reef store

kenneth wolfe · 04/30/2015, 12:21 PM

Hello fellow RC members..I have been considering opening a retail reef store in the Houston area w/partner and wanted some input on what the average patron would look for in a reef only store ...We are looking at fish hatchery along with frag flats as well as wild caught ..I would love to here about success and failures..and what we as customers want to see in there local store.

etepperman · 04/30/2015, 12:29 PM

Good question.

I am looking for the following:

- Healthy livestock
- Not over stocking
- Some QT period for fish (but this will add cost to your fish - ok by me)
- fair, but not necessarily the bottom price
- Full coral pieces (not into frags myself)
- Reasonably priced dry goods
- Bargains on salt (hate buying it, expensive and no fun to be gained)

***

What most people (not on this forum look for)
- Cheap

-E

d2mini · 04/30/2015, 12:36 PM

Good luck man. Lotsa competition in Houston!
We probably have some of the highest LFS quantity in the country.

FJW, OceanLife, City Pets, TnT, Fish Gallery, All About Fish, Aquarium World, Fish Land, That Aquarium Place, Global Leader Aquatics, and more.

I would look at all those and see what you think is missing and what works well for them.
Off the top of my head, I can't really think of much. They each have their positives and negatives.

Location is going to be key for you. Pick an area of town that isn't covered well. For instance, the west and northwest area is a little vacant other than Cinco Ranch Aquarium, especially with Urban Aquatics in limbo.

igot2gats · 04/30/2015, 01:17 PM

Top 4 for me:

Healthy livestock, clean, helpful-courteous employees, and an in store DT reef up and running.

Prices come with the overhead. So, to ask for 'fair' prices is a bit much if you ask me. It's all relative.

ReefsandGeeks · 04/30/2015, 01:20 PM

For my coral I lik going to Oceanlife. I like that they have $5/$10 frags, a large coral selection as well as colonies if you want that. They are also willing to tell you whatever you want about the coral, have good advice for care and don't seem to want to sell me things I don't need. Very clean store and great attitude. Prices are allso very good. the place is fairly new, so we'll see if they can make that last. I buy coral much more often than fish, so that's normaly what I look for. They are also willing to cut fresh frags of some colonies if you ask and if they don't already have frags. I have a small tank, so I perfer frags.

ReefsandGeeks · 04/30/2015, 01:23 PM

Maybe even consider "weekly specials" or something like good deals on hermits, snails, buy 4 get one free frags...etc. That would get more people to make the trip out to see what's on sale, and more likely to grab what they need while they are there. I know we all want an excuse to go to the LFS and weekly deals would be a good one. Don't have to be a deal of a lifetime, and can even have a limit so you don't break the bank on them.

jonwright · 04/30/2015, 01:49 PM

I visited Pure Reef whilst in Alpharetta, GA. Nice joint. I really liked it. Reasonable livestock selection, all looked healthy. "Reef safe" fish on one wall, "FOWLR" on the other. Really helped narrow down choices without having to be an expert on each fish while in the store.

If anyone answering this thread has looked at something in a store-then gone online to buy it because it's $2 cheaper - don't bother to answer.

On the other hand, there is a local store that's really about depressing to visit. Dank, old, unorganized, poorly stocked tanks...ugh. Not a good feeling to be there, unfortunately (on SO many levels).

Talked to a guy on the edge of the state - hobbyist - bought a store from someone already established. Was/is a financial planner (irony, anyone?). The store became his life. Not too bad if that what ya wanna do.

It's a shame fewer people seem to understand VALUE for $ - and not just cheap. A local lumber yard is going out of business but folks STILL go to Home Depot (and they are NOT always cheaper - folks just assume they are and never gave the lumber yard a chance).

Good luck my man.

But I'd say - if you are going to do it - do it well and set your store apart from any/everyone else. Have enough cash on hand to run the store for a year w/o positive cash flow I'd say.

Not one single store around here would hold a specimen more than a couple hours after purchase.

Know who your customer is - and do it well. Service sells. And service (tank maintenance) is probably more $ than folks think it is. It's gonna be tough to make it selling carbon - but steady cash flow with maintenance contracts would be where it's at.

Rob6311 · 04/30/2015, 03:11 PM

I like when my lfs has a lot of frags and full coral for a good selection. And please try to control the algae in your stores tanks as best you can. And from experience from talking to people now a days wild caught fish can be a turn off to a store sometimes

jstephens24 · 04/30/2015, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Good luck man. Lotsa competition in Houston!
We probably have some of the highest LFS quantity in the country.

FJW, OceanLife, City Pets, TnT, Fish Gallery, All About Fish, Aquarium World, Fish Land, That Aquarium Place, Global Leader Aquatics, and more.

I would look at all those and see what you think is missing and what works well for them.
Off the top of my head, I can't really think of much. They each have their positives and negatives.

Location is going to be key for you. Pick an area of town that isn't covered well. For instance, the west and northwest area is a little vacant other than Cinco Ranch Aquarium, especially with Urban Aquatics in limbo.

Had no idea there were that many in the area. I live in deer park so I have gone to All about Fish (15 min) and Paradise Fish and Pets (25 min).

kenneth wolfe · 04/30/2015, 04:16 PM

"Know who your customer is - and do it well. Service sells. And service (tank maintenance) is probably more $ than folks think it is. It's gonna be tough to make it selling carbon - but steady cash flow with maintenance contracts would be where it's at."

+1 ...yes we will do this as well..As my partner has established clients already.

04/30/2015, 12:21 PM	#1
kenneth wolfe Moved On Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Galveston Co. Posts: 853	reef store Hello fellow RC members..I have been considering opening a retail reef store in the Houston area w/partner and wanted some input on what the average patron would look for in a reef only store ...We are looking at fish hatchery along with frag flats as well as wild caught ..I would love to here about success and failures..and what we as customers want to see in there local store.

04/30/2015, 12:36 PM	#3
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Good luck man. Lotsa competition in Houston! We probably have some of the highest LFS quantity in the country. FJW, OceanLife, City Pets, TnT, Fish Gallery, All About Fish, Aquarium World, Fish Land, That Aquarium Place, Global Leader Aquatics, and more. I would look at all those and see what you think is missing and what works well for them. Off the top of my head, I can't really think of much. They each have their positives and negatives. Location is going to be key for you. Pick an area of town that isn't covered well. For instance, the west and northwest area is a little vacant other than Cinco Ranch Aquarium, especially with Urban Aquatics in limbo. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

04/30/2015, 01:17 PM	#4
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	Top 4 for me: Healthy livestock, clean, helpful-courteous employees, and an in store DT reef up and running. Prices come with the overhead. So, to ask for 'fair' prices is a bit much if you ask me. It's all relative. __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

04/30/2015, 12:29 PM	#2
etepperman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 257	Good question. I am looking for the following: - Healthy livestock - Not over stocking - Some QT period for fish (but this will add cost to your fish - ok by me) - fair, but not necessarily the bottom price - Full coral pieces (not into frags myself) - Reasonably priced dry goods - Bargains on salt (hate buying it, expensive and no fun to be gained) *** What most people (not on this forum look for) - Cheap -E

04/30/2015, 01:20 PM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	For my coral I lik going to Oceanlife. I like that they have $5/$10 frags, a large coral selection as well as colonies if you want that. They are also willing to tell you whatever you want about the coral, have good advice for care and don't seem to want to sell me things I don't need. Very clean store and great attitude. Prices are allso very good. the place is fairly new, so we'll see if they can make that last. I buy coral much more often than fish, so that's normaly what I look for. They are also willing to cut fresh frags of some colonies if you ask and if they don't already have frags. I have a small tank, so I perfer frags.

04/30/2015, 01:23 PM	#6
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Maybe even consider "weekly specials" or something like good deals on hermits, snails, buy 4 get one free frags...etc. That would get more people to make the trip out to see what's on sale, and more likely to grab what they need while they are there. I know we all want an excuse to go to the LFS and weekly deals would be a good one. Don't have to be a deal of a lifetime, and can even have a limit so you don't break the bank on them.

04/30/2015, 01:49 PM	#7
jonwright Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 658	I visited Pure Reef whilst in Alpharetta, GA. Nice joint. I really liked it. Reasonable livestock selection, all looked healthy. "Reef safe" fish on one wall, "FOWLR" on the other. Really helped narrow down choices without having to be an expert on each fish while in the store. If anyone answering this thread has looked at something in a store-then gone online to buy it because it's $2 cheaper - don't bother to answer. On the other hand, there is a local store that's really about depressing to visit. Dank, old, unorganized, poorly stocked tanks...ugh. Not a good feeling to be there, unfortunately (on SO many levels). Talked to a guy on the edge of the state - hobbyist - bought a store from someone already established. Was/is a financial planner (irony, anyone?). The store became his life. Not too bad if that what ya wanna do. It's a shame fewer people seem to understand VALUE for $ - and not just cheap. A local lumber yard is going out of business but folks STILL go to Home Depot (and they are NOT always cheaper - folks just assume they are and never gave the lumber yard a chance). Good luck my man. But I'd say - if you are going to do it - do it well and set your store apart from any/everyone else. Have enough cash on hand to run the store for a year w/o positive cash flow I'd say. Not one single store around here would hold a specimen more than a couple hours after purchase. Know who your customer is - and do it well. Service sells. And service (tank maintenance) is probably more $ than folks think it is. It's gonna be tough to make it selling carbon - but steady cash flow with maintenance contracts would be where it's at.

04/30/2015, 03:11 PM	#8
Rob6311 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 704	I like when my lfs has a lot of frags and full coral for a good selection. And please try to control the algae in your stores tanks as best you can. And from experience from talking to people now a days wild caught fish can be a turn off to a store sometimes

04/30/2015, 04:16 PM	#10
kenneth wolfe Moved On Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Galveston Co. Posts: 853	"Know who your customer is - and do it well. Service sells. And service (tank maintenance) is probably more $ than folks think it is. It's gonna be tough to make it selling carbon - but steady cash flow with maintenance contracts would be where it's at." +1 ...yes we will do this as well..As my partner has established clients already.