Own your own fish store

[Big_Pun]

who cares its a part of business the garage can only take some one so far. A store is at a different level to compete with ... if a place that small is hurting your business i think you have other issues reminds me of a store that got mad for people selling/ trading frags

says the guy who complains about paying retail for anything always looking for "hook up"

and its not fair when lfs orders from lets say sea dwelling then a guy out his house orders from them too at same price. now lfs will need to mark up higher to cover business cost but the home store gets the same fish and coral but can sell cheaper than lfs. where are you going to buy it, the place with cheaper price... i know i would

[Big_Pun]

Owning and running a commercial fish business out of the garage is perfectly legal according to San Antonio zoning ordinances, so implying something shady or criminal is going on because of it is improper.

but do they get the permit? also are they honest with wholesaler that they are not a brick mortar cause wholesalers have diff accounts and prices for real store or store out a house.

[Scutterborn]

It's capitalism at its finest, guys. People on this forum only account for a very small percentage of the customers at our local stores. Do you think the guy who's going to go in and buy a brand-new 350 gallon system all the way decked out with all the bells and whistles is going to go to some guys house? No. He's going to go to a nice store. Now, will some of us go to somebody's house to get excellent deals on excellent corals? Yes. However, I would be remiss to remind you that we are but a small percentage of the Marine aquarium customer base in San Antonio. I say go for it! If you have a dream and act on that dream I have nothing but hope for you. It's always the decisions that we don't make it we look back with sincere and utter regret.
I started my own business in 2008 right before the market fell. I lost everything. Never made a dime and only lost money. Do I regret it? No. I have learned from it. But I'd be a liar to say that I haven't thought about opening up my own business again.


Small businesses are the heart of our country and what our country was founded upon. Many large corporations are trying to eliminate small businesses today. I always prefer to deal with the small business over some of the big box stores.




-Ben-

[fuzzybob4]

Most wholesale company's will not sell their stuff to people who do not have a store from or warehouse of some sort unless you are doing tank mantenance, but even than you have to jump through hoops to get stock list and things like that.

[jrossjr79]

It's capitalism at its finest, guys. People on this forum only account for a very small percentage of the customers at our local stores. Do you think the guy who's going to go in and buy a brand-new 350 gallon system all the way decked out with all the bells and whistles is going to go to some guys house? No. He's going to go to a nice store. Now, will some of us go to somebody's house to get excellent deals on excellent corals? Yes. However, I would be remiss to remind you that we are but a small percentage of the Marine aquarium customer base in San Antonio. I say go for it! If you have a dream and act on that dream I have nothing but hope for you. It's always the decisions that we don't make it we look back with sincere and utter regret.
I started my own business in 2008 right before the market fell. I lost everything. Never made a dime and only lost money. Do I regret it? No. I have learned from it. But I'd be a liar to say that I haven't thought about opening up my own business again.


Small businesses are the heart of our country and what our country was founded upon. Many large corporations are trying to eliminate small businesses today. I always prefer to deal with the small business over some of the big box stores.




-Ben-

who cares its a part of business the garage can only take some one so far. A store is at a different level to compete with ... if a place that small is hurting your business i think you have other issues reminds me of a store that got mad for people selling/ trading frags

Both are very good points. And let us not forget, that just because its a big brick and mortar store that it is better anyway. Honestly ask your self, and not just based on price, would you buy coral frags from Petco, Petsmart, or from Dan or Ben? Yes Petco and Petsmart are the bigger Pet Store, but honestly, the care they provide for the livestock is bare minimum. I honestly will pay more for better service and better livestock. Price does not have so much to do it with livestock, at least as far as I am concerned.

Food, that is another thing, and honestly, I am not to trusting of what a big company puts into their food products, I rather either A make my own, or b order from that guy who constantly post on Craigslist.

Hardware, obviously there I will go who ever has the cheapest price, I will go for the deal here, as long as everything is on the up and up.

Most companies start out small, sometimes out of a flea market booth, or garage, a small vehicle, etc. Some of those grow to be big businesses. MS, Apple, some perfume company, and many others have those success stories. Hell even KFC has a very similar story.

But to point out something we should all have seen, remember grocery stores and retail stores, and coffee shops and donut shops that were in SA, and anywhere else for that matter. Most of this has been lost to Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, Wal-mart, and HEB. And all honesty, they drove the competitors out, then gave us crappy service with high prices.

Sorry, been drinking and felt like rambling Happy Father's day, and to the OP, good luck with your en devours.

[fuzzybob4]

Thank you, and yes most company have started off Sam and grown thats how you have to start in my opinion.

[350gt]

Tattoo shops hate artist working out of their garage..

Taco shops hate taco trucks......

One reason why is they get by on a lot of stuff that a shop has to abide by.... So many rules and regulations that someone working from home can away with....

But with that said....

I have no issues with one trying...

If you have a dream, follow it.. If not you will live the rest of your life wondering "what if".....

Good luck!

[fuzzybob4]

Thank you

[Ram_Puppy]

I'm convinced that the type of store most of us would want to open would need to be something along the lines of a medium sized store front which caters to the locals, with a large scale warehouse/operation attached on the order of liveaquaria.com or saltwaterfish.com. Such an operation would also need a buyer living in LA and other import cities and perhaps even develop overseas connections with collectors and such.

Why? as was stated - 500 dollar angels in the holding tank are 500 dollar risks - fish food sitting on the shelf is capital tied up and taking up space. You have to be competitive if you want to carry a lot of exotics and variety, and specialized equipment - or you have to be the only game in town. Otherwise your hit and miss - and we all want consistency. I live in NB and while I'm trying to give business to WaterWorld they don't carry the dry goods I like or livestock I am interested in. So if I need a LFS hookup - I hop in the ram and toodle up to Aquadome or down to Aquarium Designs. When I needed a new Skimmer I called up Jason ad AD and asked "Can you get me this Reef Octopus Diablo 12" 300-EXT" and he said "Sure - but i can't compete w/ Aquacave - you should order from them." Done and done.

In essence - I think unless you just have a really killer business plan - you gotta have a large successful internet store to subsidize the type of store thats going to carry the really cool stuff. I mean - if I can put that 500$ angel infront of all the interwebs AND you - then that's a whole different story.