Has Any One Here Though Of Opening Aquarium Shop ?

Curious cause I have wondering what you guys think about the aquarium business

 

Its a tough business with narrow profit margins made worse by the big box stores.

 

I wouldnt do it

 

A friend of mine, a very experienced fishkeeper opened a shop & found out the hard way that giving good advice & not selling unsuitable or incompatible fish didn’t make him any money.
He also couldn’t compete on prices from the big chain stores so sadly the shop only lasted 3 years & closed.

 

I'm happy to sell from home. I'd like to keep people informed, no matter how much money I do/don't bring in. I have figured that if I set my fish quality high people will be more attracted to my stock

I don't think I could do a store, everyone I know with a store spends too much time in it

 

No. But I have seriously considered getting a part time job at Petco and taking care of their fish department.

 

You could do that, most(not all) employees that work there don't have a clue at what there doing. You might be able to save some fish lives. Then again your helping there animal abusing box store chain.

 

I have thought of it, actually dreamed of it,(hasn't everyone), but it will probably never happen.

 

An acquaintance who spent most of his life in many parts of the tropical fish industry once told me the only way to make a small fortune in the Aquarium industry is to start with a large fortune. It is a job done for the love of it, not to make a huge profit. When I was younger I thought about it, a small store could survive in most markets. These days the big boxes and people's attitudes are destroying the walk in commercial hobby, and the only way to do right by the fish and your customers is to sell online, whether with your own website or through the auction sites like Ebay and Aquabid. For this, reputation is everything.

 

I would sell the fish I have breed or don’t want, but not open a store

 

You could do that, most(not all) employees that work there don't have a clue at what there doing. You might be able to save some fish lives. Then again your helping there animal abusing box store chain.

I would if I weren't already working 20+ hours a week with a young family!