How To Go About Starting A Exotics Petshop?

[krigger]

I'm a very very keen exotics pet keeper. I think more people in Britain should know about and try keeping some pets. I would love to open my own shop for people to visually see what they could own in their own homes, like a big setup, lots of live plants, an awesome looking reptile, exotic mammal etc. How would I go about doing this? I'm already trying to breed a few reptiles at home but people can't see them, they need to go online, know what their looking for etc instead of stumbling upon something they immediately appreciate and would like to own. Another reason is that alot of animals are losing numbers in the wild, a few animals have become extinct in the wild which are only now alive in captivity.

I know a lot about the animals, equipment, setups etc but don't know how I would get started in a shop.


Cheers!

 

[Blood Lust]

I'm a very very keen exotics pet keeper. I think more people in Britain should know about and try keeping some pets. I would love to open my own shop for people to visually see what they could own in their own homes, like a big setup, lots of live plants, an awesome looking reptile, exotic mammal etc. How would I go about doing this? I'm already trying to breed a few reptiles at home but people can't see them, they need to go online, know what their looking for etc instead of stumbling upon something they immediately appreciate and would like to own. Another reason is that alot of animals are losing numbers in the wild, a few animals have become extinct in the wild which are only now alive in captivity.

I know a lot about the animals, equipment, setups etc but don't know how I would get started in a shop.

Cheers!

Cons -
1. Exotic animals are a niche market so the amount of sales will be low.
2. A shop only reaches out to your local area.
3. We're in a recession

I would personally skip the shop and open it up as an internet business. You can then get customers from all over the UK. Have a look at similar internet businesses to get an idea of how your website should look.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Depending where you are -as a first step,speak to your local authority

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/licenceLanding?itemId=1075328394&type=LICENCE

 

[spannerworks]

It is also worth considering that a very high % of people who buy reptiles also dont know how to look after them and buy them to impress their friends, as a fad or because they think having a snake is cool. I have been involved in too many rescues where iguanas bones are breaking because of calcium problems and wrong lighting, burmese tortoises where fingers have literally gone through the shell (and this was from a big UK zoo!).

If you really care for these animals, (which you obvioulsy do) it would be good to have a store that provided a good knowledge and equipment, good lighting rather than the crappy bulbs some places sell instead of actual animals themselves. The resuces are so inundated at the moment and as other posters say, recessions mean that people cut corners with this sort of thing, some people dont want to pay £20-30 for a zoo med bulb etc.

Sorry if I sound like im putting the mockers on it, im just a big retile fan also and seen some awful cases due to lack of knowledge and money

 

[krigger]

Cheers for that reply! I also rescue reptiles etc. I was thinking if I did have a shop I'd have like a day a week for like a teaching session were you can hold diff animals etc. I'd check any buyers knowledge before any purchase, even if it just online sales

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Look outside of town to a farm based industrial estate. Lower rents, more space and i'd have thought a much better atmosphere for selling cared for animals than a cramped shop.

 

[Balshiescouse]

I used to have a pet shop, the overheads are draining and profits low. A friend who also loves exotics started a small business a while ago which is doing really well. She started going into local schools with her animals giving talks to the kids about different species, the kids love it! She educates the kids in a very interactive way and also directs the kids to her website where she offers a similar service for birthday parties, events etc. it is here her income is derived. Ok it's part time, but she loves it and feels she is helping to educate the children about bigger issues. Oh yes and you would definitely need a criminal records bereau check too, good luck whatever you decide

 

[spannerworks]

Good idea! Some people are just so ignorant when it comes to these animals - I heard the most ridiculous advice being given recently at a big chain of pet shops (not sure if I can say the name) but the workd 'pets' and 'home' spring to mind lol. I had to say something. Scary!!

 

[SetupaCompany]

I would personally skip the shop and open it up as an internet business. You can then get customers from all over the UK. Have a look at similar internet businesses to get an idea of how your website should look.

I would tend to agree with this. I have been involved in the exotic pets niche online previously and even online - its still a niche market. If you go local then it will be even harder to attract the customers, that's not to say it cant be done as you do seem to have some really good ideas that are just not possible online.

Personally though I would concentrate your efforts on gaining an online presence, once you have made that work and proven your model you can look to expand to offline and implement the other ideas you have. At the worst the online income will help to cover costs and it will also give you an immediate market you can tap in to and test ideas out on.

If you really want to go ahead with the offline one idea could be to find people already doing something similar - even if with completely different animals. For example most cities have an animal farm nearby open to the public (a zoo for farm yard animals). Perhaps by speaking to them you could come up with an agreement where they rent you some space to maintain your own reptile enclosure and run your business from there. Just an idea.

 

[krigger]

I am new to this forum. This discussion was very helpful.

No problem. Are you thinking of doing something along the same lines as me?

 

[Vectis]

Excuse my ignorance, but how does an internet shop for the sale of reptiles work? I can see that you might order online but how are the animals delivered? By mail? By courier? Can you really send, for instance, an iguana by post?

Sorry if there's an obvious answer but I'm just intrigued.

 

[krigger]

Excuse my ignorance, but how does an internet shop for the sale of reptiles work? I can see that you might order online but how are the animals delivered? By mail? By courier? Can you really send, for instance, an iguana by post?

Sorry if there's an obvious answer but I'm just intrigued.

Reptiles get couriered easily yes. Invertabrates can get delivered next day delivery by TNT, some shops also send reptiles via TNT, livefoods aswell

 

[P4D | Parcels4Delivery]

Reptiles get couriered easily yes. Invertabrates can get delivered next day delivery by TNT, some shops also send reptiles via TNT, livefoods aswell

Hi,

You cannot ship live animals, or in fact parts of dead ones, on any regular courier service, including TNT - they are prohibited: http://www.tnt.com/content/dam/tnt_...nload_documents/about_us/prohibited_items.pdf.

However, there are specialist animal transportation couriers and also, carriers like TNT may well arrange by specialist service to transport a live animal, but there would be absolutely nothing ordinary in this - it would not be carried out on a regular service and it would certainly not be cheap.

Nat

 

[Vectis]

Hi,

You cannot ship live animals, or in fact parts of dead ones, on any regular courier service, including TNT - they are prohibited: http://www.tnt.com/content/dam/tnt_...nload_documents/about_us/prohibited_items.pdf.

However, there are specialist animal transportation couriers and also, carriers like TNT may well arrange by specialist service to transport a live animal, but there would be absolutely nothing ordinary in this - it would not be carried out on a regular service and it would certainly not be cheap.

Nat

That's sort of what I assumed would be the case. Just found it a little odd when people were talking about selling animals as an online business. Couldn't see how they would get delivered, unless it was almost a personal delivery service - which would, I'd guess, be restrictive from a cost point of view.