A question for pet shops...

[Onissarle]

I see a lot of posts on this forum, complaining about pet shop standards and service. It seems a lot of people are very quick to condemn a pet shop that doesn't get everything right all the time, or has trouble keeping staff that are worth having. I have to admit, I'm amongst the sort of people that go into some shops and think about how much better I'd do things if I was running it. I've got plenty of experience at various levels of retail from stacking shelves to administrating from chain head offices and currently work in IT, supporting about 1600 retail sites. So I understand all the practicalities of running a retail business well enough. However, I've got no clue when it comes to the exotic pets industry. Like many, I've idly dreamed about what it would be like to have your own exotic pet shop. Somehow, I doubt the reality lives up to the romantic dream.

So I have a few questions for the pet shop owners that frequent this forum...

What is it really like to own a petshop or exotic pet based business?
How difficult and expensive was it for you to get started?
What trials and tribulations have you faced along the way?
How hard is it to get and keep good staff?
Is it a passion for you, or just a business?

I'd love to know more about what specialist pet shops go through behind the scenes if
anyone's willing to share.

[Ally]

Hiya.
I don't count as a shop 'owner' really, as I Manage it for someone else. I do know what it's like to be there though, so hope I can help!

What is it really like to own a petshop or exotic pet based business?
Great fun, every day is differant and you learn so much. On the other hand it is awful - you have to try to explain care of reptiles to people 'that know better' because they've been doing it like that for years, you have to deal with people that want a reptile but don't want to spend the money on the right equipment, you get brought in reptiles by people that 'think' something may be wrong - when it is at deaths door and should have been at a vet months ago... It can be heartbreaking.

How difficult and expensive was it for you to get started?
Harder and more expensive than imagined! From licenses to waste disposal, tax, VAT, suppliers, orders, solicitors...
If you don't have money yourself, don't expect the Bank to lend you any more.

What trials and tribulations have you faced along the way?
As I haven't done the setting up myself I can't really answer that one!

How hard is it to get and keep good staff?
Very... It is not a business that makes a huge amount of money, so minimum wage is often what is paid. For that you get someone still living at home (you can't afford rent on min wage), someone who doesn't mind the low pay. If they stay long enough, they learn - if not, you have to start again. Often they just want to play/work with reptiles and aren't prepared for the cleaning and customers...

Is it a passion for you, or just a business?
For the people I run the shop for - it's a business, for me it's a passion (it's not for the pay that's for sure!)