How to go wholesale????

[robbie8691]

looking into getting a wholesale account how would I go about finding one or how does this work? Looking for mostly coral thanks in advance

 

[mcarroll]

*bump*

 

[sk8ter20art]

get a business license and pet dealer/aquaculture license (requirements vary from state to state). Some wholesalers require a brick and mortar store to purchase from them.

 

[reeferbuddy215]

My plan is to open a saltwater and freshwater specialty store mom and pop style but big Lots of tanks for kids with knowledgeable employees and Maybe a diy section so they don't gotta go to lowes and a community tank where if u put a frag u pay for in their it's your till u trade or take it out after it grows but if ur tank isn't ready for a certain coral u do that, just some ideas

 

[sk8ter20art]

I am a storeowner, and while it may sound bad, you got to sell sell sell. Unless you have lots of disposable income it will be a while before you can pay someone. If you are in a well established market you will have a learning curve to be competitive in your area. Not to mention online competition.

Diy stuff is great and all, but wont help you cover rent etc. Its fine to chit chat about that kind of stuff. Most dry goods and equipment only have a 20% markup .

Other costs.
Fish/coral/inverts cost around $50 per box to be shipped via UPS. Some places you will order dry goods from also charge for shipping. Free shipping usually doesnt start until orders over $1,000.

It can be done, you just got to be ready to jump some hurdles.

 

[reeferbuddy215]

Thanks yeah I've talked to local vendors about bulk and shipping and I'm just gonna start with selling frags locally and doing aquarium builds and maintainence.

 

[Grimreaperz]

I have a 5 yr plan to get a pet store. I would take care of SW. I have friend who breeds Geckos and a buddy that specializes in Freshwater.....i have heard the market is very harsh and unless you have a fallback for cash or an extremely well placed store it can be a hard place to be. I still intend on seeing it through I would rather be happy and broke then rich and miserable chasing dollar signs.

 

[reeferbuddy215]

I agree I just got someone to fun a substantial amount of money I to building a very big frag tank for sps and lps and if things go as planned have a saltwater specialty store where it's a mom & pop vibe with sick corals at an affordable price and employees who know their stuff.

 

[Reef man 89]

I agree I just got someone to fun a substantial amount of money I to building a very big frag tank for sps and lps and if things go as planned have a saltwater specialty store where it's a mom & pop vibe with sick corals at an affordable price and employees who know their stuff.

Best thing you said "employees that know there stuff" I hate going in a lfs and they don't have a clue. Most are just kids get a paycheck which is fine. But o can't stand when you ask somthing and they don't know so they give you Miss info

 

[reeferbuddy215]

Yes they should have to take tests if their not already knowledgeable and if u don't know don't give misinformation say I'm not sure you can ask someone else or look it up online.

 

[Maritimer]

I think it'd be helpful to encourage a "culture" within the store where, if an employee doesn't have the correct answer, they feel free to _say_ that, but are encouraged to reach out to the owner or others who have the answer and contact the customer to relay it.

"I don't know the answer to that, but I'll find it, and if you'd like to leave your email or 'phone number, I'll get that information to you as soon as possible!"

~Bruce

 

[Jdeleon]

I think it'd be helpful to encourage a "culture" within the store where, if an employee doesn't have the correct answer, they feel free to _say_ that, but are encouraged to reach out to the owner or others who have the answer and contact the customer to relay it.

"I don't know the answer to that, but I'll find it, and if you'd like to leave your email or 'phone number, I'll get that information to you as soon as possible!"

~Bruce

Great Idea on this, on my experience any questions I have brought to my LFS are not things they can give me advice on and I go home and fix it that day. its more of a make these adjustments and lets follow up on it in the following days.

 

[seattlefishboy]

I think it'd be helpful to encourage a "culture" within the store where, if an employee doesn't have the correct answer, they feel free to _say_ that, but are encouraged to reach out to the owner or others who have the answer and contact the customer to relay it.

"I don't know the answer to that, but I'll find it, and if you'd like to leave your email or 'phone number, I'll get that information to you as soon as possible!"

~Bruce

That's definitely an issue I have seen. I'm a 16 year old and work at one of my lfs and some of the newer employee's often have a hard time figuring out how to deal with this and it can make it difficult for them over time. Once they know that they can simply ask another employee there for assistance they become much more comfortable and they learn throughout the prosses as well.

 

[Reef man 89]

If you hire an employee that don't know anything about the hobby then they are good for stocking shelves and maybe cleaning. But if you hire people that are in the hobby then they should be the ones that help the customers. not the ones that don't have a clue. So they should be able to answer questions and give good and accurate advice.