What type of pet shop are you?
- Thread starter MaryHM
- Start date
Combo here, but mostly fresh, salt, and watergardening. The Backer shows, MACNA, and PIDA are the best places. PIDA and Backer are retailer shows for those out of the loop. You get to meet the people and see the stuff they sell first hand. No print can touch that. PIDA and APPMA will be combined next year. South Cally has a show too.
Full line, 30% aquatic (fresh and salt, with tank space 75% fresh and 25% salt), 50% dog, and 20% everything else (small mammals, bird supplies, cat supplies and reptiles and supplies). We get the majority of our stuff from local or regional distributors (dog food, fish tanks, hamster cages etc) simply for convenience. I have been increasingly frustrated trying to bring in some of the higher end salt water equipment (namely skimmers and lighting), because the distribution is not retailer friendly. Case packs or quantity breaks are too high, you have to order a years supply to be able to make any margin on the item, and so on. Regional distributors won't bring them in because they don't turn fast enough, they don't turn fast enough because retailers can't get them, etc....
Hi Mary,,
Saltwater ONLY-100% and proud of it too.
Specializing in coral reef community systems.
Full line except for cabinets.
(I refuse to sell those those that are currently on the market, as they simply do not work or do not hold up well )
If one is trying to make margins or profits in this hobby//business- well-an awful lot has to change first. Airlines, shipping,hobbyists with knowledge (or willing to learn ) and the major one, get rid of the word "CHEAP". This is not a CHEAP hobby and I do sincerely wish, the hobbyist would learn that one. YOU get what you pay for !!!!!
Saltwater ONLY-100% and proud of it too.
Specializing in coral reef community systems.
Full line except for cabinets.
(I refuse to sell those those that are currently on the market, as they simply do not work or do not hold up well )
If one is trying to make margins or profits in this hobby//business- well-an awful lot has to change first. Airlines, shipping,hobbyists with knowledge (or willing to learn ) and the major one, get rid of the word "CHEAP". This is not a CHEAP hobby and I do sincerely wish, the hobbyist would learn that one. YOU get what you pay for !!!!!
Full-line pet shop here, except live dogs & cats. We do have cats about twice a year, but that's an exception with us working with a local breeder.
Still looking for a great freshwater distributor...I need quality africans and discus.
Dry goods are a pain in the rear. I haven't been able to stock up on the quality stuff I need to carry, and the regular distribution channels stink as far as quality equipment.
Peace,
Chip
Still looking for a great freshwater distributor...I need quality africans and discus.
Dry goods are a pain in the rear. I haven't been able to stock up on the quality stuff I need to carry, and the regular distribution channels stink as far as quality equipment.
Peace,
Chip
At the moment we're saltwater/reef only. We recently expanded and are putting in freshwater... to pay the bills.
I started with the suppliers that my former employer used... figured that was "as good as it gets" but through this forum I met Mary and Steve, and another great supplier who found me probably through my FAMA ad or something. I get courted every week by livestock suppliers but I'm happy where I am. My biggest complaint is variety, but I also understand that there are sometimes trade-offs. I can usually get what I want/need sooner or later, so it's a matter of educating the customer and being patient sometimes.
I carry substantial amount of tanks and tank furniture. I can get the high-end stuff in, but as Glenn said, it's a PITA, so it's usually onesies and twosies as special orders for those who want them. I don't push crap... but the middle of the road, easily obtained stuff seems to sell best.
I'm adding the freshwater to expand my customer base and attract more people to the hobby. Many are so intimidated by saltwater... get them interested with some guppies or tetras, next it's Africans or Discus... then a reef
There's always room for one more tank....
I too am looking for info on freshwater wholesalers in the Southeast. For everyone that has recommended a given wholesaler, I find somebody else who says, "EWWWW" about them...
I can see it being a bit subjective, but by and large a place either deals in quality or it doesn't....
Jenn
I started with the suppliers that my former employer used... figured that was "as good as it gets" but through this forum I met Mary and Steve, and another great supplier who found me probably through my FAMA ad or something. I get courted every week by livestock suppliers but I'm happy where I am. My biggest complaint is variety, but I also understand that there are sometimes trade-offs. I can usually get what I want/need sooner or later, so it's a matter of educating the customer and being patient sometimes.
I carry substantial amount of tanks and tank furniture. I can get the high-end stuff in, but as Glenn said, it's a PITA, so it's usually onesies and twosies as special orders for those who want them. I don't push crap... but the middle of the road, easily obtained stuff seems to sell best.
I'm adding the freshwater to expand my customer base and attract more people to the hobby. Many are so intimidated by saltwater... get them interested with some guppies or tetras, next it's Africans or Discus... then a reef
There's always room for one more tank....
I too am looking for info on freshwater wholesalers in the Southeast. For everyone that has recommended a given wholesaler, I find somebody else who says, "EWWWW" about them...
I can see it being a bit subjective, but by and large a place either deals in quality or it doesn't....
Jenn
Jenn is right about the FAMA ad generating wholesale spaming. Joining AMDA will get you plenty of contacts too, but only if your a legitamate b&m retailer please. Getting contacts is easy if you're for real, supporting them all is imposssible. Pretty much all the wholesalers I've been to work their ass off and keep their places looking good. Where they get some of their fish is another story. I personally want to support wholesalers who are interested in keeping retail alive. I also want fish collected in a sustainable manner.
Jenn don't rule out koi and fancy goldfish. Water gardening is a growing segment of our industry as Jeff Koutnik can attest. You are lucky enough to be able to "cherry pick" one of the larger freshwater wholesalers in this region. If I was you I would be there at least once a week.
Mitch
Jenn don't rule out koi and fancy goldfish. Water gardening is a growing segment of our industry as Jeff Koutnik can attest. You are lucky enough to be able to "cherry pick" one of the larger freshwater wholesalers in this region. If I was you I would be there at least once a week.
Mitch
clarionreef
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- San Francisco
We're all salt.
No mudfish, no dry goods.
Only netcaught fish from the center of the storm. There are reliable netcaught shippers albiet few in Bali and the Philippines. Its just that the near total lack of support or them has hurt them and rewarded the cyanide trade with great advantages.
Refusing to import popular fish like bangaii cardinals and blue tangs because of the cyanide thing is offensive to customers looking for those fish. It is held against us for refusing to import wanted fish and considered unprofessional.
The best indicator of truth in this whole mess is the list of fishes NOT offered...despite easy sales. Any wholesalers out there do that?
Any retailers? I don't mean the easy USL stuff to avoid...I mean the bigger watergate of our trade...poisoned fish that kill coral reefs
Steve
No mudfish, no dry goods.
Only netcaught fish from the center of the storm. There are reliable netcaught shippers albiet few in Bali and the Philippines. Its just that the near total lack of support or them has hurt them and rewarded the cyanide trade with great advantages.
Refusing to import popular fish like bangaii cardinals and blue tangs because of the cyanide thing is offensive to customers looking for those fish. It is held against us for refusing to import wanted fish and considered unprofessional.
The best indicator of truth in this whole mess is the list of fishes NOT offered...despite easy sales. Any wholesalers out there do that?
Any retailers? I don't mean the easy USL stuff to avoid...I mean the bigger watergate of our trade...poisoned fish that kill coral reefs
Steve
we sell freshwater and marine , with probably 1/3 goldfish and temperate
1/3 freshwater tropical 1/3 tropical marine , we do temperate marine by order not as stock
koi are a declared noxious fish here so we just do the other gold fish , but we like to have native australian sp as well
new suppliers are found by keeping our ears close to the ground ....often they find us
we like to buy aquacultured marine stock when available but lines are limited
we buy from all over the country and have most stock airfreighted to our local airport
we try and steer clear of imports but have to buy some sp that arnt found in local waters ( some tangs, angels, manderins, fire gobys just to name a few ), Australian caught fish are rarely if ever chemically caught and never by the divers we use ,so this is a big advantage in sticking to local fish
cheers ian
1/3 freshwater tropical 1/3 tropical marine , we do temperate marine by order not as stock
koi are a declared noxious fish here so we just do the other gold fish , but we like to have native australian sp as well
new suppliers are found by keeping our ears close to the ground ....often they find us
we like to buy aquacultured marine stock when available but lines are limited
we buy from all over the country and have most stock airfreighted to our local airport
we try and steer clear of imports but have to buy some sp that arnt found in local waters ( some tangs, angels, manderins, fire gobys just to name a few ), Australian caught fish are rarely if ever chemically caught and never by the divers we use ,so this is a big advantage in sticking to local fish
cheers ian
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