ReptileMan27

[tazzyb]

Hi was wondering if all you good could give me a bit of help.
I am starting to get down to the nitty gritty with my plan of opening a reptile shop in the uk.

As we all know there are some good and bad reptile shops out there.
I know what I think makes a good shop bit I am looking for some input into this.

So what 3 things make a bad shop?

And

What 3 things make a good shop?

[Darzeth]

3 bad things that make a shop bad

not able to help you or direct you to someone who can
sickly reptiles(happened to me before)
unkept shop,dirty,messy or so forth

3 good

knowledge of what they are doing and info of other experts
healthy lively animals
well kept shop and lots of suppleies

[FrogQueen]

So what 3 things make a bad shop?

Unhealthy animals
Improper care for species.

But the worst.. Selling a reptile without thought of responsibility.. Selling baby alligators to anyone who has the money with no regard to whether or not the human can care for them. Same goes for iguanas, sulcata torts, large boids, etc.

Most who by in a petshop, are not experiences reptile keepers.. We go to reptile expos or private breeders. Few people can give the space and care needed for most of the larger herps. myself included.


What 3 things make a good shop?

ETHICS
Excellent health, knowledge and care
Captive bred when ever possible.

[Autoshoty]

Hey, hope all goes well if you start a shop. 

3 things i hate when i go to a petshop are

1: People not knowing anything about their reptiles.
2: Not keeping their reptiles in good condition.
3: Trying to sell me accesories that I dont need such as a UVB light for a cornsnake.

3 things that make a good petshop are

1: Reptiles in great condition, healthy, proper care being given.
2: Knolebagble workers about the reptiles you have in your store.
3: People are enthusiastic about what they are doing.

[Simon]

Positive:

Knowing the animals that they keep
A decent attitude (not being "high and mighty)
A good selection of products and not being biased to a particular make

Negative

Dirty, unhygenic.
Unhelpful and just want the cash - dont care about the animals or whether you can cope with it.
Never have it over-stocked with products.  A untidy overstocked shop makes people think that they cant cope with it.

Good luck!

[ReptileMan27]

Bad
1:employees with no knowledge of the animals they sell

2: Animals in dirty and smelly cages, dead animals in cages.

3: to use and reccomend dangerous products or inapropriate animals for begginers to make money.

good
1: employees with knowledge and experience keeping animals

2: All animals have clean cages and are cared for properly

3: A pet store that is it for the love of the animals and not looking just to make a buck.

[Laura R (FL)]

Well, I know that owning a pet shop is a business and is designed to make a profit.  There is a balance required between service and $$$.

3 worst:

1.  Poorly cared for animals such as reptiles that are underfed to save money on crickets & mice and snakes that are shedding in clumps.

2.  Staff that do not have the proper knowledge concerning all of the species that they sell.

3.  Stores that do not sell all of the equipment related to the species that they sell.


3 best:

1.  Helpful staff that work well with beginners without sounding superior.

2.  Clean shops without overbearing odors and feces left in cages.

3.  Competitive costs...one store in town gives extra crickets (maybe 2 1/2 dozen instead of counting out exactly 24) and everyone comes in that store.  If you get people in the door and your prices are competitive, they will buy more.

Laura R

[tazzyb]

thanks for your help on this guys and gals. Along the same lines as I was thinking. Been wanting to open a shop for a while now. But I want to make sure that its a good shop and gets a good reputation. I have been some pretty bad reptile shops over here in the uk.
Its been my dream for a few years now and seems a way to combine my love and work in one. But i need to make sure I get everything right and make a sucess of it

[ReptileMan27]

Good luck , its a hard business atleast here in the USA.

[Napolean]

You may also want to keep beginner herps such as leopard geckos, corn snakes, ball pythons and bearded dragons they will make it easier to manage a store with a bunch of easier to care for herps then having 6+ different types of herps that all require different care, also becuase the herps i mentioned dont need huge cagesjust my 2 cents

3 Bad Things:
1. Over crowded tanks and mixed species
2. Sick or injured animals in with healthier animals (The sick/injured one could be with way to do being bullied by another more dominant tank mate)
3. Having staff that have no knowlegde/expierence with herps. I.E, Has owned a dog before.

3 Good Things:
1. Knowledgable staff, actualy no's what there tlking about
2. Clean feces free cages ( i can understand having 1 in there becuase it may have gone after its cages was cleaned )
3. No crickets and other "creatures" running around the floor lol, also becuase its not that healthy/clean (Here's a tip for creature free floors, just keep youre feeders in a seperate room)

You may also want to look into breeding youre feeders and herps, you will save ALOT of money that way seeing as a juvie/subadult beaded dragon can eat around 50 crickets day and say you have 5 of them thats about 250 crickets a day! not to mention feeding other lizards and the few that get out that day.

GooD Luck