If i started my own LFS i would give it a personality. Each member of staff would have a piece of laminated paper with their picture and information with regards their expertise and at the front of the shop there would be a big board that says 'Working today..' so customers instantly are familiar with the staff. I would also have a shop pet, sounds silly lol but it would just be one particular fish in its own display tank, it would never be for sale. It would have a name, its personality and in the area around its tank would be book about that species of fish, and information about setting up a home for one. I would have behind the scenes quarantine tanks so that when new arrivals come in, instead of being quearantined where everyone can see them, if the bring with them a disease, having a diseased tank, whether its being treated or not is not great. So by the time the fish are for sale, they would be completely healthy. Each tank for sale would have fish profiles next to them about the different fish in the tanks, Cycling would be emphasized with different products, books and leaflets in the store. Filtration, lighting, heating, decoration would all be very OTT. So as the customers have to notice it, the shop would have to be enjoyable for everyone, have an atmosphere so if everything was easy to see and accessible people would take a greater interest. Newbies find the thought of buying a tank, setting up a filtration system quite daunting, so this would have to be simplified for them so not to put potential buyers off yet all the necessary information would be available. Discounting would come with loyalty. For example the more you visit the shop the more discount you get. It would all be logged, so that a customer who comes in one a week started off with no discount, eventually got 5% and is now receiving 20% however other customers who pop in far less would only be on 5%.
It's a shame there is so little money in the industry as it would be a brilliant and intereting career!
dman