What would the perfect lfs have?

[fishgeek01]

I am doing a little research before going on a joint venture with a friend, we were thinking of starting an aquatics only store, with an emphasis on saltwater... I just wondered what everybody would want in an lfs, what types of unique things do your local lfs's have that make them better... Also how far are you willing to travel to get to a good lfs? also sorry for posting in 3 forums but i was getting no responses in just one, and i want everybodies ideas, i want to have the best lfs ever

 

[fishgeek01]

ok i guess i will get us started, how about a free mixed water program for being a frequent customer

 

[ninjamini]

It's the perfect combination of great selection. Great prices and sales people that are aren't pushing BS.
Nothing turns me off more to a store than when I heat BS to customers. It can be to me or to another customer.
Keep your tanks clean. There is one store I go to for h2o thats real close. But there tanks are full of hair and bubble algae. I wont buy anything from their tanks.
Don't jack up the prices. ie. I was just looking at the 36" aqualight pro hqi. $399 online and $749 in the store.
Good healthy selection and good prices. I don't think you can make $$$ doing it this way. The goal of a store is to sell - sell - sell.

 

[fishgeek01]

i think there is a line that many places cross that doesnt need to, if you generate enough business, you can afford to have lower prices, and still make money, i would like to build a reputation, not just another pet store or fish store, and i agree with the no bs, i plan on having the internet on my sales floor so when we don't know the answer we can look it up, probably by my bagging station... i don't beleive in false informing, and as a hobbyist, i would expect nothing less than clean tanks and good information, thanks for the input ninjamini, keep it coming

 

[ninjamini]

Internet in the store? So you are going to match prices of the internet stores? You wont be able to do that. You will be buying through a distributer. The big guys buy direct. Which means they get it cheaper. Good luck.
For example swf.com sells figi for $4/lb while my lfs sells it for $6-9. What will you charge? If I go to swf.com in your store why would I pay more? Dont forget that your customers wont want that little rubble pieces that come in the box. They will want the big pieces.

 

[wangotango]

the perfect lfs would sell coral and what not for decent prices (wholesale) not outrageous prices like $50 for 4 zoos. theres certain things i like about one of my lfs over the other and vise-versa. like one of them has a "club card" so once you spend X number of dollars you get X dollars in free livestock.

 

[fishgeek01]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
the perfect lfs would sell coral and what not for decent prices (wholesale) not outrageous prices like $50 for 4 zoos. theres certain things i like about one of my lfs over the other and vise-versa. like one of them has a "club card" so once you spend X number of dollars you get X dollars in free livestock.
thanks for the input, obviously if i sold for wholesale i could not make any money, but i do beleive in making this hobby affordable to draw in more hobbyists, how many of us have switched from fresh to salt and wished it was as cheap to do so, also i like the club card idea, would you want free livestock or free merchandise, or make it so that you spend x dollars on merchandise you get merchandise free or anything free and same for livestock, only livestock free or anything, or i could do both...

 

[gatorwpb]

Believe it or not, my LFS matches internet store prices for big ticket items.
I got my halide lights for the same price as the online auction site price. I couldnt believe it. I buy so much there, I have a standing 10% discount on all purchases.
But I trust my LFS because they are straight up with me, each employee is very knowledgable. Also, the store only sells salt water fish and equip and the prices are all reasonable. I hear them turn down sales if they dont think the customer is ready for it.
I dont have to drive very far because there are several LFS within 15 miles of me if my preferred one is not open or out of something.
Good luck

 

[fishgeek01]

Thanks gatorwpb i like the idea of matching internet prices, or even beating them slightly, also the standing 10% discount how did you get that, or are you that frequent of a customer, i could def do something like that. and you said you didnt have to drive very far, how far would you be willing to drive? thanks again for the input

 

[reefstar22]

I'll drive 5 miles, or order it online. Forget driving 60miles even.... :hilarious
I'm

[hr]
..but im not crazy.
60miles...there...thats a minium 120 miles
Gas/Personal Time/Wear on car...doesn't make sense to me :notsure:

 

[travis89]

I like the idea of the club card thing, you should do it so you spend X amount and get X amount of livestock or merchandise free. I will drive quite a ways if I know a LFS has quality livestock, knowledgable staff, and reasonable prices

 

[fishgeek01]

Originally Posted by Reefstar22
I'll drive 5 miles, or order it online. Forget driving 60miles even.... :hilarious
I'm

[hr]
..but im not crazy.
60miles...there...thats a minium 120 miles
Gas/Personal Time/Wear on car...doesn't make sense to me :notsure:
what if the lfs had the best reputation, i am talking about building a dynasty of a lfs, with the best of the best, for everything, prices, knowledge, livestock, selection, everything, would it be worth 60 miles, i drive 35 to my lfs and then 35 back...

 

[fishgeek01]

Originally Posted by Travis89
I like the idea of the club card thing, you should do it so you spend X amount and get X amount of livestock or merchandise free. I will drive quite a ways if I know a LFS has quality livestock, knowledgable staff, and reasonable prices
thanks for the input, i think i will probably adopt some sort of prefered customer club sounds like a fintastic idea... also how far is to far if its the cream of the crop you going for, read my post to reefstar 22

 

[whitey_028]

I agree 60 miles is too far...1 out of a 100 of you customers will go that far. Quality of tanks and livestock is a definate must,some of the ones here have glass so thick with algae you cant see whats in the tank but they have excellant variety of livestock,coral, dry goods and frozen goods. Then there are other stores they have the same things in their tanks over and over again without too much varience of livestock, but their tanks are the cleanest in town. Both stores prosper in this area due to the different circumstances. I beleive that if you could get the variety and keep a very very clean shop, tile floors,ect and get away from that warehouse feeling youll do good. Again the most important thing is knowledge... If i ask a question about how to setup a fuge or a sump you better have the answers for both and be unbiased as the customer needs to make his own decisions and is always "right" even when we are wrong...(unless it endagers an animal).

 

[fishgeek01]

Originally Posted by whitey_028
I agree 60 miles is too far...1 out of a 100 of you customers will go that far. Quality of tanks and livestock is a definate must,some of the ones here have glass so thick with algae you cant see whats in the tank but they have excellant variety of livestock,coral, dry goods and frozen goods. Then there are other stores they have the same things in their tanks over and over again without too much varience of livestock, but their tanks are the cleanest in town. Both stores prosper in this area due to the different circumstances. I beleive that if you could get the variety and keep a very very clean shop, tile floors,ect and get away from that warehouse feeling youll do good. Again the most important thing is knowledge... If i ask a question about how to setup a fuge or a sump you better have the answers for both and be unbiased as the customer needs to make his own decisions and is always "right" even when we are wrong...(unless it endagers an animal).
agreed, what about 30 miles there and 30 miles home... thats what i drive also as i have posted a few times variety is the spice of life... and yes i learned a long time ago working in retail that the customer is alwaya right unless it poses a threat to themselves or the livestock thanks for the input whitey 028

 

[fishgeek01]

anybody mind telling me about their local lfs, and the things they have there that set them apart from other stores...

 

[rs1831]

I think this is a good conversation but why have it in 3 forums?

 

[rustyj]

I have seen color symbols that an LFS was going to use to indicate the coral lighting requirements but they never placed them on the coral name tags. Also you must have knowedgable sales staff that never know exactly what you have in stock and how they work with someones reef. You may also want to put together a customer data base with tank size, filter type, lighting, livestock and such so you can easily reference it when someone comes in and asks if a certain type of fish or coral will go in their tank and you can also recomend regular filter replacements and light replacements. that is value added service that people will pay a little extra for. Good luck
Rusty

 

[fishgeek01]

Originally Posted by rs1831
I think this is a good conversation but why have it in 3 forums?
nobody was posting at first, and some people don't look at all of the forums

 

[fishgeek01]

Originally Posted by RustyJ
I have seen color symbols that an LFS was going to use to indicate the coral lighting requirements but they never placed them on the coral name tags. Also you must have knowedgable sales staff that never know exactly what you have in stock and how they work with someones reef. You may also want to put together a customer data base with tank size, filter type, lighting, livestock and such so you can easily reference it when someone comes in and asks if a certain type of fish or coral will go in their tank and you can also recomend regular filter replacements and light replacements. that is value added service that people will pay a little extra for. Good luck
Rusty
i love the customer database idea, very good, thanks, also the colored tags for lighting i could take that one step further with livestock compatability as well