Shops

[jarcher1390]

does any one have the link to the tpic about lfs and how good they are also is there any shops in the north of england with some oddball and things like that that u dont have in your average comunity

 

[linda1503]

is this what you mean? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=49879

 

[5andra]

is this what you mean? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=49879

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=49879Is the link you are looking for I do belive and it is pinned at the begining of tropical chit chat

 

[jarcher1390]

me and a m8 in cumbria a thinking of making an oddball shop with rays and arows things like that would any one have any suggestion like good bad idea why it good why its bad please comment

 

[jarcher1390]

the whole reason i wanted to start is i have to travel to bolton near manchester and that cost money for people to travel so i decided why not make an oddball shop for the people up north
and as u said the down side is people dont normaly by oddballs so my next question is what would people like us to sell

 

[kalm2kaos]

the whole reason i wanted to start is i have to travel to bolton near manchester and that cost money for people to travel so i decided why not make an oddball shop for the people up north
and as u said the down side is people dont normaly by oddballs so my next question is what would people like us to sell

If you sell what people want,then you become "just" another lfs. You will appeal to a broader market, but your competition from others is greater. Specialisation means limited market,and competition, but oddball fishes are kept because they are unusual,if you sell a lot of them,then they are no longer a rarity,so by your definition of oddball,it then ceases to be oddball, and you won't be stocking it.... If you sell unusual/rare fish, then prices are higher for you to obtain stock,this has to be passed on to your customers, and make a profit for yourself. How much stock would you need to turn over to make a profit?

What about the idiot who comes in on a whim,wants you to sell him some fish, when it is plain he(or she) doesn't have a clue,and it is likely the fish will suffer and or die. With your moral head on,you wouldn't want to sell him an aomeba,let alone a fish,but your business head sees turnover and profit,which you have to have to survive?

I wouldn't want to make that decision as I am concerned for my fishes welfare,as we all are

but hey,what do I know.....Good luck if you go for it.

 

[jarcher1390]

we have decided to have a wider range so we can turn over a higher profit also to attract more customers
if we become like a lfs we just want more oddball than our lfs so we dont have to travel as far. we will be doing it on my own premesis

 

[Saedcantas]

No disrespect intended at all, but the fact that you are 16 makes this a "dream" for the distant future.

Not only are we talking about ~20k minumum setup costs but you are forgetting something vital. It may be that there are no specialist shops in your area simply because no one has made one yet, or it is altogether more likely that there simply is not a market for a shop dealing specifically in oddballs where you are and the only shops which can get by where you are have to generalise.

More to the point there is lots of talk of profit from fish here, yes at the lower end of things you may gain a good profit margin from the livestock, but in general aquatics shops rely on sales of accessories, equipment and foods as their main wage earners.

You have to think more practically, you're going to need suppliers and wholesalers who are interested in you as a good investment, sales reps who bring you stuff because they know you'll sell it not because you had to phone them 10 times and wait 6 months.
I too idle with dreams of maybe one day establishing my own business, but I dont expect to be able to achieve it until I am at least 30 as I simply will not have the money, the credit ability with people who could help me get started or most importantly, the ability to command respect and good relations with the people who matter, customers, employees and other tradespeople.

My best advice to you would be to try and get a job in the aquatics trade or even just pet trade in general before you pin your hopes on this
Lotte***

 

[5andra]

It may be presumptuous to decide someone is unable to manage a business just because of age, or education many in my family have achieved this well before their contemporaries have completed college or university.

However this has been with financial and practical support, which not everyone has access to and this has been given, if not freely on the very cheap!

It can also be said that these family members including myself have come to a business stage where we are regretting not obtaining the fundamental education that many of our peers obtained.

Now in our 30s-40s our helpers are retiring (Help) and we are on our own no HR specialist at the drop of a hat or Tax advisor even IT so all I can say is get the education work in the industry gain experience then jump! If you don’t try you will never achieve.

If you are intent upon an lfs then study business with marine biology at uni! It is only 3 years but it certainly wont hurt you!!!

This type of background will give indepth knowlege of the business and also enable you to expand when necisarry rather than being a lfs all of your life.

Good Luck in your new venture

 

[jarcher1390]

what i have come up with is when we move house my dad going to give me a building that me and him are going to renevate my dads an archticet technologist and knows stuff off building. My dad is also into renewable enery type stuff so we get solar pannels and wind turn bines for my house which create more than needed for an avergae house hold the waste electricy i will be able to run my buildings off. so electricity shall be free. Food we can hopefully cultivate most of it. I have taken in from ur comment that a shop that totaly sells oddballs would not work so we are going to get common fish with some oddballs. Some on also commented on equipment so we will sell them 2 mostly be over the internet. There was mentioned something about pet shop licences (i need to find out more) also import licences ( i need to find out more) also about paying taxes (i need to find out more)
when i can get transport im going to aply to work at my lfs for experince im also have been wanting to do marine biology from since i was 11 and i am doing that
any more comment all have been very helpfull thanks
jonny

 

[The-Wolf]

how about becomming a specialist in plecos, trying to keep stock of all L#'s in at all times or at least gaurenteeing that you could get hold of one. how many times have you seen a really nice looking plec only to find it very hard to get hold of.

 

[jarcher1390]

thanks illl keep that in mind

 

[Jules H-T]

http/www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ is the website for companies house, with whom you must register any business in the UK.

You can get in touch with the Companies House Contact Centre on 0870 33 33 636

They do (or did last time I checked) provide a free business information startup pack, that you might find interesting.