Support your LFS

[O'l Salty]

One of my favorite fish stores is FishFreaks in Omaha NE. They had a new store opening with a raffle for a bunch of stuff. I never win in these raffles but yesterday they chose my ticket and I won a new AI Prime HD!

I like having a physical place to go and browse new quipment, fish and coral. You meet some interesting people and can gain some knowledge.

 

[sfin52]

My favorite is Nature’s Select in Springfield il.

 

[Jim Heenan]

I try to patronize my local LFS's, but sadly they're less than impressive.

 

[ca1ore]

Physical retail is dying, particularly in niche areas like LFS. We can debate whether that's a shame or not a shame, sad or not sad; not that it's happening. I have a LFS that I like and visit periodically, and would be sad if it closed; but truth to tell, I buy much more online than I do from them.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Sadly there is a lot of equipment and dry goods none of my LFSs carry, several of the good ones have closed down and sps coral selection is lacking in quality quantity and variety. So I am forced to shop online but I use great companies like BRS and Marinedepot. I do get most of my fish, corals and foods from LFSs when possible and I hate it when a LFS closes down.

 

[O'l Salty]

My LFS has very competitive prices on most stuff. If you're a member of the local reef club you get an additional 10% off. I try to make most of my big purchases with them.

 

[DarthSimon]

Aquarium Care Center in NJ is great!!

 

[DancingShark]

Sadly, I don't have a lfs within a hour drive

 

[DarthSimon]

We are lucky in NJ, some very good stores.... ACC like I posted above, TSM Corals in Cherry Hill gets amazing rare wrasses and others cool things...

As far as comment about online buying, I try and buy my gear local. If they don't have it in stock, I buy online.... Simple...

 

[Salty.Reefer]

I love hanging out at some of the stores but especially Amazing Aquariums and Reefs. Reef builders did an awesome video on Ali's store recently. I buy my eco tech stuff from him and what ever else I can get but I have to get my salt and test kits online. They are double in store.
Being in southern Orange County allows me to get to most OC and San Diego county stores within an hour.

 

[lbacha]

I have a couple LFS's by me that are pretty good.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Physical retail is dying, particularly in niche areas like LFS. We can debate whether that's a shame or not a shame, sad or not sad; not that it's happening. I have a LFS that I like and visit periodically, and would be sad if it closed; but truth to tell, I buy much more online than I do from them.

While I agree that physical retail is dying, I'd argue that niche shops are becoming more popular than ever. Comic book stores, record stores, card shops, etc. all other nerd hobbies I've been into have seen tremendous growth recently. I think the biggest issue facing fish stores is them finding their new direction of what to focus on.

 

[tangtime]

But what if large online stores such as wwc are your lfs?? Do you not support them?

 

[Caswal]

I don't really have a great LFS near me, I have a good one, with knowledgeable staff and they are about the livestock. I grab my food, salt and livestock from there. Red Sea Testkit was competitively priced so I got that there to.

If I was to open my own LFS. It would have a front section, that is an aquarium gallery and is also a cafe. With various example tanks, with information leaflets about the livestock, setup time, cycling time, approx costs and when those costs occur. What sort of maintenance regime the tank needs, and how much time it takes. Have all sorts of tanks, Freshwater Betta, Cichlids, community. Salt FOWLR, Mixed reef etc. Spot the fish/colouring papers and crayons for the kids etc. Behind the gallery/cafe, or accessed via a 2nd entrance is the actual normal fish store.

The cafe gallery works in 2 ways. 1) is a cafe with a unique selling point, therefore adding another source of revenue for the store. 2) Educates the public on what they can do with a home aquarium. It'll hopefully spark interest in the hobby that they had no idea how wonderful and varied it could be.

Just need to get my current business working and stable for me to seriously think about doing it.

 

[squampton]

I am in Canada and we don't have the same level of online shopping in general and nowhere close to what the US has for fish stuff and as my LFS is also one of the largest online retailers of aquarium goods, I just shop locally at their store.

There really is no online livestock retailers like the US has, my LFS does ship fish but you need to call in and ask what they have, and shipping is a bit pricey.

 

[JoshH]

I am in Canada and we don't have the same level of online shopping in general and nowhere close to what the US has for fish stuff and as my LFS is also one of the largest online retailers of aquarium goods, I just shop locally at their store.

There really is no online livestock retailers like the US has, my LFS does ship fish but you need to call in and ask what they have, and shipping is a bit pricey.

Where abouts in Canada? I find our online vendor's have a pretty good selection and rarely do I see myself longing to shop a US site for equipment anyway. Livestock is a different thing, mostly corals is where the true limitation is I've found.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I don't really have a great LFS near me, I have a good one, with knowledgeable staff and they are about the livestock. I grab my food, salt and livestock from there. Red Sea Testkit was competitively priced so I got that there to.

If I was to open my own LFS. It would have a front section, that is an aquarium gallery and is also a cafe. With various example tanks, with information leaflets about the livestock, setup time, cycling time, approx costs and when those costs occur. What sort of maintenance regime the tank needs, and how much time it takes. Have all sorts of tanks, Freshwater Betta, Cichlids, community. Salt FOWLR, Mixed reef etc. Spot the fish/colouring papers and crayons for the kids etc. Behind the gallery/cafe, or accessed via a 2nd entrance is the actual normal fish store.

The cafe gallery works in 2 ways. 1) is a cafe with a unique selling point, therefore adding another source of revenue for the store. 2) Educates the public on what they can do with a home aquarium. It'll hopefully spark interest in the hobby that they had no idea how wonderful and varied it could be.

Just need to get my current business working and stable for me to seriously think about doing it.

I do love this concept. I think LFS of the future are going too need to put much more of an emphasis on providing a social aspect for their customers and community. That said, you're looking at some ridiculously high startup costs with all of the food permits and fish equipment you'll need.

 

[pharazon]

I think the LFS that are gonna survive long term are the ones who offer maintenance and/or online sales.

That said, shout out to Aqua SD and Gill’s Marine in Temecula!

 

[O'l Salty]

The key for LFS's is to bring in new hobbyists. Typically they spend a lot of money up front to get their setup going. My LFS has made a big investment in new tanks ready to go out the door. Red Sea, Deep Blue and a lot of all in one's. Most important is to have knowledgeable staff that know what they're doing and don't just feed you a line of ****.

 

[sfin52]

Aquatic treasures is another good one in my area just over an hour away in collinsviille il. Coral selection is amazing. Just far to go to. 3 kids and working 60 hours a week who has time for a five hour trip. An hour down two to browse (wife trying to push me out the door) and an hour home. Aquatic treasures just offers fish. Natures select offers fish reptiles and small furry bets and an occasional insect or arachnid