Seeing all the LFS that have closed around me over the years with the only and most successful being the big chain stores such at Petco proves one thing to me I’ve seen coming since Home Depot wiped out the mom and pop shops. Can’t compete with large single store have it all.
Only other option is being boutique to the point you only cater to a very select crowd seeking that not found amongst the general availability. Yet this often get bigger than they should have remained.
Service side will always be a thing because the corporate and wealthy accounts don’t want to scape algae or change socks. Can you live on the funds that provides or have the charisma to land big accounts and hire others to scrape?
Could go the professional diy side such as building skimmers and other supplies but there’s a large established competition and most of todays tech isn’t new. Not likely building a better mouse trap therefore need to build something unique and heavily marketed. Have the funds and time to market on top of build and sell and offer warranty?
I’ve thought about the QT as it makes the most sense and seems very profitable from an afar but if it was easy then there be many already. It’s not a new concept and quite frankly can’t for the life of me understand why consumers accept the fact it’s not practiced by every wholesaler and retailer vs dropping the burden on the final guy or gal that buys that fish or coral. Yet the reality is most consumers don’t care and why they buy at Petco who either replaced the fish or sells them medication. Big money in medication.
The one frontier I see remaining that has little competition yet a large hurdle to admission being fish breeding due to the complex nature of that first meal. We are where fresh was in the 60s. Fish were harvested from the
Amazon and African Lakes. Today I can’t recall last time I heard of a wild fish being sold. Perhaps new species found.
Captive produced fish at a wholesale level could be extremely profitable but this isn’t boutique. Perhaps start by supplying local stores not having contracts such as Petco does with major suppliers who breed fresh and purchase wild.
I know the first thought is fragging corals because today a one inch anything costs crazy money but how long will that be sustained if every frag swap is at full capacity and sooner or later what was rare is no more and now keepers exchange at clubs because it beats throwing that trimming in the trash. Will the cost of lighting and space pay for what remains profitable?
Not looking to slam on anyone’s dream. Have one life. Enjoy it. If profiting from one’s hobby a thing then go do it but I’d start out small and not quit that day job and perhaps paying for supplies by swapping with local stores good enough until product outpaces supply needs and one can expand or perhaps start selling to those same store. Build a relationship. See how that goes.
It’s not work if one enjoys what they are doing but you still have to put food on the table, roof over that table and cloths one one’s back and things get tougher when you decide best have a family and now also need time set aside for them and that includes going on vacation, watching soccer games and all the other things in life that will get in the way unless you get big enough and hire others such as self willing to do the work because being an owner with workers beats being a slave to your hobby which latter first needed before success allows anything else usually to happen.
If it was easy. Anyone can do it. Just so many buyers. So much demand. Lots to consider.
Perhaps go to shows and ask others what they’ve endured to get into the game. Find something that aligns with one’s skills, desire and ability. It’s not terrible to fail trying something you love as long as there’s a backup plan. I know. Talking from experience. Been there. Done that. Today I trade. Finally found my niche and love doing it but I’d trade it yesterday for my own shop. Dream I’ve had since I could read. Perhaps I’ll just make a ton of money and turn my garage into a mini sea aquarium
