Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My fiance and I have decided that we will open a reptile store together in the future. Right now we are trying to figure out as much as we can and get as much advice as possible, so we can write up our business plan. We plan to not carry any venomous reptiles, Is this a good idea? Also, What extotic reptiles (not as common, yet still suitable for a customer to own) would be good? Please leave any feedback about the reptile and business points.

I think you will discover that opening a store front would be a huge mistake. Everything a reptile enthusiast would want is available on the internet for less than you will be able to offer it for.
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old

Plus all the anti-reptile laws being passed, health permits, etc. you would be better off opening a fast food establishment. People still gotta eat. Pre-packaged & frozen way to go. Low overhead and location matter more.

Mike

I have to disagree, respectfully.

I have no reptile stores near me. If I did, I'd probably be there all the time. It would be awesome to me to have such a place to buy what I need and even things I don't need so I don't have to bother with internet sales and shipping and all that.

I drive an hour to go to reptile shows. There are several monthly shows in my area but each one is at least an hour drive if not more. Some times I go with specific things in mind that I want to buy. Sometimes I just go for fun, just to see what all is there.

A really cool reptile store would make me feel like a "kid in a candy store".

You really should look at your demographics before doing this... An all reptile store can only make it in a very large metropolitan area...you have to have a huge client base to pay the bills... For the most part this is an online business... Seems silly to waste a bunch of money paying for a storefront when you can get more sales online......

Very few reptile only stores actually make it... and the ones that do generally have a large online customer base...

Seems like a huge risk given the current regulatory climate.. Not to mention most reptile enthusiasts would rather go online and order their animals than pay a middleman to buy their animals..
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Marc Duhon
Lafayette, Louisiana
SURINAMBOAS.COM
kaiyudsai@SURINAMBOAS.COM

Ok...Late getting in on this conversation. Instead of being a middleman, what about being a breeder who retails online and has a storefront? Could also carry the supplys needed for husbandry and such for either retail outlet. That idea seems to work better in my head than anything else. It was an idea that my wife and I had kicked around a bit about doing up here in Shreveport. There are three indy pet stores and a handful of the national chains there. They are broad based and work pretty well. I think a reptile only store would go over well in that area, and it has grown tremendously in the last few years. The population is larger, the town is larger, and the economy does not seem to be effecting the area much. But herpers are somewhat of a quiet group, so actual sales are hard to estimate potential on. Any thoughts?
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1.0 red phase western hognose
1.0 100% het albino columbian
1.0 pastel columbian
0.1 dub het sunglow
0.1 hypo columbian
0.1 guyana
1.2 jcp
1.0 irian jaya
1.2 normal balls
1.0 spider ball
0.1 pastel ball
1.0 granite al burm
0.1 granite het al burm
0.1 albino burm
1.0 sunfire retic
0.2 tiger retics
0.0.1 sulcata tortoise
1.0 potbelly pig (Oscar)
1.0 pug (Frank)
1.1 pit bull terriers (Marlboro & Coco)
1.0 house cat (Kitty)
0.1 wife who puts up with me