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I am closing down my pet store (kind of)

Chip

Chip

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I am getting all fish and animals out of my shop. Hopefully I can keep the doors open just selling supplies, but the stress of having a full line pet shop just got to be too much. We had become western NC's free zoo, which I didn't mind, but after a laundromat opened in our shopping center, things took a turn for the worse. I had to keep an employee on the floor at all times to watch the "fish room" and some days we sold nothing out of there.

I will miss 135 aquariums and a couple dozen vivs, but I will not miss telling people not to tap on them. Heck, I'll even miss cleaning them! But I'll be able to have my hobbies back, and can save a ton on electric and labor. I'll still breed a few herps and do my aquarium thing, just no longer as part of my business.

Do you guys go in many pet supply shops? Are live animals a big reason you shop where you do? Do any of you buy exclusively online? I've found online vendors that sell some products to the public for less than my wholesalers. I do not know what the future holds for Mom and Pop Pet Shops, but it is looking pretty bleak right now.

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I buy plenty of dry goods at pet shops. Things I can't wait for, like CareFresh, fish food, bird food, reptile lights, once in a while feeder insects. I love it when the reptile shops here have HatchRite right when I need it! Books, magazines. Dog treats, dog toys. I've never bought a snake at a pet shop, though I've bought fish.
 
A local pet supply chain here also sells tobacco products! Not sure if you would want to do that but it might be worth looking into what other things you could offer for sale instead of live animals. Does it have to be pet related? If there's a laundromat there and you can beat their price on bleach or detergent you can be guaranteed those kind of sales.
I order most of my supplies online and not at pet stores but if a store carried something I didn't want to ship like huge bags of aspen or something I'd go.
 
I have a Petsmart near us and a "mom and pop" pet store. and the mom and pop one dosen't sell animals. They just sell supplies and do grooming.
I go there only once in awhile only because I don't like the owner and don't like to support them. But I see situation on being out priced.
 
Having worked/managed in a mom and pop pet store for years I can totally understand your frustration with the pet store as petting zoo aspect of the business. I'm sorry you are forced to go the way of the big box stores and eliminate the live animal aspect. The small local stores when well run, which I'm sure yours is, are the heart of the industry. Some of my best memories are when I went to the pet store as a kid to buy food for my fish, reptiles and amphibians. It was a blast to see all the exotic animals on display in imaginative habitats.
I hate to admit it but local shows and the internet have all but removed the local pet store visit from my routine. Except for the rare time when I have misjudged food needs for the lizards and need live crickets, I rarely go to the store for supplies. The store I used to work at no longer carries many live animals. They have converted more than 95% of the store to dog and cat supplies and added a groomer. It's a tough business both physically and financially.
Best of luck it the transition Chip!

Terri
 
I can understand why you'd scale back, I'm sure it can get stressful.

I adore mom and pop pet stores. When I lived in TN, I shopped at one almost exclusively, only straying if they did not have an item I needed. I bought my mice there, my dog/cat/bird food there. I also visited regularly to play with the birds and visit the reptiles/insects. Certainly, they did have animals and quite a few fish. They also had a little grooming side business. I think they lucked out as they had a good location near suburban neighborhoods and were usually busy, though I believe they might have relocated and downsized since, so who knows.

I haven't noticed one here in Durham yet, and I'm not a huge fan of chain pet stores. I'll keep looking, just because I like to support local businesses when possible. :)
 
I think I know the pet chain Jen is talking about we have the same one here actually two. One of the reasons I go in there they cut dogs nails for $5.00 on certain weekends. This gets me looking at other stuff usually buy dog treats or toys. I also frequent our grange co-op they seem to have just about everything. I buy dog food, treats...There garden section is a big draw. I believe there is a niche of some sort for Mom and Pop stores, it may just take a while to find it. I am a believer of longevity if the store has been in same spot or same small town for a fair bit is a draw for me. We have a local store has been here for 20 years or more I went in because they talked about plant supplies. Very interesting store with lets say a large niche but maybe not so legal for growing supplies.
 
Mini pet mart is everywhere in Oregon LOL
Anyway I was just thinking, what if you expanded and started selling horse supplies, other livestock feed, tack, western gear. Well depending where it is, but I know out where I live there are a lot of folks that would buy country type stuff like that. Backyard poultry is getting huge too.
 
ghosthousecorns said:
Mini pet mart is everywhere in Oregon LOL
Anyway I was just thinking, what if you expanded and started selling horse supplies, other livestock feed, tack, western gear. Well depending where it is, but I know out where I live there are a lot of folks that would buy country type stuff like that. Backyard poultry is getting huge too.
Click to expand...

LOL yes it is.
I agree with backyard poultry being popular, it would help to no the laws regarding something like that. The co-op sells lots of poultry chicks, but haven't got a clue what the laws are. Rabbits seem to be grabbing on here also and home made cleaning supplies. I know it sounds weird but home made soups, laundry soaps very popular, yet the supplies not that easy to find.
 
Ha ha, I have 2 that have been there over a year for $50 each. They we on hopper mice when I got them, are on f/t small rats now. Granted, I've refused a couple of sales on them, but I can assure you, not all shops are expensive!
 
One of the major reasons I go to my local reptile store is for the live animals. I haven't bought any animals from them (they're overpriced, but well cared for), but I often buy supplies there. Sometimes I just go to look at the animals, but then I impulsively buy an item while I'm there. The staff there are friendly ad knowledgeable, so that makes it more enjoyable as well.

I also sometimes go to Petsmart just to look at the animals and as an excuse to take my dog out of the house.

I'm sorry you're having issues with people in your store. If I'm ever in North Carolina, I will have to come by, even if you don't carry live animals any more.
 
If it was supplies only, my local shop would have to have pretty competitive prices or a great location. Otherwise, I would merely go online as there would be nothing to see that would make me want to stop.

The small pet store is where I got many of my first snakes and I actually managed one for 3 years during my summers at college. There is so much to offer in a little store but the internet and shows have made that a difficult endeavor if one wants to make money. Then again, I believe the number is small for people getting wealthy online in that pet trade these days. All of these markets are competitive and live animals eat profit if they don't move out or if they don't move anymore.
 
I'll try not to get too long-winded here!

First, business is business, and everyone knows that it must remain profitable to survive. (Unless you're an eccentric billionaire, and can afford to keep it going for enjoyment).

That being said, I, and probably countless others, have such good memories from spending time at their local pet shop as kids. My ex-husband owned a store in the early '80s that specialized in salt-water and reef tanks. He also had a large selection of herps, and was partially responsible for my addiction.

Anyway, he sold the store over 25 years ago, and the same family still owns it today. They've expanded the building, and carry any fish you could want, plus small animals, reptiles, invertebrates, and all kinds of supplies. Yes, they're pricier than on-line suppliers, but people come from all over for advice. If your fish is sick, or you have a water-quality issue, they will help you straighten it out. They will not sell you cedar shavings, and crickets for your cornsnake!!

Chip, I'm sure your aquatic and animal sections will be missed, but I know how expensive it is to maintain those showrooms, and the staff to go along with it.

Kathy
 
Thanks, Kathy. I wish I'd been frequented by hobbyists (and budding hobbyists) rather than rednecks asking "What's the cheapest snake you got?" I didn't mind giving advice, but it felt like half the time I was argued with. You burn so many more calories selling a $2 fish than a $50 bag of dog food! After running a pet shop, I am more amazed than ever that any tropical fish can retail for under $5!
 
Chip said:
Thanks, Kathy. I wish I'd been frequented by hobbyists (and budding hobbyists) rather than rednecks asking "What's the cheapest snake you got?" I didn't mind giving advice, but it felt like half the time I was argued with. You burn so many more calories selling a $2 fish than a $50 bag of dog food! After running a pet shop, I am more amazed than ever that any tropical fish can retail for under $5!
Click to expand...

Isn't the whole goal with cheap animals at some of these stores is that they are loss leaders? Sell the cheap fish/gerbil/bird/etc. and then make money on the cage/food/care/etc?
 
If the animal moves quickly, it's big profit (400% markup for most box stores, I tried to average 250% before shipping). Labor, shrinkage and food add up quickly, though. A $40 ball python that you paid $10 for will make you go broke quickly after a few months of small rats.
 
mice mice mice mice mice thats the only reason I go in! IMO if i want a snake i go find it online because i can choose from a huge selection and find just what i want
 
Do you go to stores for live or frozen mice?
 
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