Being a new breeder, how to earn reputation?

Hi Everyone,

I have decided years ago to become a breeder. Finally the time has come to start breeding and expecting 3-4 clutches for the next year.
Can you please suggest, advise how to earn reputation and trust on the market? what are the main points to keep an eye on.

Very respectfully,
Cybred

Quality in quality out. Be attentive to people’s questions and honest.


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I would suggest putting your name out there. Stay active on the forums, attend shows and begin vending and meeting other breeders and vendors. It will take time to become established but persistence is key. You need to have and produce healthy animals with great customer service, fair pricing and good record keeping. Don't get discouraged and it will take time.

I say lots of honesty and respect for the customer.... Also, good customer relations are very important.

As a buyer I like LOADS of information. Lots of Photos, birth dates, parents genes, weight, feeding habits, health. If a new Breeder offers all this information and follows through with good service, I would buy and recommend them.

First of all, it takes time. Don't expect to get a well known reputation in one year.

Do everything 100% !! No exceptions. It goes without saying that the animals (breeders as well as hatchlings) should be cared for 100% . Healthy and kept in spot on husbandry conditions.

NEVER EVER EVER spend the money you received for a snake BEFORE the buyer is 100% satisfied and a few days have gone by after the sale. Be prepared that something may go wrong during a shipment once (if you ship) and that you will have to cover for the loss, and promptly.

It takes time to build up a good reputation, but it can be destroyed very quickly. People talk about bad experiences much more so, then the good ones. Have all your ducks in a row, if something goes bad, you want to be able to proof that you have done nothing wrong. Have a fair and clear cut contract, and make sure that the buyer is aware of it and accepts it.

Here are a few extras that are important to ME, and that I will provide if I sell animals.

Good communication. It can be time consuming to answer all questions, and there are a lot of tire kickers, but good communication is a "must" for me. Esp. if I were to buy from someone with a somewhat un-known reputation.

Good documentation. I am a stickler for keeping records. I appreciate records coming with that animal. At the very least I want the hatch date and "genes" of the parents. Nice extras would be feeding/shedding records (esp. for hatchlings). I provide such records with a picture of the hatchling on them.

Personally, I will not sell a hatchling until it has had a FEW good meals (eats readily), is past its second shed and weighs at least a 100 gr. I know not everyone is a stickler for this, but its important to me to place "well established" hatchlings. I feel it sets up the new owner up for success, and that benefits everyone incl. the snake.

There are quite a few reputable breeders that will sell under 100 gr and documentation/communication isn't the greatest. But with them, their reputation for quality and integrity has been proven for many years and that is first priority for most people.

However, starting out "new" it helps to do all you can to earn a good reputation. Always be professional and honest. 100%.

Quality - Marketing Skills - Knowledge - Customer service

Being involve in the community being knowledgeable and sharing your knowledge (and I don't mean sharing hatchling pictures and an advice or two during hatchling season and hatchling season only), I am talking about being invopved year round helping others with sound advice based on solid experience. This is often the first step to earn a good reputation, people will get to know you and trust you.

Good marketing skills know your market, know how to promote yourself, take pride in your animals, take great pictures (don't be one of those taking puctures of a snake in a dirty cage, or on a dirty towel)

Treat your customer the way you would want to be treated, be there before, during and after the sale.

Build strong bases when it comes to your collection, don't buy an animal just because it's cheap buy an animal because it is quality and fits your projects, don't be one of those building there collection on animals they scavenge from CL. Buy quality animals, care about lineage and quality.

If you want to be successful you have to treat this seriously like a business, putting 2 snakes together is the easy part and it just not enough, the majority of people failing do not know how to market themselves, make poor decisions, lack the commitment, patience and passion and just do not have a business mindset.

This is comming from someone that has been doing this for a decade ;)

Example of what NOT to do. I recently inquired in a python I saw on morph market from a relatively unknown breeder. There were no photos, I emailed for photos and also asked for the age and weight of the animal. I got back an email saying, “send me your phone number and I will text you pictures.” No response about age or weight. No other info, I emailed my phone number and haven’t heard back. You can bet I see red flags and won’t buy nor recommend this Breeder.
customer service is business principle #1.

Have you considered doing small videos on YouTube? That help too maybe a little? Best wishes on your new venture :P

For me, everything can be summed up in one thought:

1. Do the Right Thing

No exceptions. Ever.