Mitch,
Just as in pharmacy and most other retail, the small independents will never gain an advantage, they are becoming history. I cannot think of one instance where small independents have outperformed those with the money and clout. The manufactures are in business to sell and the bigger the account, the more the price incentives. Bigger retail companies will buy better, generally allowing stronger margins. It always happens, even if they deny it, and I mean always. This is not unique to the aquarium trade.
AMDA would be far better off to include those who can provide some cash and then use it to promote the common good of the hobby. Let Petsmart, Walmart, and Petco in, they are the ones with the clout. The independents, other than those with multiple stores have little to offer in the way of marketing the industry or providing support for an organization such as AMDA.
Tons of money floating around APPMA but the kickbacks and promotional dollars go to the larger accounts, not the small and midsized independents, who generally do not even attend. We fight for our discount share at every transaction. Either discount it or sell it to someone else, that is how it works.
Fortunately for this industry it is small and not too enticing for many of the major players, example Target and Walmart. Even those who play tend not to devote huge resources to the marine trade, too small and vulnerable to the green movement. Watch PetCo as an example, they dabble but they will exit at the first sign of bad press. Petsmart did it in small animal, just this week, all as a result of the PETA epose. Many industry vendors are small too and that tends to level the playing field somewhat. Despite this, it is changing and will continue. Any growth in this industry will be sopped up by the larger players, they and I will devote more resources IF the hobby grows, the sales will not be left for the mom and pop shop.
What I am trying to say is--- as the industry grows, if it does, the larger players will get stronger and the mom and pops will die even a quicker death. That is the Walgreen effect and just the way the retail economy is designed and works.
Growth may not actually be good for the aquarium trade and for sure it will increase attention to sustainability and GREEN issues. We cannot win that battle either. It is impossible to defend the ocean collection of specimens for personal profit. I would not even attempt an arguement as it is not logical. We need to improve our image and protect and care for what we have, expansion through wild harvest should not be the goal.
Promote aquaculture and better healthcare. Focus on what we are fortunate enough to harvest so that it lives longer. Educate and get the slop vendors and wholesalers out of the industry. I hope PETA gets em, let em die. They paint a bad image for all of us. Eliminate those who do not sell specimens of such quality capable of carrying an honorable guarantee. Let PETA hammer on etailers and retailers with bad husbandry practices. Push quality and guaranteed livestock right down the line to the consumer. Improve it.
We, all of us, are killing too much livestock. Stop buying the low quality fish and coral that comes into California and Florida. Leave it for the oceans and keep it out of the hobby. Avoid cheap livestock. Support the good wholesalers such as Quality Marine and others. It is the cheap, inferior livestock that dies and ruins our image. If the market shrinks, so be it as long as quality improves. That would be a healthy trade off.
Enough said, time to clean it up-----Race
