Myrtle Beach SC, New Pet Store Help

[djevack]

Hello everyone, I’m moving down to Myrtle Beach next fall where I have in the work to start a Pet Store. It will mostly be an aquatic store with saltwater, freshwater and pond fish plants inverts and equipment. I will have some dog, cat, and bird stuff, but mostly all fish. I also will be managing my fathers crane company out of this store. Therefore I will be looking for some good help. Anywhere from counter/phones help to a manager. He or she needs to have to have a good knowledge of fish and or pets. I know I’m a ways off yet from opening up but I would really like to start to line up some employees. Message me back with any comments

 

[pontius]

wish you good luck since that's where I am (the more good fish stores, the better). there is one pretty good pet store with a pretty good fish department (Coastline Pet Supply). then there is one parttime store that is ONLY saltwater stuff (Sea Critters Depot). those 2 are good, everything else around here is crap, so I really think you would do well considering all the restaurants, hotels, and normal people that have aquariums. there is also a custom aquarium store that I've just recently noticed. where exactly are you going to be putting a store in MB?
just my personal opinion, but I doubt I'd even bother with with the dog/cat stuff because Coastline is going to be hard to compete with in that department and there is a brand new Pet Smart that just opened. but really, I think you'd do well with fish/birds only.
in Charleston (1.5 hours away) there are 5 or 6 fish only stores and everytime I've been, their business is absolutely booming. so since you'd really be the only fish/bird only shop around here, I think you'd do really well without the dog/cat stuff.

 

[djevack]

Ive been to Sea Critter Depot Before. Its very nice but not open much and not much equipment. Ive not been to Coastline Pet Supply, where is it located at??? as for dog and cat stuff it was only going to be a small amount and higher end pet food. Plus i dont plan on putting a large mark-up only enough to make some money and bring walk in traffic.
I plan on living in Conway, but the store will be most likely in the Carolina Forest shopipng center thing, either in the older strip or the brand new one with the piggly wiggly. If not somewhere on 501.
I did notice all the pet store suck in the area. They all are over-priced not Knowledgeable and have a bad selection. For such a high population area thats still growing and by the ocean, i cant get over there isnt a good place to buy fish and fish products.

 

[pontius]

Coastline Pet Supply is in Socastee (the south end of MB). they are NOT staffed with high school students...they have specialized employees in each department and they know their stuff. I have not seen any employee turnover in the 3+ years that I've been shopping there, so they have a pretty built up clientele. however, you can't go wrong with Carolina Forest. it's eventually going to be a town unto itself and it's right in the middle of the county.
the recommendations I'd make to you:
1. it will cost you more and probably cause your prices to be higher, but I'd recommend quarantining your saltwater fish. Bruce at Sea Critters QTs ALL fish for at least 14 days and it makes his fish hard to compete with in the quality department.
2. have a GOOD selection of cichlids from all the popular regions. there is NO store (Coastline included) in the county that has good cichlid selections. saltwater is where the money is, but cichlids are probably the most popular fish in the world and they are not given a good representation in the stores here. I know people that drive to Charleston and Columbia just to buy cichlids.
don't know if you have a house already or not, but I'm a Realtor if you need one.

 

[djevack]

Ya I planned on QT all my fish for sale. I did think about have some fish QT and some not thus having some at cheaper prices for customers who dont want me to QT and want to do it themselves or not at all to save money.
Also I will have all types of fish including lots of cichlids, I love them alot. I also will have arount 10 display tanks to really show off the different types of fish. There will be 8 90-110g tanks 1 large reef and 1 very large shark tank. I hope to show customers the different types of fish setups and to represent each type. PLus help sales

But thanks for all the help I hope to be down there next fall. I already have bought my property but havnt started to build a house, but thanks for the offer.

 

[fewskillz]

Wow, I'll make the drive from Wilmington NC to see that setup! There's only 3 stores + the ***** up here that have saltwater fish. None that elaborate either. I wish you luck, and I'm jealous, I would love to open my own store like that.

 

[fishfatty]

i was just in myrtle beach earlier today...i thought coastline was a little over-priced and i thought sea critters depot was the nicest quality store i have been to.

 

[pontius]

Originally Posted by FishFatty
i was just in myrtle beach earlier today...i thought coastline was a little over-priced and i thought sea critters depot was the nicest quality store i have been to.
no question they are overpriced. I know almost for fact that there's over a 100% markup on all saltwater fish. that would be reasonable if it were for QT'd fish, but that's the price for straight out of the shipping bags.
sea critters' fish are great. but his main business is setting up displays for people. if he had a bigger store and were open more often, he'd be hard to compete with as far as saltwater stuff goes.