Need some input from fellow Red Deer & Area reefer's

[Slick Fork]

If you were to open a very small storefront... I don't know that you would even need to have it in an expensive neighbourhood. You could probably get away with something in riverside industrial or one of those tiny little shops downtown, and run it from, say 4-8. I think that's what the guys at Red Coral Lethbridge are doing... evenings and weekends. That would allow you to keep your day job until the store was self sufficient. That would give you exposure + keep people OUT of your house and allow you the drop in traffic to expand the Red Deer market.

I don't think you need to buy a franchise, if you were to be the only game in town then the franchise fee is just an expense and it limits you to what you can bring in. I will guarantee that NOBODY in Red Deer would say "Oh boy, a new shop, if only it was a Blue world Red Deer, or Red Coral Red Deer" If there were 4 or 5 other shops in town then a recognizable name might give you an edge. For now, people will be happy to have something.

[The Grizz]

I do hear you about a store Slick but I don't have the $30 - $40K to do it or it would already be open. The one bonus in doing it out of my shop / office building is that there is plenty of RO water on site and if anything was to go wrong I am right here not 1/2 hr away.

[Slick Fork]

Your startup costs will be the same though except for Rent. (if we're comparing opening a shop at your house vs a shop in Red Deer). You would still need several tanks for corals and fish and a small startup amount of dry goods. You will need those no matter where you set up. The million dollar question becomes will the increase in business from a storefront offset the added expense of the rent.

You can minimize some of the startup costs by inviting established coral/fish businesses to put some stuff out there on consignment. You could do the same with local reefers. Let them put some frags out and just take a sellers fee.

As for being a half hour away if something goes wrong. Unless you plan on checking up on your home tanks on a regular basis through the night then if you spring a leak your screwed either way. You still won't find it until the morning.

[Wingin It]

"Reefers Closet"!!!!