any tips on starting a new on-line retail store?

[Clint Lamont]

I have almost everythimg I need except a DBA. but I will get that soon. I just want to start out small at first , selling dry goods, equipment, some corals. I kinda want to grow as I go. Any suggestions?

 

[Anonymous]

Make sure you start with a good business plan and have enough startup capital to do it right.

 

[dizzy]

Just look at what the big successful ones like Foster & Smith and Marine Depot have done and try to duplicate it. Being close to 104th St is a big advantage.

 

[Clint Lamont]

Well i don't know what 104th is but I am renting a 2500sqft whare house in a industrial park in our town. A very nice industrial park. And it's cheep cause Im friends with the guy who's setting it all up. and plenty of traffic in the area for ads and such. my starting is about $350,000, I think that will be enough for somthing small for a little while. but most of that after I pay for rent, bills,ect will be going twords advertising for the first 5 years or so. Most of the money I make will be going back to the buisness for the first 5 years just to make things a little easier. Im not even going to pay myself that whole time eather. I have a great job that pays well and I only have to work about 15-20 hours a week. so that will help.

 

[Len]

From all the success stories I've gathered, you need a lot of PR/marketing in the beginning to get your foot in the door. It's going to take a good deal of resources/capital, so as others have mentioned, make sure you have a sound business model/plan. I know places like DrF&S and Marine Depot have invested a lot of money into their infrastructure to be where they are now.

 

[Kalkbreath]

I kinda like the idea of seven or eight more Fosters and Smith and Marine Depots located right near the LAX airport.
That would saturate their nitch market causing them all to fold!
Then the industry, now parasite free would regain its health.
Brick and mortars would again spout up nation wide exposing the hobby to the General public............reversing the current decline in the number of hobbyists nation wide!

 

[clarionreef]

Welcome Clint,
You're off to a good start and already have posted twice as much as the biggest online seller.
Steve

 

[Clint Lamont]

hey thanks guys! I really am going to do my best to do what ever I can to make this industry better for the customer, and the hobby in general. I love this hobby more than any one person could love a hobby. And I plan to do whatever it takes to make people happy, and feel like they have someone to depend on to help them, and not just sell to them and tell them to have a nice day. It is important to me to make people comfortable with there purchases, and that they have a company that they can count on to help them enjoy the hobby that they love.

 

[JennM]

I sounded like that once :lol:

Then it became a job

Jenn

 

[nanocat]

...I love this hobby more than any one person could love a hobby.

If you want to continue to love it, quit now. 8O

 

[cjsrch]

where are you located? or will this be a purly online bussiness

 

[Clint Lamont]

Hey guys I really like this feedback. But why are there humbugs? Life is what you make of it. If it fails, it fails. MOVE ON. Yes this will be purely on-line based. With appointment based Saturdays. And it is in an industrial park in So-Cal. I think the key element for me is planning..

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome Clint,
You're off to a good start and already have posted twice as much as the biggest online seller.
Steve

Steve, Race Foster has been posting up a storm in recent months. Far more then two posts

 

[clarionreef]

Gresham,
I ment posts here on the fobidden archive of RDO
STEVE

 

[aquaticvet1]

I rarely post here as I host my own websites and newsletters . I post my views on the industry within those areas so that ALL of my customers can understand my goals . If you care to check out the home page of LiveAquaria.com you will clearly see where I stand on topics concerning the industry . I guess you can say that I like to leave no doubt about my intentions . With me there is never a secret . You do not have to agree with my mission but you may as well accept it.

Have at it . ---- Dr. Race Foster

DrsFosterSmith.com LiveAquaria.com

 

[clarionreef]

Race,
But that is a commercial forum for selling a companys products; an advertisement so to speak where the atmosphere is provided and manipulated for sales purposes.
The worth of your opinions outside of your own public relations medium is where they can be weighed without reference to promoting a private enterprise or selling something.
RDO is much, much more an exercise in freedom of speech and you never know who may be posting here. Many companies and competitors chime in and are welcome so long as they don't push commercial products.
Steve

 

[dizzy]

I guess you can say that I like to leave no doubt about my intentions . With me there is never a secret . You do not have to agree with my mission but you may as well accept it.

Have at it . ---- Dr. Race Foster

DrsFosterSmith.com LiveAquaria.com

Wow that comes off as being pretty arrogant Race. Why don't you try and learn to be a little more humble. I think people might like you better.
Mitch

 

[aquaticvet1]

I guess Mitch if you review my historical treatment on this forum you will find little constructive criticism of me or my companies . It is mostly negative.I think the die was cast a long time ago . One thing for certain though, you will never hear me whine about it---- I only move in a positive direction.
Thank you , Race

 

[dizzy]

Well gosh Race try and put yourself in the shoes of the average brick and mortar store. Do you think you would like having the dropshipping game working against you? For the record I've been the most critical of the wholesalers who enable the game. We know who they are. Funny thing is they don't like to talk about it or even admit that they do it for some reason. I think they realize they are destroying the customer base that not only built them, but is meeting the public face to face and getting new people into the hobby. If they're not feeling guilty then they damn sure should be IMO.
Mitch

 

[aquaticvet1]

Mitch ,
I think if you read this thread from the beginning you will see a perfect example . Here was a thread that had nothing to do with me yet Steve cannot enter it without attempting to bait me in . Why reference me here ?
I do respect all of you guys but you sure waste alot of effort on me when in reality you should be paying attention to how the customers and technology are changing this industry . Where is AMDA on this one ?

Thank you , Race