An Idea...

[stangs13]

The downside is that you make so very little on the food! But income is income!

You would be surprised! We sell so much horse feed, dog food, cattle, hog, sheep, goat, chicken, all stock. Thats both on the show animals side and just the production side. Its all PMI stuff. This guy doesn't mess around with anything. They are in a proses of getting another feedstore or two. And they have already bought a mulching company that was going out of business. I can't wait to start working there in a few months when footballs over with!!!

Can you say RBI racks?

[jknudson]

You would be surprised! We sell so much horse feed, dog food, cattle, hog, sheep, goat, chicken, all stock. Thats both on the show animals side and just the production side. Its all PMI stuff. This guy doesn't mess around with anything. They are in a proses of getting another feedstore or two. And they have already bought a mulching company that was going out of business. I can't wait to start working there in a few months when footballs over with!!!

Can you say RBI racks?

There is very little markup on most feeds Justin, the profit margins are slim. And the food takes up a TON of space, so the only way you do make a lot of money is if you do move a ton of food like your father's store.

Glad to hear he's doing well... get your butt working there so you can amp up that collection.

[stangs13]

There is very little markup on most feeds Justin, the profit margins are slim. And the food takes up a TON of space, so the only way you do make a lot of money is if you do move a ton of food like your father's store.

Glad to hear he's doing well... get your butt working there so you can amp up that collection.

Lol. Im tired of looking at my normals..Thats why I got a job. I have to wait until football is over though..boss said. Maybe I can talk him into after 2-a-days?


They do have a Warehouse that is ajacent(sp) to there store. It has more sq ft than the store, but it still isnt completely filled and it has an office and a loft. They have alot of room to put even more feeds, the thing is is that they don't need anymore feeds, they are very success full as is. And they also sell two different types of bedding, so space is needed for sure! And its hard to come by when starting a business now-a-days. They also have pads for semi trailers full of hay.

And yes, for a bag of Purina fitters edge show cattle feed it is 13.50 or something around there, and since my dad gets it at cost it is around 10.00. Very little mark up, but some of the dog food is actually marked up 100%, it still sells good too!

What business are you wanting sto start jason?

[jknudson]

Lol. Im tired of looking at my normals..Thats why I got a job. I have to wait until football is over though..boss said. Maybe I can talk him into after 2-a-days?


They do have a Warehouse that is ajacent(sp) to there store. It has more sq ft than the store, but it still isnt completely filled and it has an office and a loft. They have alot of room to put even more feeds, the thing is is that they don't need anymore feeds, they are very success full as is. And they also sell two different types of bedding, so space is needed for sure! And its hard to come by when starting a business now-a-days. They also have pads for semi trailers full of hay.

And yes, for a bag of Purina fitters edge show cattle feed it is 13.50 or something around there, and since my dad gets it at cost it is around 10.00. Very little mark up, but some of the dog food is actually marked up 100%, it still sells good too!

What business are you wanting sto start jason?

An exotics shop of course (Reptiles, Amphibians, Exotic Small Mammals, a few different birds, little bit of saltwater reef stuff, and oodles and oodles of higher end hobbyist products and dry goods.). It will be a Retail storefront and also cater to customers online for certain categories (Reptiles, Fish, Corals, and drygoods).

I honestly think to be successful these days you have to have a STRONG online presence, even if you're a local mom and pop shop not selling products online.

Another aspect I've been thinking is to start an exotic animal expo, and have the store be the major sponsor. Locally, it will drive a bit of interest in the alternative pets.

It's still a dream in the works, but I'm definitely NOT located where I want to stay forever. I'm planning on moving south.

My personal ball python collection will alway be run on outside the business (catering mostly to internet sales), but the retail will be an outlet for any normal animals that I produce, or lower cost morphs like pastels.

[littleindiangirl]

An exotics shop of course (Reptiles, Amphibians, Exotic Small Mammals, a few different birds, little bit of saltwater reef stuff, and oodles and oodles of higher end hobbyist products and dry goods.). It will be a Retail storefront and also cater to customers online for certain categories (Reptiles, Fish, Corals, and drygoods).

I honestly think to be successful these days you have to have a STRONG online presence, even if you're a local mom and pop shop not selling products online.

Another aspect I've been thinking is to start an exotic animal expo, and have the store be the major sponsor. Locally, it will drive a bit of interest in the alternative pets.

It's still a dream in the works, but I'm definitely NOT located where I want to stay forever. I'm planning on moving south.

My personal ball python collection will alway be run on outside the business (catering mostly to internet sales), but the retail will be an outlet for any normal animals that I produce, or lower cost morphs like pastels.

Yes yes yes, I had always though this too. To compete nowadays, having an online presence, and even shippings animals and orders would be a huge advantage over the little guys in the same area. That would truly be one stop shopping, right at your computer!

[stangs13]

An exotics shop of course (Reptiles, Amphibians, Exotic Small Mammals, a few different birds, little bit of saltwater reef stuff, and oodles and oodles of higher end hobbyist products and dry goods.). It will be a Retail storefront and also cater to customers online for certain categories (Reptiles, Fish, Corals, and drygoods).

I honestly think to be successful these days you have to have a STRONG online presence, even if you're a local mom and pop shop not selling products online.

Another aspect I've been thinking is to start an exotic animal expo, and have the store be the major sponsor. Locally, it will drive a bit of interest in the alternative pets.

It's still a dream in the works, but I'm definitely NOT located where I want to stay forever. I'm planning on moving south.

My personal ball python collection will alway be run on outside the business (catering mostly to internet sales), but the retail will be an outlet for any normal animals that I produce, or lower cost morphs like pastels.

Sweet!! They are in the process of getting a website built, but there isn't much to sell online from a feed/petstore. Im also trying to get them to breed feeders!! I will be working there before to long, so I could take care of it.

I would love to start a reptile expo down here, but I am almost 16, and theres only so much i can do. you should move to texas!! Particularly houston..lol... I would help you out for sure!

How would you sell your reptiles online through your store? It sounds like it could be more complicated than just selling from your own personal collection with fedex. I could be blowing it out of proportion too. Do you see what i'm saying?

[elevatethis]

Speaking as someone who worked on the retail end of the hobby, you have to be prepared to deal with the fact that when working in retail, you deal with people, and that is usually one of the hardest parts of the job.

In an ideal world, the plan you've set for your shop would be great. Inevitably, you are going to run into people who don't share the same points of view as you on animal care. A small pet shop can not afford to turn away business when customers fail to meet your expectations on how to care for the animals that you sell to them.

Whether it was selling someone a bearded dragon without the "expensive" UVB fixture or bagging up an oscar destined for a 20 gallon tank, it was a moral dilemma that I dealt with on a daily basis. You eventually learn to tell yourself that it is up to the individual, not the pet store, to ensure that the animals are cared for and its on the customer to ultimately do the right thing. Some, if not most, pet owners do not and that is just a reality of the world we live in. To turn away such a large chunk of business on merit alone would be financial suicide for most retail establishments.