Better conversation and customer service, I can actually hobby talk with the employees b/c they know what they are doing. Better quality fish and plants. Prices are bit higher but I don't mine paying more for a better experience.
Better conversation and customer service, I can actually hobby talk with the employees b/c they know what they are doing. Better quality fish and plants. Prices are bit higher but I don't mine paying more for a better experience.I read today that of the almost 16 billion dollar annual U.S. pet store market.
The two biggest market share holders were:
PetSmart - 40%
PetCo - 20%
I was astounded. Two companies holding 60% of the entire pet store market.
I have nothing against either one of these companies. I buy from PetSmart on a semi-regular basis, and probably would buy from PetCo too if they were in my area.
But it amazes me that specialty shops and "mom and pop" pet stores are being so completely crushed out of the marketplace.
I've always thought about "retiring" into owning and operating a pet store (focusing on aquaria of course), but I'm not sure if passion alone is enough to keep one out of bankruptcy court in the long run.
I'm interested in hearing some ideas about what the members think an independent store can offer that a big chain can't or won't.
Or close to it. I say that because only half the freshwater tanks at a local Petco got wiped out when someone apparently dumped a bottle of insecticidal shampoo in one tank.Petsmart and Petco use one big filter system for all tanks of a specific type - one for all freshwater tanks and one for salt.
I haven't heard about that. What a crappy thing to do.@DarkCobra - Is that that same whacko running around Florida sabotaging tanks there as well, or is it becoming a mini-movement down south in general?
Livestock is inventory, no modern business is uninterested in being profitable on any inventory. Aquatic maintenance isn't rocket science, if an employee can tie their shoes, and go to the bathroom on their own, they can do the Functional Duties in an Aquatic dept., training time/cost are about the same for a stock person or cashier.…..The big box stores really don't care than much about the livestock because their main interest is in selling equipment and supplies.….Taking care of fish take trained employees. Trained employee's are VERY expensive.…..
This is acting actually a common misconception. The business world is full of instances where accepting little profit or a even a loss on some inventory increases their overall profitability. This is true where the item they are taking a loss on drives multiple purchases of other items.Livestock is inventory, no modern business is uninterested in being profitable on any inventory. Aquatic maintenance isn't rocket science, if an employee can tie their shoes, and go to the bathroom on their own, they can do the Functional Duties in an Aquatic dept., training time/cost are about the same for a stock person or cashier.
i'm astounded the number isn't higher. Ask anyone anywhere in the country the name of a pet store and they'll mention one, or both, of those.PetSmart - 40%
PetCo - 20%
I was astounded. Two companies holding 60% of the entire pet store market.