How many Ts would sell?

[gumby]

So the other day I was thinking id like to open a pet store. I would of course have a larger T. section then any pet store in my area. I was wondering though how many Ts would actually sell? Would most of my business come from other animals?

I think that most of my business would come from other animals even if I specialized in Ts. I was thinking it would be cool though to have a pet store with correct species names and actual care facts. Mine would also be clean I cant stand how dirty some pet stores are.

 

[the nature boy]

So the other day I was thinking id like to open a pet store. I would of course have a larger T. section then any pet store in my area. I was wondering though how many Ts would actually sell? Would most of my business come from other animals?

I think that most of my business would come from other animals even if I specialized in Ts. I was thinking it would be cool though to have a pet store with correct species names and actual care facts. Mine would also be clean I cant stand how dirty some pet stores are.

Before you spend the time and money required to open a pet store you need to work at one. Are the sales of aquariums what really pays the rent? Do ball pythons go out the door every time you get one in? If you want to have a sale what is the most effective way of getting the word out (maybe the expense of TV advertising just doesn't pay for itself in the retail pet business but putting up some banners and sending a card to every former customer brings them in droves)? You get my point, there's a lot to learn before investing your time and money.

--the nature boy

 

[skippy]

i have a buddy that owned a pet store. he was mainly into fish but really liked inverts and reptiles as well. unfortunately, he spent too much time on the animals he thought were cool and slacked off on the money makers: the accessories! tanks, filters, pumps, substrates, stands, tools, FOOD, all these things are were a pet store makes it's money. in the end, it didn't matter that he had a b klaasi, or a c fasciatum, or a dumeril's boa because he didn't have the drive or the space to carry the money makers. the animals are usually sold at a loss(with feeding and care from the employees plus heating costs) to the pet store in the hopes that the customer will buy the accessories there and come back for food and extras.

if you want to open a specialty pet store like that you should make sure that you live in a densely populated area where more than just a couple people in the hobby live. (that's why the best exotic pet stores are usually found in large citys) also make sure that you either hire people you know well or do it all on your(paying wages is also a huge drain on your profits, if any)

p.s. my buddy that owned a pet store? he now works construction and is just starting to get out of the debt he was in while he owned his business. he's also much happier and less stressed just keeping animals at home.

 

[gumby]

Oh I agree 100% Id never jump into anything like this in the next two years. Its one of those down the road goals.

 

[Talkenlate04]

I just glanced and saw where you were from. Are there even enough people in your area that into this sort of thing to make it worth it?

 

[gumby]

There are a few people who are in to the hobby out here, but IMO not enough to make it worth my while for such a store. I have a long term plan of moving away from UT to either the bay area in CA, Denver, or Seattle. You know what they say location, location, location. Also I would plan on having many types of animals but having a diverse T section would be a priority. I never really thought of all the tanks and other accessories being what you could make lots of money on so that was a great point from skippy :worship: .

 

[Talkenlate04]

There are a few people who are in to the hobby out here, but IMO not enough to make it worth my while for such a store. I have a long term plan of moving away from UT to either the bay area in CA, Denver, or Seattle. You know what they say location, location, location. Also I would plan on having many types of animals but having a diverse T section would be a priority. I never really thought of all the tanks and other accessories being what you could make lots of money on so that was a great point from skippy :worship: .

If you come to Portland you have a partner.

 

[gumby]

I was thinking that if I moved to the Bay area that there are tons of animal lovers and not a lot of room so a pet like a T would be excellent for that demographic. Also I thought about advertising a bit and I think the best way to do it would be via the internet or local local papers. There is also a whole forum for Tarantula keeps just in the SF. As I said though this is a plan that I am not starting any time soon. I was also wondering how much business pet stores do via the internet? Set up their website and start business from there and move to a local shop eventually.

 

[james]

pet stores

I have friends that own stores and you do need lots of diversity, but bottom line dry good and feeders pay the bills. You may sell a snake for $30 and make a few dollars profit but if the customer comes in every week to buy a rat you will make hundreds. Plus, when they are always coming back you have opportunity to sell more. I think there are many things lacking at pet stores. First, most don't provide enough information on proper care, set-ups, feedeing, etc.. Second many are not very smart and don't offer great package deals for customers to get complete set-ups. Third, most don't go out of there way to explain benefits of types of substrate, feeders, heating,etc.. Besides all this there are many other ways to make money. One of my friends has a system where customers can purchase a feeder to watch an animal in the store eat. Pretty funny that someone would pay $1 to watch you toss in a roach with that big T, or $5 to toss a rat in with that snake, but people will and do pay and you feed your stock for free!!! Also you can do other creative things like set-up a station for pictures. $5-$10 to take a picture with this big albino burm, or this or that and then print the pictures off the computer. Pet stores can be a really tough business so you need to think outside the box. Hope you are successful as owning my own store is a dream but with my crazy life probably something I will never do...
James
www.blaberus.com

 

[gumby]

If you come to Portland you have a partner.

That would be excellent and Portland is a great area. Ill put Portland on the list as well. In fact Portland has a rockin group of Lindy hoppers so it would be a great area for me.

 

[the nature boy]

If you come to Portland you have a partner.

Avoid Portland! j/k

 

[barabootom]

I have friends that own stores and you do need lots of diversity, but bottom line dry good and feeders pay the bills. You may sell a snake for $30 and make a few dollars profit but if the customer comes in every week to buy a rat you will make hundreds. Plus, when they are always coming back you have opportunity to sell more. I think there are many things lacking at pet stores. First, most don't provide enough information on proper care, set-ups, feedeing, etc.. Second many are not very smart and don't offer great package deals for customers to get complete set-ups. Third, most don't go out of there way to explain benefits of types of substrate, feeders, heating,etc.. Besides all this there are many other ways to make money. One of my friends has a system where customers can purchase a feeder to watch an animal in the store eat. Pretty funny that someone would pay $1 to watch you toss in a roach with that big T, or $5 to toss a rat in with that snake, but people will and do pay and you feed your stock for free!!! Also you can do other creative things like set-up a station for pictures. $5-$10 to take a picture with this big albino burm, or this or that and then print the pictures off the computer. Pet stores can be a really tough business so you need to think outside the box. Hope you are successful as owning my own store is a dream but with my crazy life probably something I will never do...
James
www.blaberus.com

We live near a large tourist area called Wisconsin Dells. I took my kids and watched people paying to have live rats tossed to the gators. I paid to have the kids toss them junks of chicken. It was an expensive 10 minutes. I have also always paid to have the kids pic with animals. We have pics of them holding monkeys, riding elephants, holding a large albino python, and petting a tiger cub, all taken locally. Here's a pic of my son goofing off with a baby white caiman in Peru.

I think a big market and a good imagination and many many hours of hard work will bring in the money. I had a friend who had a pet store and it was very successful. He retired at about 45 years old. He sold the pet store and the guy that bought it ran it into the ground in 1 year and the store closed. If you're not willing to almost live in the store 7 days a week you'd best invest in something else.

 

[skippy]

I was thinking that if I moved to the Bay area that there are tons of animal lovers and not a lot of room so a pet like a T would be excellent for that demographic. Also I thought about advertising a bit and I think the best way to do it would be via the internet or local local papers. There is also a whole forum for Tarantula keeps just in the SF. As I said though this is a plan that I am not starting any time soon. I was also wondering how much business pet stores do via the internet?

if you move out here you're gonna have to compete with ken and the ebv
http://www.kenthebugguy.com/
http://www.eastbayvivarium.com/

i'd still pay you a visit though

 

[gumby]

My main goal would just be to have a job I love and make enough money to live on. Id be happy to come in third place . All though I have a feeling that any time you start a small business its a good idea to have another part or full time job so you can have consistant cash flow as you are starting up. That would help with the rough months. Also I have a feeling that no matter where I relocated to that sellers with great web based sales like the above would still be my comp.

 

[james]

lol

Well since I live nearby I will comment. The EBV is in Oakland and while they have been around FOREVER I think you can make a good business in the right location of SF. lol bringing up memories as I grew up at the EBV buying lots of my snakes there as a kid and trading them mice and rats I raised .(damn I'm getting old) The downside would be finding a resonable place to rent as the city is very $$$$$$. Ken runs an online business mainly and you have to remember your really not trying to compete with online as much as people walking in to see a variety and then finding something they like. With SF you also need to check the laws as they may not allow large snakes and stuff which would hurt the business. I have seen a few other stores around. I guy has a little hole in the wall place in San Rafael and it would have been perfect if he didn't break every law out there. Bottom line is it will take a decent amount of money . lots of hard work, and lots or research to have a chance to be successful. Also, wait till this bad economy turns around as people without jobs can't buy anything!!!!
James

 

[skippy]

1.The EBV is in Oakland and while they have been around FOREVER

2.The downside would be finding a resonable place to rent as the city is very $$$$$$.

3.Ken runs an online business mainly and you have to remember your really not trying to compete with online as much as people walking in to see a variety and then finding something they like.

4.With SF you also need to check the laws as they may not allow large snakes and stuff which would hurt the business.

James

1. not to nit pick but ebv is in berkley(going there on sat after winter webfest with the sf bats http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pet/991466787.html )

2.san fran IS ridiculously expensive

3. true he's online but it's nice to be able to drive to his place and pick up your order rather than worrying about shipping:}

4. i'm pretty positive that there is a city ordinance about snakes of a certain size or species in sf proper. outside the city or in san jose would probably be fine though...

 

[gumby]

By the way love the pic barabootom I want to taste a caiman now :}

 

[MizM]

Most of your profit is in the sales of enclosures, etc. The animals themselves don't bring in much.

I have researched extensively as I had planned on opening a shop when I got to Texas. Due to an illness in the family, my dream is put off for now. But that just gives me more time to learn.

If you want to be rich, stay away from the pet trade. You won't be making millions. You will work very hard, 12 hours days, 7 days a week. You will need a minimum of $20k to get started, depending on costs in your area.

In my case, I'm 48 years old, tired of working hard for someone else to get rich and only making $18 an hour and I love my critters. So, I think I will be just fine spending long, hard days working with animals and the public to pay my bills.

 

[james]

lol

Yeah I know it's Berkeley, but I try to generalize sometimes so people outside California may get a better understand as Oakland is close and with a major airport, etc... Back in the good old days it use to be down by the Cypress structure that collapsed in the Earthquake and the lovely Richmond/SR bridge I have to cross. No doubt going to Ken's to pick up T's and soon he will be selling caging and more is great, I was more referring to everyday foot traffic and all the other animals kept at a store besides T's. I would imagine a number of us are also into reptiles, fish, and other things as well. I think outside of SF would be good as there are many other location around with large populations.
James

 

[gumby]

In my case, I'm 48 years old, tired of working hard for someone else to get rich and only making $18 an hour and I love my critters. So, I think I will be just fine spending long, hard days working with animals and the public to pay my bills.

Im 29 but in the same boat Ive never wanted to be rich just happy. Having a pet store is a ton of hard work but at the same time it would be work id enjoy and I love educating other people so I think id do more then sell id have a weekly or monthly night where I would put on a show or have someone who knew an animal really well put on a show free for the public education is a big goal.