When will ReefCulture be open?

[FiReC]

its in the old ATR spot right?

[Reeefer]

You definitely have me excited. AT is definitely closer to me so I hope they blow me out of the water!

[4218kris]

Originally Posted by Che

I don't know what it is that is going to make this store phenomenal. I know that the staff is going to be top notch, but I am curious as to what is going to make the difference.

I heard something in this thread about good quarantining procedures and potentially great coral for sale, but I am not sure that in itself makes a phenomenal store.

My question to all of you is, "What makes a phenomenal store?"

its not even open yet and its phenomenal... lol. i hope it is.

[Che]

While free beer would definitely have this crowd hanging out at the store from open to close, I don't think that it is necessary... everyday.

One thing that hasn't really been mentioned is cutting edge equipment. I want a real reason not to buy online.

I would love to see some really cool equipment at work, a really cool display tank, and a really clean layout.

[4218kris]

good luck with the captcha code when trying to register on their web site i cant tell what is capitalized......

[sir_dudeguy]

theres a new store opening? lol. I've been gone for too long. So like someone said above, is it in the old ATR location or no? and do they have a website?

[OwenInAZ]

Originally Posted by Che

While free beer would definitely have this crowd hanging out at the store from open to close, I don't think that it is necessary... everyday.

One thing that hasn't really been mentioned is cutting edge equipment. I want a real reason not to buy online.

I would love to see some really cool equipment at work, a really cool display tank, and a really clean layout.

I think this is a good point. There's a lot of hype about QT procedures, hard to find store, etc, but until I get in there myself I'll withhold judgement. It's probably going to be better than some stores out there, but the ability to get in rare corals doesn't mean much because most anyone can get them if asked

For me, to qualify as a phenomenal store, it needs to meet four qualifiers:

1) Exceedingly good customer service. This means remembering me, what I like to buy, and cutting me a sweet deal once in a while (AT and ToTR have this under control currently). It also means being willing to special order something without bending me over the barrel with cost.

2) A clean layout/feel. I hate going into stores with just rows of unlit tanks to look at the fish -- I want to see what they might look like in my tank. I also hate pallets of crap stashed everywhere on the sales floor. If it won't fit cleanly onto a shelf, keep it in the back.

3) Cutting edge technology/equipment. Even if I can't afford it, I want to be able to see what's out there so I can either DIY it or save my pennies. I want them to be excited for what's happening in the field. However, the correllary to this is I want them to be down to earth when it comes to grad students who are on a budget I don't want to have someone try and sell me a $400 widget when a $100 widget will fit my needs.

4) Reasonable price structure. I think this is the clincher. If they can give me value for what I'm purchasing, I'm in. This can mean a bargain bin next to the $50 a frag tank, or it can mean excellent QT procedures so I rarely lose a coral or fish purchased from the store. There needs to be some reason I'm spending my money there. It can't be all high-end stuff or I won't even stop in.

Most of the stores around town have at least a couple of these -- I can't think of one that always meets all of them. Maybe this one will be different. We'll see soon enough

[Vanpire]

Originally Posted by Che

I like the idea of a store where people just want to be because of the quality of the store and staff; this is a good start, but I still want more.

What else do you want in a phenomenal store.

I have to agree with Che here.

To me, a phenomenal store = store with a huge selection of fish, coral and equipment with knowledgeable people and decent prices (not necessarily cheap) and great ideas that inspire me.

Do I think this soon to be opened store will be phenomenal with the description I have listed above? My money is no. With all the hype, I am hoping that it will be a good store with decent livestock selection. Hopefully, I will be pleasantly surprised.

[Che]

Owen, now that's the stuff I am talking about. All of these things make a great store. If you miss one thing or the other, it kind of leaves you feeling less than satisfied.

I hope that ReefCulture will be a killer store... I hope that they're listening, er watching, I mean reading.

[OwenInAZ]

Originally Posted by Che

Owen, now that's the stuff I am talking about. All of these things make a great store. If you miss one thing or the other, it kind of leaves you feeling less than satisfied.

I hope that ReefCulture will be a killer store... I hope that they're listening, er watching, I mean reading.

I'll also take free beer, if they're reading

Maybe they'll have some brown corals for your viewing pleasure.

[30reef]

I want to see a store that is maintained and clean like a medical facility. I hate it when there has been water spilled on the floor and everyone has walked through it and spread dirt everywhere, or when the salt has not been cleaned off of the fixtures and around hard to access areas, and when paint is peeling off because of the humidity. Little things like that is what gets my attention. I'm sure the new place will be nice and clean.

I second the idea of displaying the latest equipment, such as the newest BK skimmers and Red Dragon pumps, or a complete line of Tunze products with parts. One might say that those high dollar pieces don't sell, I say they don't sell because no one can see them first hand. I'm not going to buy a BK based upon pictures on a website, I want to see it, touch it and ask questions, if it makes a good impression I'd pick one up. This last weekend, my wife and I were out furniture shopping and ended up buying something that we normally wouldn't have, we made the purchase only because we could compare it directly with a competitors product which had proven to be inferior. You never know who might buy an Elos system if it was on the floor ready to be loaded into a pickup truck. In another instance, sort of OT but related by content, my wife and I drove to a sewing and craft store on the far far east side of town to have her Bernina sewing machine serviced, while we were there, a salesperson demonstrated the latest embroidery machine Bernina offered, at $12k no less, and afterward we contemplated purchasing one. They had a few of them on hand for immediate delivery. We haven't brought one home just yet, but the subject comes up from time to time. If she were to see it in a magazine, she would not have given it a second look and turned the page, we only knew of it because of a demonstration. I can't stress enough that IN STOCK sells.

I would also like to see store hours that would allow me to shop after work during the week, an 8pm closing time would be nice. I remember when I first started out in SW when I lived in Cali, I would go to a place in Fountain Valley called Tis Tropical, they were open until 9 every day of the week, I spent many thousands of dollars there at 8:45.

Another store on the same level with AT would be fantastic. I don't care to shop in just another lfs with some fish and Fluval filters on the shelf, I want to shop at a place that caters to the hardcore sw enthusiest, that carries the more obscure equipment and is up to date on the latest techniques and trends in our hobby. How's that Che?

[Che]

Now that's the stuff that dreams are made of...