New Vancouver area store!

[Slipstream]

I would, unless the prices were outrageously high. But if the prices were within my budget, id shop at a store like that first. Even if the prices are a bit higher than reef harvested livestock.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

Yes I would be interested in buying from this store.

Realistically though a store like this doesn't have a chance in hell.

Among serious hobbyists there are two stores in the Vancouver area that have a lock on the business, one more for equipment supplies and fish and the other more for corals. For casual hobbyists who don't know any better there are the mega-stores selling stuff too.

When you look at the investment of time money and effort I don't think it is worthwhile opening a new reef store in the Vancouver area. It can only lead to grief. Sorry I don't want to sound discouraging but think up another business plan.

This is a good point...Why is there not one store that you can go to for both supplies and livestock. Im not sure which two stores you mean for sure but I would agree that NO store in vancouver is GREAT. Just a few good ones. I lived in Florida for a while and I think I got spoiled! If someone opened a store in Vancouver based on how a few of the great shops down there are, it would be amazing! And Im not talking about the "big" chain stores in Florida, I shopped at a smaller one that would blow any shop in Vancouver out of the water.

To say that opening a reef shop in Vancouver would be a failure is a joke. You can ALWAYS do things better than the competition. I think thats one problem with shops in Vancouver, not enough competition...

[Der_Iron_Chef]

But owning and running a store in Florida, with its coral reefs, Gulf of Mexico, etc., would have its obvious advantages. That's like comparing the skiing in North Carolina with Whistler and Fernie.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

But owning and running a store in Florida, with its coral reefs, Gulf of Mexico, etc., would have its obvious advantages. That's like comparing the skiing in North Carolina with Whistler and Fernie.

Fair enough, thats a good point. Im not just talking about livestock though, where there was a clear advantage to being in the southern us, Im also talking dry goods. More competitive brings lower prices. Plus WAY more products to choose from.

If you are only comparing stores in vancouver to the rest of Canada, then yes, its amazing. But compare it parts of the US (Florida) and it really is not.

I guess to be fair too though, the other big difference being in Florida and here is being able to go to huge outdoor places to buy Aquacultured LR for $2-3 a lb. As well as corals from 10,000G vats Thats just not really an option here because of weather. A lot of these are outdoors.

[Jason McK]

I think the GVRD is spoiled rotten when it comes to good LFS we don't know how good we have it.
Now I'm only comparing stores in Canada and not in the southern US. But Really Give me a break even stores I would consider crappy are good when compared to stores outside the GVRD. Plus look at the prices some are paying for salt in TO

J

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Yes, we are seriously spoiled with decent to good LFS that stock sw livestock in the GVRD. There are at least 4 fairly major coral/marine fish stores & five small ones that do most if not all their biz in sw. Compared to Calgary or Edmonton or anywhere else, we have a lot of choice & decent prices. If I didn't live around here, I doubt I would have gotten into this addiction due to the high cost.

Anthony

[ReefBizz]

Great feedback everyone.... Keep'em coming! Your opinions are valued.

[hawk]

Originally Posted by ReefBizz

Great feedback everyone.... Keep'em coming! Your opinions are valued.

The environmental angle is noble but if you 're looking to break into the Canadian reef market I would concentrate on online sales. Yeah I know every store has a web page but the only one that seems to put much effort into it is J&L. They'll update their new/noteworthy page once or twice a week. The others I deal with update less than once a month. It's not a criticism of the existing stores. They unload their livegoods without exploiting web possibilities, good for them. But IMO it is a ripe market that will be filled sooner or later.

[andresont]

Originally Posted by hawk

Environmentally friendly is always good (everything helps). But realistically I wouldn't use it as a foundation to start a reef business on. Lets face it, in regards to this hobby ecologically/environmentally conscious is almost an oxymoron.

I second that , IF we would be friendly to our planet we would not have captive animals who are on leash and or kept in confined environment living in their own urine and feces mix

[fishface]

Originally Posted by andresont

I second that , IF we would be friendly to our planet we would not have captive animals who are on leash and or kept in confined environment living in their own urine and feces mix

so just outta curiosity, if you feel so strongly about this, i gotta ask why is it that you choose such a morally despicable hobby?