idea of exceptional livestock might differ from others. Good day & Happy reefing.

 

[puffin04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13780721#post13780721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reign
I would call this "missing the point"...
1. Of course your "buddies" have great prices and an awesome selection they are hand picking all of their livestock as it comes in. There are individuals in L.A. that make a livelyhood off of this type of geographical advantage alone..
Most people do not have this availabe to them as they live in other states..I have done tranship before..You pay literally nothing for livestock..now factor shipping it to NM..still pretty good..
2. Of course it is irrelevent "who said what"and in what context (honestly I think you werent talking to who you thought you were..still irrelevent), the fact is we veterans have seen everything change and are open to change..bottom line we have paid our dues/done our time..For the most part nothing to prove..the tone in which you started out rubbed alot of people the wrong way(no one knows who you are and your personal experience) this is something you have realize..We are not backward and trying to slow down our lfs evolution.
.
Good luck in your personal endeavors just dont think you are "reinventing the wheel" here..
reign-

Agreed!!!!

Steffen Sparks

 

[puffin04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13780093#post13780093 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MileHighFish
I know what I was told, and i have no reason to lie. I can't wait to see how the store improves after the move. I'm not going to sit here and go back and forth with you. I will wait and let your livestock speak for itself. Here are two of my buddys website's check out there livestock and let me know what you think.

http://www.amazingaquariumsandreefs.com/index.html

http://store.fishcollection.com/

Pretty neat sites and reasonable for the customers. Thanks

Steffen Sparks