Inquiring Exotic Retail Store

I've already met with a realtor who I will be renting a 1.6k sqft retail shop in the mall down town, but I honestly am clueless on how much I should stock in that kind space. I know what I'll stock, but I just don't know how much. Including my lease I have about 20 grand budget, but I'm trying to aim as low as possible for the first few months until I start making profit.

Any suggestions?

Also, I should add, I won't be selling live stock, since BP morphs tend to run out of everyday people's budgets. Only supplies.

I'd suggest on stocking up on thermostats. I had to get mine online, as the only thing available in pet shops was the zoomed rheostat :/

Yup, thermostats and flexwatt, maybe some hides. That was stuff I had to order online, couldn't obtain locally.

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PAM!
And good sturdy water dishes.

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I recommend PAM, Shed-Ease, thermometers, thermostats (RBI's popular Vivarium line. I've heard Rich has a great reseller program so anything off of ReptileBasics.com.

Feeder rodents & insects in a variety of sizes. That will potentially help you build up a "regular" customer base.

If you're only going to stock dry goods, how do you plan to get people through the door? You're setting up a retail store for a niche market, and I think you'll find that the prices you have to ask on supplies to cover your overhead might be more than many people want to pay.

Even in the established, independent store which was well-known for being the best in the area, we'd hear "Oh I can get it cheaper online" all too frequently. Pet retail is *tough* no matter which way you slice it. Not trying to discourage you, either...just be prepared to burn through that $20k faster than you'd think.

1600 feet in a mall...just dry goods...hmmmm, and on a budget of 20K....

Are you SURE this is a good move? What's your customer base? How will people find you or find out about you? Just dry goods with a limited customer base is not the best scenario for a new business.

Have you checked into necessary permits and insurance?

IMO - Marketing, Website, Signage and Business Liability Insurance will chew a lot of your 20K investment off the hop. As mentioned above, ensure you contact the city to see if they will grant you a permit for the type of retail store you want to open before you sign anything.

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As far as stocking the shelves...

Contact so distributors and see what their order requirements are first ie ZooMed, ExoTerra etc...

For Retail the staples are:
Tanks / Enclosures
Hides
Water Dishes
Tank Decoration
Substrate / Bedding
Feeders
Lighting Supplies
Thermostats
Thermometers
Hydrometers
Flexwatt, Connectors and Insulators
Heat Pads
Vitamins (Calcium w and w/o D3 etc) and other supplements

And the list goes on, you want to ensure that you have all the basics to keep customers in the store and coming back. First impressions are HUGE!

Have you considered a small business loan, instead of just going off of the set 20K you have currently? Gives you some more leeway... and security. You said in a mall.. is this an inside-mall, or one where your door leads straight outside? Might change your options or customer preferences, slightly (like what they're willing to carry around while shopping, or to their car)

What to carry:

- CRICKETS. After working at petco for many years, it is shocking how much money is made JUST on crickets.
- Frozen feeders.
- Dog Food. Don't know if you plan on being ONLY reptile, but dog food is where lots of money is to be made. Keeping in mind that if you're in the mall, the medium-sized bags or smaller, will be easiest for customers to carry out to their car
- Dog & Cat toys, collars/leashes.
- Consider having some impulse buy animal related items, that aren't necessarily specifically for animals.

As you start making profit, you can adjust your product and shift more towards reptiles, but I'd play it safe to start.

Lots of good advice.

There are places at the Jersey shore that feed off of impulse buys with hermit crabs. Get a pet and everything you need with one stop.

You should consider low cost live animals and have kits set up for housing them. Quick and easy - in and out. Offer a replacement program for the animals that don't make it.

Food is a big deal, too. Good luck!