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JennM

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Apologies if this is already posted here, I skimmed but did not see it.

I received this today from AGA:

On June 13th I sent you a message to watch the CBS Early Show on Saturday morning, June 14th. The Early Show was going to show a number of All-Glass & Oceanic bow front tanks set up with salt water fish due to the popularity of the “Finding Nemo” movie. Our participation in this show was to provide the tanks and have them set up for the show.

We had no idea that CBS was going to demonstrate how to set-up a Mini-bow 5 with saltwater fish.

We absolutely do not recommend or suggest that a Mini-bow 5 is in anyway the appropriate size or type of aquarium for saltwater use.

CBS received a lot of negative feedback as a result of that part of the show and rightly so. In fact, they were planning to do an additional spot on the June 20th show to clarify that a larger tank is recommended for saltwater fish. Unfortunately, CBS backed out of it at the last minute.

So, if you have any customers that want to buy a Mini-bow 5 for salt water usage please direct them to a bigger more appropriate size aquarium. If the Mini-bow 5 is the size they want, then they need to set it up as fresh water aquarium, not a salt water aquarium.

I apologize for any confusion caused by the CBS show; the big salt tanks on the show looked great. We expected that the entire show would be very positive exposure for the aquarium hobby, and it was except for the Mini-bow 5 salt tank.

Sincerely,

Jerry Ritzow

President
 
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Anonymous

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Did you post this for the "Sardines" to view at reefcentral?
 

JennM

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No I did not. I have only posted once on Reef Central since November - and the one post was in support of MSI's Netting Fund - that was the only thing worthy to draw me out over there. I don't even read their boards anymore.

Feel free to cross-post or link though. :)

Jenn
 

naesco

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Below is the email sent by the President of AGA All Glass Aquariums to all its reps.
When I got a hold of it I phoned him and as a result he sent the email which Jenn has already posted.
I have serious issues with the last paragraph of this email. IMO this is not what we in the reefing community want to see happen.


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Home Aquariums on CBS Early Show, Saturday June 14th, All-Glass Aquarium featured

June 13, 2003

Have you noticed it in your store, heard it from your sales people, or seen it in your aquatics section? The whole country has gone aquarium crazy.

We all have known for many years how great the aquarium hobby is. The color of the fish and the decorations. The addition of life and movement in the house. The soothing sound of water and the health benefits you receive when you are exposed to a beautiful aquarium. Now because of Pixar-Disney’s Movie “Finding Nemo”, a whole new generation is getting exposed to this great hobby.

You can’t go into a store and walk through the pet aisle or the aquarium section without hearing the word Nemo. Aquarium Kits and aquariums of all shapes and sizes are flying off the shelves. It’s a great time for a pet retailer to ride the coat tails of a powerhouse like Pixar-Disney.

You say you want more proof, watch the CBS Early Show this Saturday morning June 14th, 7am to 9am.. Aquariums will be all over the show set. There will be at least 6 All-Glass Aquariums and Oceanic Aquariums on display. From Mini-Bow’s to 175 gallon Bow Front. These aquariums will have Farm Raised Nemos (Amphiprion Ocellaris) from Oceans Reef and Aquariums. So, watch the show, or slide in a tape and record it to play to your customers.

This is the time to get creative in your store. How about, new colorful end caps, special deals on aquarium kits, and put together saltwater kits to start that excited Nemo kid the right way. Have fun with tropical signs and draw a lot of attention to your fish room. Have a tank of clownfish and let the kids that come into your store try to find Nemo.

There are so many creative ways to boost your sales and develop new customers.

Jerry Ritzow
 
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I have serious issues with the last paragraph of this email. IMO this is not what we in the reefing community want to see happen.

All I see are more compaints againt the local LFS. Because of this, the reefing community is simply going to get ignored by them even more. Take a look up in general forum and count how many people get told horror stories about how bad the LFS is and that they should get everything mail order. To the point where most LFS's don't consider the reefing community to be a good enough customer sector to put much thought into so you get stores with crappy reef sections. Now they are trying to create new customers using a kids movie,and the reefing community is up in arms about it. You guys want to change how an LFS does business? Get in there and spend money. You want to change how aquarium products are marketed? Get in there and spend money. Aquarium products aren't marketed to you. You are the choir. No one has to show you how nice an aquarium can look. You already know. They have to convince the public at large. But if the reefing community continues to ignore the LFS, the LFS has no reason to change. If any one needs the address or directions to my store, PM me. :lol:
 

JennM

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Yeah I got that email too. Tell me just WHERE it became offensive?

Did it suggest that smashing Nemo into a 5 g was the way to go? NO. It simply suggested that retailer be aware and prepare for the expected upturn in sales.

WHY is it so evil for awareness and popularity of the hobby to be raised by this movie? Why is it evil for a store to be prepared? This is RETAIL, and like it or not, we are here to SELL - hobbyists are here to BUY - the thing that separates the good guys from the bad guys is the way it's gone about - I have a problem with "selling" Nemo in a plastic cup - I have no problem selling Nemo in an appropriate sized tank, with appropriate accessories, good water and some education along with a good reference book (and not all in one day - start with the book, read it and then come back....) If I wasn't here to sell, I would be out of business in a heartbeat. The key is selling appropriate things to appropriate people.

Yeah I can see it being an ethical or moral problem if every store in the country starts pandering to little Johnny with a 5 g tank such as what was shown on that television show. But do you give the consumer that little credit across the board to not inform him/herself a bit before they go out and make the investment? Are ALL stores that bad that they are going to try to sell inadquate systems to new hobbyists just to cash in on the movie?

Sure - some will. Those are the same ones that have done it all along, and always will. The rest of us, the ones who CARE, will carry on business as usual, giving the common sense advise that we always have, and if we make a few extra sales to new people who became aware of the hobby because of the movie, so be it - that won't change the way we do business.

The movie is a double-edged sword for the industry and the hobby, it's a blessing and a curse - but only in the sense that it will really show the good, the bad and the ugly, as they always have been, but magnified.


Jenn
 
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The movie is a double-edged sword for the industry and the hobby, it's a blessing and a curse - but only in the sense that it will really show the good, the bad and the ugly, as they always have been, but magnified.

Amen. :D
 
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Rover":isnsw924 said:
I have serious issues with the last paragraph of this email. IMO this is not what we in the reefing community want to see happen.

All I see are more compaints againt the local LFS. Because of this, the reefing community is simply going to get ignored by them even more. Take a look up in general forum and count how many people get told horror stories about how bad the LFS is and that they should get everything mail order. To the point where most LFS's don't consider the reefing community to be a good enough customer sector to put much thought into so you get stores with crappy reef sections. Now they are trying to create new customers using a kids movie,and the reefing community is up in arms about it. You guys want to change how an LFS does business? Get in there and spend money. You want to change how aquarium products are marketed? Get in there and spend money. Aquarium products aren't marketed to you. You are the choir. No one has to show you how nice an aquarium can look. You already know. They have to convince the public at large. But if the reefing community continues to ignore the LFS, the LFS has no reason to change. If any one needs the address or directions to my store, PM me. :lol:


so very well said, rover

you hit the nail right on the head :D :D :D :D :D
 

naesco

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So, guys/gals if you had a corner store instead of a LFS is it OK to sell cigarettes to kids?
But, it is OK to set up a bunch of Nemo props to have the rug rat force the Nemo Mom to buy the kid a 5 gallon tank with a couple of nemos and one tang, eh!
:evil:
 

JennM

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naesco":1ekjpiqi said:
So, guys/gals if you had a corner store instead of a LFS is it OK to sell cigarettes to kids?
But, it is OK to set up a bunch of Nemo props to have the rug rat force the Nemo Mom to buy the kid a 5 gallon tank with a couple of nemos and one tang, eh!
:evil:

Who said that? I sure as heck didn't.

However, you fail to recognize that RETAILERS are in the business of RETAIL. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with SELLING what we have to sell - what separates the good stores from the "bad" ones is how it is done.

I personally don't have a "Nemo" promo (I don't have an ocellaris for sale at all currently, nor do I have a blue tang - have sold them all to duly equipped hobbyists last week), nor do I have a Sponge Bob tank... but so what if people do? If they are "selling Nemo" in an appropriate sized tank, with appropriate accessories, after the customer appropriately cycled the tank, what is the problem?

YES I think we all agree here that it's a bad idea to pack Nemo and 20 of his closest friends into a 5 gallon fishbowl - but I didn't read that suggestion in the first AGA letter - AGA builds tanks from 5 gallons to 180 gallons - I don't think they had it in mind that people would "sell" the way things were depicted on that morning TV show that everybody's freaking out about. However there's nothing wrong with being aware of "market trends" and retailers being properly supplied.

Naesco: It's called CAPITALISM. I know it's hard for your socialist mind to wrap around, but down here that's the way it is. It's OK to make a living - it's OK to sell - just as long as it's done ethically, OK?

Jenn
 
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JennM":1m62toia said:
naesco":1m62toia said:
So, guys/gals if you had a corner store instead of a LFS is it OK to sell cigarettes to kids?
But, it is OK to set up a bunch of Nemo props to have the rug rat force the Nemo Mom to buy the kid a 5 gallon tank with a couple of nemos and one tang, eh!
:evil:

Who said that? I sure as heck didn't.

However, you fail to recognize that RETAILERS are in the business of RETAIL. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with SELLING what we have to sell - what separates the good stores from the "bad" ones is how it is done.

I personally don't have a "Nemo" promo (I don't have an ocellaris for sale at all currently, nor do I have a blue tang - have sold them all to duly equipped hobbyists last week), nor do I have a Sponge Bob tank... but so what if people do? If they are "selling Nemo" in an appropriate sized tank, with appropriate accessories, after the customer appropriately cycled the tank, what is the problem?

YES I think we all agree here that it's a bad idea to pack Nemo and 20 of his closest friends into a 5 gallon fishbowl - but I didn't read that suggestion in the first AGA letter - AGA builds tanks from 5 gallons to 180 gallons - I don't think they had it in mind that people would "sell" the way things were depicted on that morning TV show that everybody's freaking out about. However there's nothing wrong with being aware of "market trends" and retailers being properly supplied.

Naesco: It's called CAPITALISM. I know it's hard for your socialist mind to wrap around, but down here that's the way it is. It's OK to make a living - it's OK to sell - just as long as it's done ethically, OK?
Jenn

lol :lol:

i'm a true socialist-lived as kibbutznik for 10 yrs- and i'm the best capitalist/marketing strategist in the store, methinks(aside from the boss :wink: ) - though i do it all on fairly high principles
 

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