New LFS IN windsor

[Krazykarl]

I think anything is possible with money lol!!! Its all ideas right now, we both work full time so opening a store would require hiring employess and what not. Id mainly like to specialize is fish and corals...! Drygoods most ppl end up ordering online thru brs or jl bc most of the time with markup, a retailet cannot compete with prices online. Having a warehousr or store to stock items in bulk would allow for deals, but corals and fish, most ppl like to buy locally so you see what yoy are getting. We will see what the future holds...

 

[pulpfiction1]

darren works elsewhere i figure,he is never there,uses his garage,does same as most,orders in for peeps with a week wait,you gotta start somewhere,lol  i have my first order ready when you guys get at it

 

[phi delt reefer]

you should just do this;

1. get a business licence

2. every three months organize a group buy. Call a wholesaler - ask him or her for a fish/coral list and pricing. Tell everyone the price. You can add a commision for having to pick up the order from Toronto. Have everyone meet you and take their stuff. That way there is no setup to invest in on your end and you arent have 0 overhead.. No one is really doing this in Ontario from what i know so once word gets out you could find yourself doing it more often. Most stuff is marked up 300% at an LFS so wholesale pricing + commision would mean you would be selling stuff at prices people can not say no too. The only downside is who absorbs DOA livestock and organizing payments.

FYI -corals are not as easy to sell as you my think. When you order you order from a pictureless list. you hope you get some good color so you order lots and markup the good stuff and all the other crap you will need to sell pretty much slightly above cost or it wont sell (its common to get a shipment of just brown acros). If you go to a place like REEFRAFT and cherry pick then you way pay for it... and then you clients will.. then you will back to where you started with the pricing debate. You cant just go an order a shipment of rare sps and expect a great price on it. A wholesaler will order a ton of corals then take the time to seperate it into nice, ok and just ugly stuff. Then they price accordingly.

 

[Exotic Reef]

something simple like darren or even dave,one would olny need a few large tanks with partitioning,central sump,large skimmer and lighting,i think that much could be established for $1500 used and worked on,with upgrades as you make profits?  just a shot in the dark here,lic in windsor would be another issue but im sure youve looked into that cost,i wouldnt think it would be much over $300 a year,then there are exemptions as well as wholesalers here in ontario im sure so importing would be the big issue one would think,take 3 peeps,you,bizzle and someone else with say $1500 each,you think that could be a do-able startup?

I don't want to sound unreasonable.....but what you see in the garage....NOT including any livestock cost me over $15,000.....

 

[pulpfiction1]

[quote author=pulpfiction1 link=topic=1206.msg7771#msg7771 date=1310394781]
something simple like darren or even dave,one would olny need a few large tanks with partitioning,central sump,large skimmer and lighting,i think that much could be established for $1500 used and worked on,with upgrades as you make profits?  just a shot in the dark here,lic in windsor would be another issue but im sure youve looked into that cost,i wouldnt think it would be much over $300 a year,then there are exemptions as well as wholesalers here in ontario im sure so importing would be the big issue one would think,take 3 peeps,you,bizzle and someone else with say $1500 each,you think that could be a do-able startup?

I don't want to sound unreasonable.....but what you see in the garage....NOT including any livestock cost me over $15,000.....
[/quote]

dont mis interpit me darren,i was only lookin at a start,basics,and was speculative on it,there is litrally mothing in windsor and if a few guys started even with a min investment i think they could accomplish something

 

[Blob-79]

I don't want to sound unreasonable.....but what you see in the garage....NOT including any livestock cost me over $15,000.....

true enouph...but you also had a custom acrylic tank made, custom sumps, super high end skimmer, the list goes on. It could cost much less then $15000 if your frugal about it

 

[pulpfiction1]

i didnt see a custom tank,sump or extra high end skimmer,must be the stock he carrys as there is quite the selection on hand there,but my point is these guys love what they are doing,and if they could put together 5K,i think they could get a decent start,not withstanding extras like location,lic etc

i better re-phrase that a little,a high end custom tank or sump,not making light of darrens investment as i do think the setup he has is very efficient and workable.

 

[Krazykarl]

I appreciate all the input from everyone, im dying to start this. To darren, i am not trying to step on your toes or steal clients, london and toronto are abundant for lfs and suppliers, windsor like someone else said is the armpit lol. Id love to b able to do what you are doing down here in windsor, just to be able to help out with a starving hobby! If you can pm me something like how you got started even, like the first step i would greatly appreciate the advice! This is all new to me and i hate taking a gamble but it just seems like if i dont noone will. And i def would not be that guy marking up 300% bc i know what its like to hate paying 40$ for a single frogspawn head lol. I have a large tank at home that is fully matured and cycled that could house corals but not in the sum id like to order... Any help would be great so i can start getting ideas into reality!

 

[pulpfiction1]

  he does got a good setup goin,hopefull he will give you that input,like i said,ive got my first order to place when your ready  hehehehehe

 

[Krazykarl]

Well phil since u are mr used tanks, maybe a possible donation or two could land u with free orders lol.

 

[Krazykarl]

That 6x18x16 tank would make an awesome frag tank! Just need a nice sump with external skimmer and halides and were all set..

 

[pulpfiction1]

you catch me at the right time and you got it,i will track down every deal out there to help as well

 

[pulpfiction1]

not to mention with this recently found confidence with cutting and drilling glass,the sky is the limit.

 

[Krazykarl]

that would be extremely helpful
wish you could figure out how to drill my 135 from the side without it shattering lol and without draining the tank completely lol

 

[pulpfiction1]

how far down?  you would have to empty it past that

 

[Krazykarl]

well about 3 inches from the top so i could put a bulkhead in with a 90 elbow to pull water but i dunno....id be afraid of the glass breaking....

i wish that 135 you have thats drilled wasn't leaking....id prob take it and i just don't wanna go thru the hassle of resealing....its too risky for me

 

[pulpfiction1]

lol  if it wasnt leaking it wouldnt br for sale,i doubt the sides are tempered unless its made by marineland or topfin  lol

 

[Krazykarl]

lol no my tank is made by miracles. its about 1/2" thick... IM SO AFRAID IT WOULD CRACK MAN....then i lose everything....not to mention shards of glass falling into the tank..would have to put something inside to catch it....if you think it can be done without breaking id be willing to try it lol maybe lol
i just don't trust this hob overflow....one day im gonna come home to a flood i know it

 

[pulpfiction1]

miracals dont temper side unless its drilled already,should be ok to drillonly fine dust is what comes from drilling  not hard to tape the inside if its dry b4 you start,although i do prefer to drill from the inside out ,outside in should be fine,let me know when you have to courage to try

miracals in orangeville

Tel: 800-720-2782
ask for derek or nathan
they will tell you details about the tanks they build and what is tempered and what isnt

very nice folks to deal with

 

[Krazykarl]

thanks!