Hey all,
So I’ve read various threads here that have some form of reccomendation to volunteer at their LFS to meet local reefers, help them out, etc.
So I’ve worked for my LFS in the past, as a paid employee. Since then, the only employee who’s there since I left is the district manager. I’ve talked with the fish manager and he’s admitted he won’t get in coral because it’s too difficult for him.
Because of this, I’ve thought about approaching the district manager about volunteering to set up and maintain a coral tank.
The catch…
1. There’s some obvious investment required from the store…I’d want it ran with proper equipment and the store is known to be a little cheap
2. if I was to do this, I’d want to have the ability to order and price the coral accordingly. I could see this causing issue as I know their pricing methods (including mark up amounts on wholesale) and they don’t build in the ability to discount (price is firm) where I’d want to be able to be flexible
3. A continuance of number two, is just as a volunteer, I don’t think they’d go for that at all. However I don’t want to be an employee just for the sake of not having to deal with other things (this is a pet store not a fish focused store).
4. Hope that I could get discounts on coral for my personal tanks.
With the above said, is there anything else I should be looking out for? Am I just asking too much? How should I start or approach this with them? I don’t even know if they’d accept volunteer work but thinking might be a good way to get stuff locally and expand the local base. Am I completely over thinking this?
I’m thinking if I bring this up as a volunteer opportunity type thing, they’d be 50/50.
I think, maybe bring it up as space rental? Like I rent some floor space for the tank, put my own investment in it as far as tank and other supplies go, and then request the ability to order coral in, I pay, and then receive a commission? Idk
Anyone have any thoughts?
So I’ve read various threads here that have some form of reccomendation to volunteer at their LFS to meet local reefers, help them out, etc.
So I’ve worked for my LFS in the past, as a paid employee. Since then, the only employee who’s there since I left is the district manager. I’ve talked with the fish manager and he’s admitted he won’t get in coral because it’s too difficult for him.
Because of this, I’ve thought about approaching the district manager about volunteering to set up and maintain a coral tank.
The catch…
1. There’s some obvious investment required from the store…I’d want it ran with proper equipment and the store is known to be a little cheap
2. if I was to do this, I’d want to have the ability to order and price the coral accordingly. I could see this causing issue as I know their pricing methods (including mark up amounts on wholesale) and they don’t build in the ability to discount (price is firm) where I’d want to be able to be flexible
3. A continuance of number two, is just as a volunteer, I don’t think they’d go for that at all. However I don’t want to be an employee just for the sake of not having to deal with other things (this is a pet store not a fish focused store).
4. Hope that I could get discounts on coral for my personal tanks.
With the above said, is there anything else I should be looking out for? Am I just asking too much? How should I start or approach this with them? I don’t even know if they’d accept volunteer work but thinking might be a good way to get stuff locally and expand the local base. Am I completely over thinking this?
I’m thinking if I bring this up as a volunteer opportunity type thing, they’d be 50/50.
I think, maybe bring it up as space rental? Like I rent some floor space for the tank, put my own investment in it as far as tank and other supplies go, and then request the ability to order coral in, I pay, and then receive a commission? Idk
Anyone have any thoughts?