Debating starting an aquarium store

[t3ddy]

Hello!

I've been debating for a long time about opening an aquarium store with maintenance services.

I've done some research obviously, but I'm having a hard time finding wholesale vendors for equipment. I've seen marinedepot, etc have wholesale, but they obviously have their markup.

Any leads would be great on where to get a wholesale account.

 

[czoolander]

Hello!

I've been debating for a long time about opening an aquarium store with maintenance services.

I've done some research obviously, but I'm having a hard time finding wholesale vendors for equipment. I've seen marinedepot, etc have wholesale, but they obviously have their markup.

Any leads would be great on where to get a wholesale account.

Didn't you post this same thing in 2016 ? Did you end up starting up your store ?

 

[t3ddy]

Didn't you post this same thing in 2016 ? Did you end up starting up your store ?

Umm, don't think so? Lol

 

[Fish_Sticks]

Umm, don't think so? Lol

Cant blame him :P this gets asked monthly, a la lots of competition in an already competative market.

Do you already sell from your home, or service tanks?

 

[Idoc]

You need to take the steps to actually setup a business and obtain an EIN tax number or else companies won't talk with you about setting up accounts. You may want to setup an appointment with an accountant if you don't know how to do theses things on your own.

Once you are setup, there's no guarantee a business will take you seriously until you show you are actually setup and running. You might be best to setup your aquarium maintenance business first...show some profits, and then proceed with a track-record to actually get companies to contract with you wholesale. You must realize these companies deal with a lot of "hobbyists" who have great aspirations but are trying to work an angle to get their own stuff at wholesale. Or, they will work with you at a slight discount and only increase that discount after they see a certain dollar figure in sales down the road.

Good luck...

 

[stephj03]

Hello!

I've been debating for a long time about opening an aquarium store with maintenance services.

I've done some research obviously, but I'm having a hard time finding wholesale vendors for equipment. I've seen marinedepot, etc have wholesale, but they obviously have their markup.

Any leads would be great on where to get a wholesale account.

I would strongly recommend checking out reefbreeders (link below). They have an affiliate program you can sign up for and are a mfg vs a middle man like BRS/MD.

You'd be covered on:

1. Comprehensive lighting
2. Wavemakers
3. Protein skimmers
4. Dosing pumps
5. ATO.
6. Significant domestic warranty and spare parts access.

ReefBreeder may not be the first choice of many for any of these categories but:

1. The price point won't turn off impulse/emergency buyers,
2. There's a pretty good reputation for this brand on quality/performance/support.

https://reefbreeders.com/affiliate/

 

[t3ddy]

I would strongly recommend checking out reefbreeders (link below). They have an affiliate program you can sign up for and are a mfg vs a middle man like BRS/MD.

You'd be covered on:

1. Comprehensive lighting
2. Wavemakers
3. Protein skimmers
4. Dosing pumps
5. ATO.
6. Significant domestic warranty and spare parts access.

ReefBreeder may not be the first choice of many for any of these categories but:

1. The price point won't turn off impulse/emergency buyers,
2. There's a pretty good reputation for this brand on quality/performance/support.

https://reefbreeders.com/affiliate/

Thanks! Will check it out!