ideas from other pet store owners (help)

I am in the process of opening a pet store and I could use LOTS of help! I want to make sure I have all my fins and paws in a row before I jump in with both feet so I was courious if there is any other pet store owners that belong to this site? I am willing to listen to all ideas/suggestions even if its not what I want to hear lol.
I plan on selling caged critters such as ferrets, rabbits, rats, gerbils, chins, sugar gliders, fresh water and salt water fish and of course all accessorys. I really am still in the "RESEARCH" stage and could use any advice.
I am really excited about opening this and moving on to a new job. I have been employeed with the same job for 11 years and I am really wanting a new change. I get told all the time how I have my own zoo in my home and why not spread the love of animals past my home? lol! I will be offering post adoption check ups as well as making sure the new owners of the pets will know all there is to know before they walk out that door with their new baby. I really don't want anyone walking out the door without a clue of what they are getting into. I want to be the best store for customer service (which i am good at since i have done it 11+ yrs) as well as the best for the knowledge of what I am selling. I am still looking for certain breeders for some of the animals I would like to have in the store and suppliers (told ya still researching) I wanted to be open by mid-summer or late summer. What better way to spend the day in a room full of loving pets then in my own store?
I do plan on having a dog/cat breeder section where I can direct people in the right place if they are looking at certain breeds but not selling them in the store. I plan on doing a breeder day once a quarter where they can even come in and bring their new puppies/kittens into the store just for the day so people can see whats out there. Help them / Help me bring people in for the day.
I am dreaming / eatting / sleeping this store and I don't even have it yet LOL I just can't wait to get started. It will be family owned not a corporate business. I am looking at possibly putting in a wishing well with Japanese Koi and all donations that go into the wishing well go to the local humane society. I want to make sure its a community friendly and they see I am not out just for myself. :)

If there is any pet store managers/owners/operators out there please email me or page me...would love to talk.

Thanks, :)
Kim

Talk to vets, too - they can offer some good ideas, as they have dealt with pet store-advised pet owners, for better or worse! :)

advertise like crazy! Everywhere you go give out leaflets have a big open day! We have opened up a groomers/petshop recently and advertising is the best way to go leaflet drop anyone you see with animal fur on their coats or walking dogs at parks leave leaflets everywhere!

If you havent done so yet arrange a grand opening with sweets and balloons for kids and maybe make a dog cake for the dogs?

make people aware that the pet shop allows animals, People LOVE the chance to parade off their animals so you are will defiantly have a few people turn up!

Dont forget coupons too, they were a big winner for my shop, we dont a 10% discount for the first month and every dogs gets some free chews when they get groomed. Look out for joblots on Ebay too because some can be very good! Have a look for some cheap wholesalers too and stock plenty of natural treats and look online for reviews on everything, peoples opinions are everything! Companys will sell you products that are useless and unfortunatly people do buy stupid stuff so learn from other peoples mistakes!

Thank you so much for the information, I would love to get together and talk and possibly get more ideas... I am shooting for July to be opened up, still waiting on licenses and getting more suppliers. I would love to hear about your store and maybe share some of my ideas with you to see if possibly they may even work for you or if you think they are unreasonable ideas. I do plan on starting small...

some of my ideas................
as far as advertising my parents are friends with a lady that only writes "front page" news and she is willing to do a front page article of my opening. WOOHOO for me! We also have a "city" chat room... its like a major gossip column so we do plan on "hinting" in there since its not for "advertising" that we hear its opening... sneaky I know but whatever I have to do I plan on doing it. That chat room knows whats going on in town before it happens it seems like so I probably won't have to even mention a thing before it will be in there.

As far as customer ideas I want to take their names, numbers, email addresses for monthly prizes and also be able to use their email addresses to send them information on specials or our latest arrivals. We also plan on trying to take note of what they buy so that way we can specialize their email or letter at a later date.

I do plan on just small animals, gerbils, guinea pigs, ferrets, bunnies..etc but we are really wanting to focus more on fish. fresh and salt water fish. I already have a good stock in guppies, mollys, sword tails, and gouramis from my personal tank and my mother in laws tanks. Between the 2 of us we have 13 tanks and right now we are at a stopping point until we can get the store ready for moving in so we can start breeding them again.

It will be a place that they can bring in their pictures and we plan on having a bulletin board just of our pet shoppers (pics of the pets). We did talk about bringing in a groomer but it will be on down the road. I have 2 digital cameras and plan on keeping one in store just for the pictures. I think they will like that. what do you think??

I would love to be open in late June or by July 1st, because I am in a tourist town and the 4th is a BIG deal downtown. They have frog jumping contest so I do actually plan on trying to get some froggies in before the event if I can be open by then.

I also plan on having a corner in the store called "critter corner" just where the kids can bring the guinea pig or ferret over to play with and get to know and also if its not really to busy in there they would be able to get some play time in. I plan on keeping a gerbil ball in house just to have so they can get out and run around the ball. I want it to be a friendly and fun place but also clean :)

I do have yahoo messanger, msn messanger so if you can please get with me theres so much I know I can learn from you. [email protected] or [email protected]

I do have a few suppliers but still looking for more fish suppliers, mainly for the food and supplies is what I am looking for. Trying to shop for the best deals especially opening up.

Thanks for all your advice and hope to hear more from you
Kim

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Originally Posted by Catty1

Talk to vets, too - they can offer some good ideas, as they have dealt with pet store-advised pet owners, for better or worse! :)

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YES this was a good idea, I actually have talked to a couple of vets, I am trying to get with all the vets so that I can get their "specialities" so when I do sell someone a new baby they will know who is best to take them to for vet visits.

Also plan on getting with the groomers so that if they special in anything I can work with them as well.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm mostly interested into animal welfare, so I was intrigued by your concept of post-adoption/breeder support :) I've had a family member try this out (helping people find breeders), and it's usually not a good idea. The reason being is that you will get a myriad of bad breeders who can easily deceive you. Once that breeder is in your good favor, you're sending them a constant supply of customers. Also, reputable breeders don't often breed year round, so it's unlikely that you'll be able to find a perfect match for all of the prospective puppy buyers. It can be discouraging for both parties and the plan might even backfire! However, if you really want prospective buyers to meet breeders in person, direct them to the breed club of America and keep an updated book of performance events (agility shows, conformation shows, herding trials, lure coursing events, earthdog trials, etc). This will give them a chance to see what certain breeds are really like, without the possibility of endorsing a less-than-reputable breeder. All the benefits without the risks! =)

Have you thought about specializing in a certain area? I like holistic feed stores, but they're often too boutique-y and froo-froo for me. Maybe you could be the rare down-to-earth, straight-to-the-point pet shop that supplies holistic feed without all the lace and frills. Not that frills are a bad thing ;)

ETA: I'm attaching the link of a chain feed store that really exceeds all standards. IMO, it's the epitome of a good, reliable pet store =)
http://petfoodexpress.com/petfood/index.asp

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Originally Posted by Giselle

I'm mostly interested into animal welfare, so I was intrigued by your concept of post-adoption/breeder support :) I've had a family member try this out (helping people find breeders), and it's usually not a good idea. The reason being is that you will get a myriad of bad breeders who can easily deceive you. Once that breeder is in your good favor, you're sending them a constant supply of customers. Also, reputable breeders don't often breed year round, so it's unlikely that you'll be able to find a perfect match for all of the prospective puppy buyers. It can be discouraging for both parties and the plan might even backfire! However, if you really want prospective buyers to meet breeders in person, direct them to the breed club of America and keep an updated book of performance events (agility shows, conformation shows, herding trials, lure coursing events, earthdog trials, etc). This will give them a chance to see what certain breeds are really like, without the possibility of endorsing a less-than-reputable breeder. All the benefits without the risks! =)

Have you thought about specializing in a certain area? I like holistic feed stores, but they're often too boutique-y and froo-froo for me. Maybe you could be the rare down-to-earth, straight-to-the-point pet shop that supplies holistic feed without all the lace and frills. Not that frills are a bad thing ;)

ETA: I'm attaching the link of a chain feed store that really exceeds all standards. IMO, it's the epitome of a good, reliable pet store =)
http://petfoodexpress.com/petfood/index.asp

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Thanks for the information lots of good stuff to think about.... I actually have pretty much decided against the breeder stuff as well from different things I have came across on my own... one is who do you trust.. as you said. so maybe if they breed cats/dogs they can leave a card on a bulletin board maybe and if people are interested then they can use that and they are on their own. so good advice!

I do want to do my best to make sure I follow up with a call even if they buy a gerbil just to see how things are going and if they have any questions. I know I have had pets in the past that I have gotten out of the excited omg they are so cute stage then get them home and go OK NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS THING? course that was when I was younger and didnt have my own zoo ha! I plan on having sheets to give out for each animal on some do's and don'ts just for the customer when they leave the store. Last year I was going to get a couple chinchillas and I ended up rescueing 2 ferrets so I waited on the chinchillas. I have always wanted a chinchilla but I am glad I waited before jumping in. I always thought they were adorable but never really researched them. Then right before we bought one I did do the research then I found out for example they shouldnt get wet... and if they do make sure they really get COMPLETELY dry or they could end up with a fungus because of the way their hair folicals grow. But I ended up getting my Taz and Zoe (ferrets) instead but I am still thankful that I did the research. so I want to make sure that I have that kind of infomation available before they walk out the door. I dont want anything bad happening that I COULD have prevented by giving just a little advice. :) Its just little helpful hints that could save an animals life and I want to make sure that I am not sending animals out with people that do not have a clue on how to take care of it. I do have the best interest for the animals I hope everyone knows that and I am not just doing it to push them out the door as some pet stores do. I want to be known for the knowledge and that they can email me or call me at any time with questions and concerns and I want to make sure that I have talked to each vet in town to know what animals they specialize in so that if I do have to tell them hey time to take it to the vet... I can tell them what vets specialize in that particular pet.
When Taz got sick I called my normal vet, guess what... he did not specialize in them but he did send me to another vet and he was wonderful, unfortunately tazzy didnt make it and had cancer and had to be put to sleep a few weeks later. so I want to make sure I know also for the animals that I would carry on who does best for that breed. :)
thanks again for the advice... I am on lunch hr but will take a look at the site when I get home tonight to read up on it.

Kim

OMG how the heck did I do that? I posted the same thing a half a dozen times! how do I delete it? My computer was being stupid at lunch so I guess it paid me back for cussing it huh?

Just click on the posts you want to delete, and click on the botom right hand corner where it says"edit" post, then just click on delete when the window pops up.

I think for animals like bunnies and guinea pigs you should talk to your local shelter and kind of have a foster set up for them. So you take bunnies from the shelter and put them in your store (making room for more homeless bunnies to live at the shelter). And guinea pigs.

Since Missouri is the puppymill capital of the U.S. - I would avoid recommending breeders. There are probably some really great rescue groups in the area that would love someplace to show their foster dogs on the weekends. Maybe you could offer a small discount for supplies bought on the first visit after an adoption with a copy of adoption papers from the rescue group?

Really? I thought Pennsylvania was puppymill haven =P Anywho, I think the discounted prices is a greyt idea. Proof would be required, of course, but I think you'd get a lot respect early on if your store emphasis is on adoption and helping homeless pets. I know you'd get my money ;)

You can rotate shelters at your store to show people the variety of pets that are waiting for homes. It'll also give lesser known shelters a lot of exposure, and you will certainly gain satisfaction in knowing you helped out the truly needy. For example, you could have a cat rescue every first Saturday, a dog rescue every Sunday, and maybe a breed rescue every other Friday or even a bird/ferret/gerbil rescue every other Thursday :)

Maybe you could have quick care sheets near the animals. Have a basic first page then in a second page have what most people would consider pros and cons. ... or points to consider.

I also agree with the others about possibly adopting from the local shelter then selling. It is amazing what people will try to turn in besides dogs and cats. A lot of people would respect a pet store that actually does rescue. Be sure to be up to date on your knowledge of quarantine though.

Definitely allow rescues to have adoption dates though! :D

Also, would it be possible to give a discount to people that come in to buy educational materials (books), then at a later date buy the pet? I'd think that would show that the person gave forethought to getting the pet. So if a person bought a $5 book on anoles and you're selling anoles for $35 when they came in a week later to buy the anole you'd tell them for buying the book their total (tax inc) only comes to $32.

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Originally Posted by finsnfriends

I do want to do my best to make sure I follow up with a call even if they buy a gerbil just to see how things are going and if they have any questions. I know I have had pets in the past that I have gotten out of the excited omg they are so cute stage then get them home and go OK NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS THING? course that was when I was younger and didnt have my own zoo ha! I plan on having sheets to give out for each animal on some do's and don'ts just for the customer when they leave the store... ... but I am still thankful that I did the research. so I want to make sure that I have that kind of infomation available before they walk out the door. I dont want anything bad happening that I COULD have prevented by giving just a little advice. Its just little helpful hints that could save an animals life and I want to make sure that I am not sending animals out with people that do not have a clue on how to take care of it. I do have the best interest for the animals I hope everyone knows that and I am not just doing it to push them out the door as some pet stores do. I want to be known for the knowledge and that they can email me or call me at any time with questions and concerns and I want to make sure that I have talked to each vet in town to know what animals they specialize in so that if I do have to tell them hey time to take it to the vet... I can tell them what vets specialize in that particular pet.
...
Kim

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My daughter worked in a pet store for two years in speciality.

Here were some of her complaints.
People coming in and wanting to buy animals such as rats, hamsters, piggies and not knowing what to feed them or what cage to buy.
I think anyone buying a small creature should recieve a flyer with basic info on it such as foods to feed and those that are poisen. Just one sheet filled with facts would be wonderful. Also a lot of the bedding is bad for bunnies. The flyer should list the correct bedding for all animals. Just basic stuff but these things help ensure the health and happiness of the pet and the owner.
I would also like to see Papaya tablets for buns in pet stores usually you have to order them on line. And a nice selection of toys and proper snacks for the little creatures as well as books on animal care geared for small children as well as adults.
The best of luck to you.

Hi,
Monicas ideas are good about the flyers. Include bedding for hamsters because they have to be made out of natural materials coz my friends hamster died because they brought bedding from the market and the hamster pouched some and swallowed some and the bedding wrapped around the hamsters intestines and gave it a pro lap.
My hamster was from a very good pet shop. They wouldnt let you leave without picking up your hamster first. They also gave advice and everytime you go in there (if your regulars) they ask how your pet is and they recommend good toys and foods, they also pick their animals for sale up almost every day plus they dont let their pets go if it doesnt look healthy or fat enough. I love that pet shop! :D

You are more than welcome to call Mike at our pet food store too. The phone is 260-483-0944 and he's here M-Th 10-7, F and Sat 10-6 and Sun 12-5 (except tomorrow, Easter).

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Originally Posted by mugsy

You are more than welcome to call Mike at our pet food store too. The phone is 260-483-0944 and he's here M-Th 10-7, F and Sat 10-6 and Sun 12-5 (except tomorrow, Easter).

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Oh thank you so much, I will try to give him a call this week. Are you sure he won't mind? I don't want to step on petshop owners paws...but its not like I will be giving him competion since I am in Missouri and hes there lol.

I just could use all the help I could get.. I want this store so much I can taste it and I can't wait for it to be opened and running. It is a scary idea but I think A wonderful business to start. The work doesn't scare me its the supporting my family the first few months without my other job. I know starting up will take time for the revenue to come in but I also know its worth the step.

For example, we have 2 pet stores 45 minutes away, we cleaned out our salt water tank last night and now we are in need of salt for it to get it up to spec.... GUESS what... 1 pet store (just fish store) was closed for the EASTER weekend and the other store was out. OMG! I am praying that I can make it through another day without my saltwater tank crashing and my fish dying. :( Course I blame hubby for this since he didnt think it through cleaning it we would need salt. lol! always blame the hubby. Course we thought the fish store would be opened and she threw us off by being closed.

So I know there is a need I know I am not the only one in town with a salt water tank... :confused:

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Originally Posted by mugsy

You are more than welcome to call Mike at our pet food store too. The phone is 260-483-0944 and he's here M-Th 10-7, F and Sat 10-6 and Sun 12-5 (except tomorrow, Easter).

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[email protected]

I hope thats what I gave you! :)
Thanks again for so much information. Tell Mike I really appreciate all the time he gave me and all the information that he gave me. What wonderful people.

Now off I go for web searching til I am crosseyed !


Kim :eek:

I have one tip, Make A Web Page! Tell people what is in your store and encourage them to come to your store. Also offer an online purchase option.

Kim,

Any news on your store? We were curious!

Mike and Molly

Yes, I am very curious. :)

Any updates on your store?

Bump. Please reply, finisfriends. Does anyone know where he/she is?

Well thank you for all your concerns... I had a little set back financially and have to put the pet store on back burner but hopefully not for long.
IT IS STILL MY DREAM and I do plan on opening but unfortunately not as fast as I wanted it open. I am still doing all the research that I can on it and I have my name picked out, business cards (minus info), wall colors, how I want it arranged etc all picked out or visualized in my head lol so its still just all in the making.

I have added to my home zoo lol the last few months... as I had reported when I first signed up I had to my male ferret down feb 13th and now have gotten a new male. Zoe's in 7th heaven because shes got another playmate.
My aunt gave me her ferret because she felt like she was not giving him enough time so we know have "ENZO" and Zoe and OMG hes nothing like she is. He runs full force and I swear he doesn't stop! He is twice the size of Zoe but he does try to be a gentle giant.. :)

I have also gotten 2 new male degu (frick n frack and nope i didnt name them) and are just a hoot! We of course have added more fish ( 2 parrot fish (molly and polly), 1 shark, 7 sucker fish, and well my guppies are still giving me lots and lots and did I say lots of babies? lol We just got another 46 gallon tank that we are getting ready to turn into a saltwater tank. The one we have we got and it was already set up so this will be our first saltwater tank that we will actually start from scratch ourselves.

But part of my not being here is putting in extra hrs at work and of course taking care of all my babies. I do appreciate all the concern and yes I still want my pet store and still doing my research and still making a list of things I want and need. I can't wait til I can get on here and tell you when the grand opening is and all the other good news!

take care!
Kim
[email protected] is my email

Thanks for giving us an update. So sorry for your set back, look forward to hearing about your success :-)

If you don't mind me asking, where in MO do you live? I live down in Branson... but commute regularly between here and St. Chuck (St. Louis, pretty much). I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to help you out if you're nearby and need anything!

I am here in Hannibal, and once things get rolling TRUST me I will be looking for all the help I can get lol
Will keep you posted!
:)

Thanks
Kim