Input requested

mseepman · #1 01-11-2008, 12:14 AM

Hey your plans for a store sound great. I really don't think a lot of store owners think as carefully as you have about who their customers are and what they want to see.

I'm a little too far away but I wish you all the best.

Jeff_ · #2 01-11-2008, 03:38 AM

I am liking the hours too, School has usually clogged up my daytime space.
I am looking forward to the store too

jasond · #3 01-11-2008, 04:27 AM

Not that I will be shopping there, but thought I would add my 2 cents!

I think its awesome when there is an actual reef tank set up in the store. One of the shops here has one, and he says people are always after whatever he has in the reef tank, but not near the interest when they are in the holding tanks! (By reef tank, I dont mean Nano, like a 90 or 120). Plus a great "hands on" for showing ppl plumbing equipment etc.

Obviously it takes up much needed space in a store, but I think it is awesome for people to see what a full tank can look like, and for newcomers, or people switching from FW, what an eye catcher!

Congrats on the store, best of luck! If I am in Edmonton I will be sure to stop by.

Jason

ILIKECOUGARS · #4 01-11-2008, 04:32 AM

Hours looks great, Looking forward for your openning.

Myka · #5 01-11-2008, 04:44 AM

I don't likve near you, but there is a store here that does 6:30-9 pm, and it's a pain in the butt. I wish they opened at 5:30. I get off work at 5, and I have to wait around for an hour and a half for them to open. Or I go on Saturdays which they are open 12-5, but half the time they are closed on Saturdays with no warning. Drives me nuts as I live 45 minutes away. I've started calling on Saturdays before I drive in. Sad really...

Matt · #6 01-11-2008, 04:22 PM

Neal,

Following up on some earlier threads, a water testing service would be interesting. I'd love it if there was somewhere I could go to pay 5-10 bucks and do some of the less-ordinary testing: phosphate, iodine, copper, iron, etc. I'd even do it myself. I wouldn't do it often, but once in a while it would be nice to get levels for reference. I won't spend the bucks for all those expensive test kits and colorimeters for my little reefs, but you'll likely need the "pro gear" for your setup anyway...

Just an idea. There may not be a valid business model there.

ponokareefer · #7 01-11-2008, 04:28 PM

I would definitely second the water testing. I'd be willing to haul some water up there and pay for a test on my water everytime I came up and then pick up some items while I was waiting for the tests to complete.
As for hours, since I'm out of town, I'd typically only be up on weekends, so not being open on Saturday's might suck sometimes, but opening Sunday's is awesome.

howdy20012002 · #8 01-11-2008, 04:50 PM

I will see what I can do for testing.
the reason that I am not open Saturday for now is that I am trying to spread the time that we are open thru out the week...as we get busier and it becomes more feasible I will be opening more and more.
I am not going to be the one in the store most of the time as I simply am too busy to be there at the specified time.
however, I do have a couple of employees that will be there.
I chose Sunday over saturday is generally I am way too busy on Saturdays to be able to do anything if fill in for help is required.

argan · #9 01-11-2008, 06:40 PM

make sure you laminate those cards so you don't have to keep reprinting them. also then you can just use sticky tack and move them from tank to tank when you need.

fishguyxd · #10 01-11-2008, 10:46 PM

Neal reading over the past posts it looks like your are putting alot of thought into it all of it.
It sounds great so far the evening hrs, the signage
I know when I started and even now it would be nice to know coral requirements (lighting, food, etc)
I think if your able to offer prices that are good it should be work.
just my 2 cents
look forward to it.