petbarn224 Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 So I have been thinking for ages now about starting up a petshop I'm only 20 so it's either now or never I think who else has thought the same and what are your reasons you haven't started it or have you started one. All a learning curve for me I'm very serious about it and understand there's a lot of work so was just curious what other people have done with this same sort of dream lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70NKY Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 How much money do you have to sink in to it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazycraig Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 im not sure this is a good time to start this endeavour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Tschumy Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 I have thought about it, especially the last few months as my current job is really getting to me. The financial commitment and just the knowledge I still do not have scare me. I would consider a partnership with an experienced operator, as long as I can take home the cash I am now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 If you want to make a small fortune....start a fish shop!!! BUT..... You must START with a BIG fortune!!! haha..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 mmmm, I havent done a pet shop, but if i won 50 million i would quit my job and start one up. anyway you probs need to do some market research and see what is around and then either sell the same items for cheaper or sell different items. You have probs already thought of this but yeah. oh what else might be good is to open at later times. like 10am-6pm or something like that. I know that i am always wanting things in the afternoon/night for my fish unless i make a real effort to get to the shop on a saturday morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Dude it's a really tough retail market out there at the moment, I am a retailer, I see it everywhere. Hold off to next year at least if you can, much better being an employee than an employer ATM. Go and get a job with a pet shop/LFS and see what is going on and learn as much as you can, before you go down that path. Also talk to as many people as you can in business, listen and learn. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Hey mate have you worked in a pet/fish shop before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatsright99 Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 (edited) Interesting...Petbarn, do you work there? City farmers and petbarn managers ( owners ) are a bit slow on the uptake on the fish side of things But anyway, at this time I feel that it would be best to start your own import room as well as a shop. Even with the new q rules comeing in, you would have to be stupid if you don't q your fish this side of things anyway. Obvious reasons health side, but also your longer term cost will be better off for it. Think about it. Do you know the prices of fish, cost of the shop, who's going to run it, how much do you think you're going to spend on it, what are you longterm plans, how much money have you got now, can you take a hit of however much you put into it being lost ect ect Partnerships can be a pain in the a.... Too. How do you split up the fish bought,deaths, profits, losses, q costs ect ect ?? Sounds easy doesn't it Just my thoughts at this time at 4pm Fri arvo. Bound to change and be edited as we go. Edited June 14, 2013 by thatsright99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilpierre Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Dude try and buy an existing shop ... much easier than starting from scratch:ranger: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Interesting...Petbarn, do you work there? City farmers and petbarn managers are a bit slow on the uptake on the fish side of thingsBut anyway, at this time I feel that it would be best to start your own import room as well as a shop. Even with the new q rules comeing in, you would have to be stupid if you don't q your fish this side of things anyway. Obvious reasons health side, but also your longer term cost will be better off for it. Think about it. Do you know the prices of fish, cost of the shop, who's going to run it, how much do you think you're going to spend on it, what are you longterm plans, how much money have you got now, can you take a hit of however much you put into it being lost ect ect Partnerships can be a pain in the a.... Too. How do you split up the fish bought,deaths, profits, losses, q costs ect ect ?? Sounds easy doesn't it Just my thoughts at this time at 4pm Fri arvo. Bound to change and be edited as we go. I would hate the power bills of a LFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petbarn224 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 I have worked at petbarn for 3.5 years now as the fish person I'm starting to hit management now. I have some brilliant ideas of what I would like in a petshop I do think being an importer is another great idea too I think the key is having and exceptional advertising crew and excellent water quality and excellent quality fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Good on you petbarn224 it sound like you have some awesome plans in he pipe line. Hope all goes well for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linerz Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 The sunshine coast needs a good fish store !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petbarn224 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thanks Timmy. Yea I do I think I would be able to do it you got to take gambles some times with this sort of thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70NKY Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Mate, you might be able to run a pet store, but when it's YOUR money that goes into it, it's a whole new ball game. I'm not saying that you can't do it, I mean every LFS was started by someone. But not too many successful businesses are started by 20 year olds. For the simple reason is they don't have the finances behind them. I seriously doubt you'd get a business loan from a bank, but then I don't know you at all. There are so many things to work out, go through them all and put a dollar value on it and then see if it's achievable for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatic Paradise Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 So after working in 3 Aquarium shops, The largest fish wholesaler in OZ and running a successful aquarium design and maintenance business ($60 - $100 an hour, 6 full days a week) my suggestion is don't do it unless you love it or you have something very special. I have moved into online marketing because it's a growing industry, not a shrinking one. The cycle will come back and there certainly is a profit to be made from the aquarium industry but just make sure you know why you are doing it and make sure you are able to support yourself for the required time for the shop to become profitable. I have seen over 15 aq/pet shops close in my time and most of them were targeting the cheap end of the market, my biggest suggestion is to have great displays which inspire your customers and show you know what you are talking about. Best of luck PS why not take over the shop you work in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petbarn224 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Yea to true 7onky I wasn't getting it started in the nxt 6mths lol I was looking at saving and hopefully having something by 25 should have cleared that up earlier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petbarn224 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 (edited) [MENTION=6226]Aquatic Paradise[/MENTION] thanks mate I understand where ur coming from Edited June 14, 2013 by petbarn224 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hachi Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Hey petbarn, if you wanted to start your own shop I would say start privately first. Breed a few things and generally get your name out as a helpful, experienced guy that people will want to come back to. Its not worth opening a shop when noone knows your exist, that's the problem with most pet shops these days. They don't gradually increase, they go from nothing to all out and suddenly flop. Me for example, one day I may open an official storefront, but until then I have my own personal breeding as my hobby which I generally advertise independently on your own facebook page (I've found its easier than juggling your posts on 10 different groups) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petbarn224 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thx for the advice [MENTION=9385]Hachi[/MENTION] I'm a keen American cichlid keeper I'm in the process of setting up my fish room it should look great when finished! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thx for the advice [MENTION=9385]Hachi[/MENTION] I'm a keen American cichlid keeper I'm in the process of setting up my fish room it should look great when finished! Google Cichlid industries he is a young guy on the NSW north coast who has started a fish business. Might be worth talking to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenswimmers Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 [MENTION=6226]Aquatic Paradise[/MENTION] thanks mate I understand where ur coming from petbarn don't work like that lol it's all own by head office everything is to strict I can't order the things I want managers don't get much say at petbarn IMO the goddess of luck favours the brave..... but I think the biggest angles are knowing your market..being involved in as many markets as you can and taking a few on the chin in the beginning while you find your feet....there are a lot of costs behind the scenes that people don't see(as with any business)and I say good business relationships will get you ahead....and think outside the box....seems most people do the same things with aquariums..its the ones that do something different and do it well that stand out....be careful about "expressing" your opinion of your current management too mate(some things can come back and bite ya)...and I don't think there is an age to do it at petbarn224....experience is the best teacher of all...Id love to do something along these lines in the future(many big ideas ) and work in the industry so hopefully it will come together....good luck with whatever you do mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63off Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 So I have been thinking for ages now about starting up a petshop I'm only 20 so it's either now or never I think who else has thought the same and what are your reasons you haven't started it or have you started one. All a learning curve for me I'm very serious about it and understand there's a lot of work so was just curious what other people have done with this same sort of dream lol LOL...All of 20 and it's already a "now or never" thing. Dude, you have a lifetime of opportunities ahead of you, stop limiting yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch86 Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Get discovery Chanel to film you building the odd tank in between carrying on like a tosser and talking to the cameras like a bad actor.... Works in America Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
