Thinking of starting a pet shop

[flavio]

Here's the scenario. My girlfriend is a chemical engineer and has been working for a gigantic chemical company for years. She's hated it every day and even comes home crying sometimes.

I'm thinking she can't spend her life miserable like this and we've been talking about starting various retail stores near where we live in Oakland, CA for a couple years There's a couple retail strips near here that get a lot of foot traffic from a well-off demographic.

Sevaeral ideas have come up including restaraunts, a better bar than is currently around, and a robot store. This pet store idea we're pretty psyched about though.

For some reason this entire area is starved for petstores that actually have pets in them. The ones around are mostly food, supplies, accessories, etc.... and fish. If I wanted a dog I honestly haven't seen a store that sells them.

I'm assuming this is because rents are high and food and supplies make more profit. Also ethical animal care laws are tricter than some other parts of the country.

Here's the business model we've come up with so far.

We open this place in one of the heavy foot traffic strips stock it with exotic animals that are hard to find around here. Chinchillas, pot-belly pigs, exoitic birds, monitor lizards, turtles, and some cool dog breeds like Whippets. Anything allowed by law.

We get super picky about where these animals are obtained from and how they are treated at our shop so it can be promoted as THE ethical pet store in the area.

The real profit isn't in selling the actual animals so it's going to be a real mini-zoo. There's a place up the road where we could put it between a toy store and a dog park I think would be perfect. Tons of kids making their parents come in to see the animals and a handy stop on the way back from the dog park. Sell animal based toys and books to the kids and food to the dog park people.

We've been talking about dog day-care, walking, and kenneling. Web-based product delivery.

What do you think?

 

[rhino56]

oakland, sell some pit bulls

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: flavio

What do you think?

That you have no clue on what it means to run a business. Your too unfocused and that will result in a failed endeavour.


Make a list of the things you want to do with your pet store.

Then reduce that by half, and then half again.



Still you need to investigate zoning laws, laws pertaining to exotic animals, and realize that "exotic dogs" aren't. The idea of "anything allowed by law" is a key ringer for "we haven't got a clue". Learn your market, having anything doesn't mean you have what you need to sell to stay in business. We don't need another animal prison.

FWIW, pure bred dogs are best bought and sold by breeders, everyone else is just a mill.

 

[Sc4freak]

Take a course in Business Management first.

 

[LordMorpheus]

A robot store? That sounds fun.

 

[lokiju]

If you have the finical backing, with true will and desire and a solid business plan, then I say move forward with it and see if you can get it off the ground.

 

[Manuwell]

What about a store/place where you could pay for doing nothing and just ... nothing. With locker-room for cell-phones and PDA's and whatever that get you bound with the real-world.

Like a big room, with nothing but some plants, sound of water/birds and that's it.

Investment would be:

- The lease + electric/water charges
- a couple of outdoor furniture sets
- a couple of plants
- 1 cd player (with repeat mode)
- 1 cd with sound of nature (water/birds)
- some locks to secure the personnal belongings of your customers
- 1 clock for check in/out time

That's about it

 

[Semidevil]

I think a petstores full of puppies and kittens will attract more then lizards and pigs.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Semidevil
I think a petstores full of puppies and kittens will attract more then lizards and pigs.

partially right. (my in-laws owned a pet store and ran several others, wife worked in one until about 6 years ago)

a successful pet store has everything. Snakes and lizards are actually a very big seller. they are also one of the better things to sale. they would get snakes from a reptile swap near here and sale everything 3-5times higher then they paid.

while puppies and kittens did not sale as fast they sold at as high a profit. trouble is getting them for sale. they would have to resort to getting them from "puppy farms" and some people think they are evil.

but none of that really matters. the #1 thing you need is someone who is knowledgeable in what they are selling and how to take care of animals. since i gather neither you or your wife are then not much luck. though you can do what a local pet shop did. they fired all the people that ran the place (my MIL and wife) and get a bunch of 16-18yr old girls who have nice bodies and faces.

 

[krunchykrome]

I immedietly thought of the movie "Dumb & Dumber" when I read the title of this thread.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I think you should open a store in a mall that has big screen TV's and a bar with a hot bar-tender. It would be a place for wives to drop their husbands off at while they shop.

 

[flavio]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
That you have no clue on what it means to run a business. Your too unfocused and that will result in a failed endeavour.


Make a list of the things you want to do with your pet store.

Then reduce that by half, and then half again.



Still you need to investigate zoning laws, laws pertaining to exotic animals, and realize that "exotic dogs" aren't. The idea of "anything allowed by law" is a key ringer for "we haven't got a clue".

WHy don't you take it easy man. The idea for the petsore cam up two days ago. It's in the brainstorming stage so the advice is appreciated but leave out the insults.

We don't need another animal prison.

FWIW, pure bred dogs are best bought and sold by breeders, everyone else is just a mill.

That's would be one of the main draws of the shop. Everything focused on best possible treatment of the animals and breeders we have personally visited and can vouch for.

 

[flavio]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
A robot store? That sounds fun.

Yeah, still like that one. Robot kits like this mostly and other high -tech gear.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: flavio

We don't need another animal prison.

FWIW, pure bred dogs are best bought and sold by breeders, everyone else is just a mill.

That's would be one of the main draws of the shop. Everything focused on best possible treatment of the animals and breeders we have personally visited and can vouch for.

Sorry, no one with a brain buys a pure bred from a pet store. No one with an integrity allows a pure bred dog they bred to be sold by one either.

 

[buck]

There is a member here that will give you a duck to sell.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: flavio

Originally posted by: Shivetya
That you have no clue on what it means to run a business. Your too unfocused and that will result in a failed endeavour.


Make a list of the things you want to do with your pet store.

Then reduce that by half, and then half again.



Still you need to investigate zoning laws, laws pertaining to exotic animals, and realize that "exotic dogs" aren't. The idea of "anything allowed by law" is a key ringer for "we haven't got a clue".

WHy don't you take it easy man. The idea for the petsore cam up two days ago. It's in the brainstorming stage so the advice is appreciated but leave out the insults.

We don't need another animal prison.

FWIW, pure bred dogs are best bought and sold by breeders, everyone else is just a mill.

That's would be one of the main draws of the shop. Everything focused on best possible treatment of the animals and breeders we have personally visited and can vouch for.

I think you're missing the point. Reputable breeders are *not* going to sell puppies to you for re-sale. Good breeders have no problem selling their own puppies. I really doubt that good breeders will want to add a middle-man and decrease their profits. Knowledgeable buyers of pure-bred dogs (anyone who has done their homework) know to ask certain questions, like "can I see the mother?" There's a stigma about purchasing puppies and kittens from a pet store; it would be incredibly difficult for you to overcome.
And, one other thing to shoot down the puppie and kitten idea: how many square feet are you planning to dedicate to each puppy? Are you planning on having small kennels for them, like the big pet stores that carry puppies, yet say "Yeah, but we're different. We treat them better."

Things I don't like about petstores: no focus. Their pet food section is no different than the section at a grocery store, except there are even MORE brands. Most buyers of pet foods are left guessing as to which brand is better for their dog/cat/other pet. I remember wandering through pet stores, trying to find an employee who could tell me which type was better. Here's a thought - find 2 or 3 product lines that you believe in - a cheap, medium priced, and premium. Know all there is to know about those foods. When you're talking to your customers, be knowledgeable "Well, brand xyz actually has about 10% more fillers added to it. Part of the reason that it's more expensive is they've been pushing such a huge advertising campaign. This brand is slightly more nutritious, and has fewer fillers added."

As others have said, have more focus. Here's a weird idea for you: "Bunnymart"
Specialize in pure-bred rabbits. And, set up your own breeding program off-site... they breed like, well, ummm... rabbits!
Actually, some breeds such as Flemish giants have small litters and don't reproduce nearly as rapidly as the stereotype of rabbits. If you *really* want to make your mark, get rid of people's stereotype of smaller pets such as rabbits, etc., to be a strictly caged animal. Show how rabbits can easily be trained to use a litter box, and left to freely roam the house. Specialize in only 1 or 2 brands of rabbit food. Don't have 15 brands for the sake of having more variety; point out to customers that with fewer brands you also guarantee rapid turn-over in stores; you don't need someone dusting off bags of food that are 2 years old. Promote the rabbits as being cheaper than dogs or cats, and just as cuddly. (Their food is FAR cheaper than dog or cat food.) Learn how to cull the rabbits when they're young... keep only submissive rabbits and feed the less submissive rabbits to the reptiles that you sell as a side business (along with a few other "exotics" - chinchillas, hedgehogs, or whatever.) Just like dogs and cats, there are certain breeds that seem to be able to attract premium prices (look at the costs of Siamese or Persian cats, Shihtzus, etc.) So, keep a variety of breeds of rabbits with a continuum of prices. For example, have some of the plain old white rabbits with pink eyes, priced around $10 each. (They'd cost you about 50 cents to $1 each to obtain). And, at the other end of the continuum, have some other rarer breeds of rabbits for as much as $30 or $40 each (or more... I don't know what your market would support) such as lionheads or Flemish Giants. Purchase your bags of food, such as Blue Seal in 50 pound bags... Sell it by the bag, or subdivide the large bags and sell smaller 10 pound hand-packaged bags. (You can make a significant profit doing this; pet stores near me sell 5 pound bags for $4 which works out to 300% mark-up.) Offer a unique service that I haven't seen before: pet buy-back. If your kids aren't doing a good job caring for their pet rabbit (or you change your mind, or whatever), you'll buy back the pet for 50% within 60 days. Possible source for rabbits: breeders who raise show-quality rabbits who regularly get rid of anything deemed not show quality (but which would certainly make excellent pet quality.) Also, by carrying animals that are less expensive to own, it'll also be less expensive for you in terms of your upfront investment/inventory. (How much money do you think goes into a section of dog toys in a pet store?)

This post not complete without rabbit pic. Flemish Giant, very easily handled (does not kick; very submissive), litterbox trained: here

Hope this gives you some ideas. A store near me opened a few years ago; while they don't specialize in rabbits, they do specialize in other small animals (and have the obligatory fish, but not that many of them). They actually doubled the size of their store after being opened for 1 year, stealing a lot of customers away from a store that the owner had been affiliated with, simply because of her treatment of the animals and ethics.

 

[DrPizza]

Also, I thought pot-bellied pigs as pets was more of a fad type of thing that faded... they now sell for $10 or less around here.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Also, I thought pot-bellied pigs as pets was more of a fad type of thing that faded... they now sell for $10 or less around here.

Seriously? Pigs are my favorite animal. I've always wanted a pot bellied pig and I planned on getting one in a couple years. I want to name it "Hamlet." I live in MD. Where in NY do they sell at that price? Are they clean, healthy, in "perfect condition." And how would I find out if I am allowed to have one as a pet?

 

[DrPizza]

Oh, and if you make it have the zoo environment, you can probably get quite a few irresponsible parents to purchase the cheap rabbits for their kids simply to appease the kids... the profit would come from the 10 pounds of food, water bottle, litter pan, kitty litter, etc. that the mom purchases to go along with the rabbit. Consider it a lease program - Make 3 dollars profit on leasing the rabbit (after the buy-back). Then, when you get the now grown rabbit back (minus the accessories), since you don't want to introduce diseases into your stock, you simply invite it over to your house for dinner. I recommend a white wine with rabbit.

 

[everman]

Are there any breweries/restaurants around there? That's what I'd do, with an espresso bar too.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Also, I thought pot-bellied pigs as pets was more of a fad type of thing that faded... they now sell for $10 or less around here.

Seriously? Pigs are my favorite animal. I've always wanted a pot bellied pig and I planned on getting one in a couple years. I want to name it "Hamlet." I live in MD. Where in NY do they sell at that price? Are they clean, healthy, in "perfect condition." And how would I find out if I am allowed to have one as a pet?

You'd have to check with your local ordinances to see if they're allowed as pets. Western, NY... I used to see them all the time at the livestock auctions. I haven't seen any in quite a while - it seems that the fad has completely died around here. We had someone recently who wanted to just give us their pot-bellied pig, since they knew it'd go to a good home; we said no.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Also, I thought pot-bellied pigs as pets was more of a fad type of thing that faded... they now sell for $10 or less around here.

Seriously? Pigs are my favorite animal. I've always wanted a pot bellied pig and I planned on getting one in a couple years. I want to name it "Hamlet." I live in MD. Where in NY do they sell at that price? Are they clean, healthy, in "perfect condition." And how would I find out if I am allowed to have one as a pet?

You'd have to check with your local ordinances to see if they're allowed as pets. Western, NY... I used to see them all the time at the livestock auctions. I haven't seen any in quite a while - it seems that the fad has completely died around here. We had someone recently who wanted to just give us their pot-bellied pig, since they knew it'd go to a good home; we said no.

You seem to know your stuff with regards to animals. COuld a small pot bellied pig live in an apartment? It would be a suburban apartment with plenty of parks, and green around.

 

[IBuyUFO]

This has to be the craziest idea I've ever heard with regards to starting a business. When I found my pure-bred dog I got it from a private seller. The dogs both had papers. There is the stigma associated with pet stores that no one in their right mind would buy something so expensive as a pure bred. I'm sure there are some great pet stores out there but people will keep away from them out of either fear or ignorance.

 

[flavio]

Originally posted by: IBuyUFO
This has to be the craziest idea I've ever heard with regards to starting a business. When I found my pure-bred dog I got it from a private seller. The dogs both had papers. There is the stigma associated with pet stores that no one in their right mind would buy something so expensive as a pure bred. I'm sure there are some great pet stores out there but people will keep away from them out of either fear or ignorance.

I'm thinking of it as taking a weakness and turning it into a strength. If there's a stigma about getting pets from pet shops you do everything under the sun to make sure that people know that all your pets are obtained from the most ethical sources and have evidence to show it.

Then you can position the shop as the THE ONLY choice for conscientious pet lovers.

If dogs are too difficult to keep around and obtain from responsible breeders maybe provide a breed finder service through a list of breeders we can vouch for.

Originally posted by: DrPizza
As others have said, have more focus. Here's a weird idea for you: "Bunnymart"
Specialize in pure-bred rabbits. And, set up your own breeding program off-site... they breed like, well, ummm... rabbits!

More specialization may not be a bad idea. I'm not sure how well bunnies would go over in a large city.

There is a wildly popular reptile in the area called the "Vivarium" which just carries snakes lizards, and turtles. It's practically a zoo environment as they have some giganatic snakes and lizards which I don't even think are for sale.

Originally posted by: everman
Are there any breweries/restaurants around there? That's what I'd do, with an espresso bar too.

The strips we're looking at have about like 30 or more restaraunts in a 5 block walk. Only a 2-3 bars each though and they're not all that great. A good nightclub could certainly work.

 

[Gooberlx2]

The real profit isn't in selling the actual animals so it's going to be a real mini-zoo.

If you're going to be a store selling exotic animals, I don't think this is going to be a good strategy. The costs of keeping such animals is quite high. You better try and make some actual money from them. But yes, most of your profit will be from supplies. So carry some good items the other retail chains don't. Particularly high-grade pet foods outside of Iams, Science Diet, Purina and such.