[rlcline76]

...what advice would you give them as a consumer?
We have a friend who wants to go into the fish business up in Wyoming. He was staring at our tanks during a get together this weekend and asking a ton of questions. My advice to him was to start reading forums to see what people are buying. If I can buy something at Petsmart, so be it, but when I am in a real fix I have to order certain additives and meds online. It would be nice if I could just get about 1/3 of it from my supplier. The same goes for livestock and product research to getting his supplies from someplace that can get him quality goods within a timely manner.

[glampka]

That's a tough one especially if he hasn't kept a tank as a hobbyist. Ultimately you're asking "What is the perfect lfs to you?" Definitely read everything he can get his hands on. When faced with a question he doesn't know the answer to - be honest, say you don't know but offer to get the answer. That goes a lot further than giving someone bad advice. Hire people who care & know what they are talking about. Have enough knowledgeable help in the store so that customers aren't waiting forever to get a fish or coral. Make an honest profit but don't gouge your customers. IMO that's why on-line & catalog places succeed. If you offer to special order something for a customer, give him an idea of how long it will take. I've been waiting for 3 weeks now for a heater I asked a place to get me. Back up everything you sell. Something I would like to see is a care section in the store for fish & corals. Guess I could go on & on. I'm sure others will offer their thoughts as well.

[mtfabel]

That defintly is a tough question. I have also considered opening a saltwater specific store. But its a huge risk to start a business taylored to such a specific thing. Glampka has mentioned many of the things I had thought of about starting such a store. I have a couple of fish stores not too far from me but they are not saltwater specific and they just staff anyone looking for a job not extremely educated people. They do have some knowledgable people but just a few. I have to go in on certain days if I have a question. Tell your friend to do some surveys or take a poll or something to find out what kind of demand there might be for such a store. Thats about all I have for you but Im almost positive that this thread will get many responses, so get your notebook out and start copying ideas.

P.S. Let us know if he goes through with it. Maybe he will get some online customers real easy.

[glampka]

Maybe he could hire us! I'm starting to look for my "retirement" job.

[rlcline76]

At 31, I am also trying to figure out what I will be doing for the rest of my life. Wyoming doesn't sound that bad.

[ACE]

GOOD LUCK!!!

I have a local pet store that is called R-R aquatics and it is the best place to get saltwater and freshwater they have 6 30 gallon freshwater 1 125 gallon saltwater live rock tank 3 55 gallon for fish another 55 gallon fore corals.

They also have reptiles hamsters and the best thing about them they will order you stuff upon your request it is my favorite pet store.

It also helps that she is friendly and knows her stuff.

She has business all of time

My advice is location location location if it is in the right spot you will get allot of business