Suggestions for a future plan
- Thread starter Scrappy71113
- Start date
That's actually a really good idea.
At the place I worked, a lot of suggestions were made on Facebook and we had to be careful of what we took. Some of these people weren't even in the same country. This would simplify that, and make sure what's being ordered is for people who actually come in.
I do understand that a lot of it is supplier issues as well. Some fish are "seasonal".
If the suppliers don't have them, they can't be ordered, and the lists are so random sometimes. Hueta gar showed up twice while I was working, we got them the first time, but the second time by the time we ordered, they were already out.
On top of the supplier issues is the health of and the size of the fish. I ordered a tetra (I don't remember what kind) at one point because so many people were asking for it, and received a bag of fry. Nobody wanted them because they were so small.
Another time, pea puffers, they all arrived sick or dead. It's not that we weren't trying, it's that the option wasn't there, or it wasn't great.
Yep, but you have to understand that you aren't the only one into the bigger fish. Cater to both.
Just keep a smaller selection of the south/central American fish, and plan on keeping them longer, so bigger tanks, higher quality food, etc.
Also keep any breeders that pop up out of customer view.
Most of the regulars at the LFS I worked at were into the bigger fish.
I have the customer service skills. I currently work part time at a gas station, and I have servers trying to poach me lol
As far as display tanks go, I wanted to do 2, one with Oscars to show just how big they get and give an example of needs and what to expect out of monsters, and a nice live bearer tank, fully planted and scaped.
I need to start dipping my toes into saltwater so I can go in with that knowledge as well, it's just so intimidating.
Take it from me bud, I’ve been talking myself out of saltwater for the past 7 years and at some point you just have to jump in head first. Don’t think about whether you can, just put together an equipment list and start buying the stuff. One day you buy the last piece of equipment and you have a full saltwater set up minus the water so you just go ahead and set it up and cycle it because you already have it. At this point you’ve set up a saltwater tank and it’s ready for fish without even thinking about it lol.
Just a suggestion of what species go together and what plants and the equipment required to pull it off. For those not trawling multiple forum for hundreds of hours to slowly piece it together then fruck it all up because their stone they used increased their KH/GH
Display tanks that you have should be made from what you sell. I’ve been to plenty of LFS with pro looking displays but only sell cheap ass Chinese equipment that breaks after 6 months.
Personally I'd like to see more display tanks of sa/ca cichlids because they all look so similar at the juvie sizes you usually see in lfs, and their sub adult and adult colors and patterns are so much better and may increase interest in them. But these display tanks are a sacrifice of square footage and gallonage of sellable goods and sa/ca cichlids bring lower dollars in than most other categories, so displays are usually reserved for salt, discus, african cichlids etc.
Another idea is to incorporate some slide show monitors throughout the store with slides or video of adult fish, workable setups, proper tank size, adult size, basic facts and care requirements, etc. In this day and age you have to embrace technology and if your customers can actually see some impressive setups from simple to advanced, they can visualize it in their own homes. Marketing these days isn't about selling products. You start by carrying decent merchandise but what your selling is enthusiasm, enjoyment, ideas, and fun, it's a hobby not a basic need.
Another idea is to incorporate some slide show monitors throughout the store with slides or video of adult fish, workable setups, proper tank size, adult size, basic facts and care requirements, etc. In this day and age you have to embrace technology and if your customers can actually see some impressive setups from simple to advanced, they can visualize it in their own homes. Marketing these days isn't about selling products. You start by carrying decent merchandise but what your selling is enthusiasm, enjoyment, ideas, and fun, it's a hobby not a basic need.
For sure. Treat it like a display. Don't display it if you aren't going to sell it.
