Reefs.org Forums

[reeferism]

Hello all. I have a question for you. I am in the process of setting up a wholesale facility for corals, rock and snails. I would like to offer an above standard service to wholesale livestaock to LFS and such. If you have a moment could you tell me what you would like to see from a wholesaler (ie: pictures of stock, holding of products, personalized service, pricing) and also what are some of the things that have turn you off of some of the wholesalers you have used now or in the past.


thanks for your time

[MickAv8r]

Ignorance or utter lack of regard for the animals and unsuitable species is the biggest problem.

Proper ID of the animals (at least getting to a genus on corals, and real species identification on fish).

If you are gonna be an AMDA member, MAC supporter etc I don't think I should be seeing Mandarinfish, Dendronepthia or goniopora on your availibility.


The current trend I've seen is that the companies with the slickest webpages and nice front office skills tend to have the crappiest animals possible, while the companies with office skills that make Enron look competant tend to have tolerable animal health. A middle road would be nice.

[reeferism]

Tom thanks for taking the time. On the livestock we will keep. We will carry about 5 different lines of live rock, a varity of snails and clean up critters and numerious hard/soft and SPS corals. I have been in the hobby for many years as a hobbiest and my whole concept of doing this project is to try to keep an eye on the quality of the livestock I pass on. Basically tring to clean up at least my small corner of the wholesale end. As per iding I remember all the problems assoc. with this aspect in regards to LFS. OUr plan was to photo or camera all the stock and have the purchaser pick the stock themselves.

I have a picker who will hand pick my orders and stay with it until shipping. I am hoping this eliminates any oddball box stuffers. So I will not carry any unsuitable species no matter what the demand.

This is why I also do not plan on keeping any fish...of any kind. I hav toured many collection sites and have dived on them to....and to tell you the truth I do not trust the collectors with their methods.

As per fancy storefront and head offices that is not in the plans, nor will it be. We will not have any websites and will do business with all LFS and others through out the country on a word of mouth and with all good graces a fine reputation.

thanks again

[JennM]

If you want to put pictures somewhere for a retailer to select specimens, won't you NEED a website?

IMO in this day and age, a business NEEDS a web presence, even if only to present an address and telephone number...

If you don't advertise somehow, you won't make it.

It's not about being flashy, it's about common sense.

Jenn

[reeferism]

And thank you Jenn for your reply. I hope the new venture is going well forr you. I dont want to have a website for selling retail but I do want to post pics for our clients that are not local. So a site for pix is definatly in order. We have been real busy getting all our ducks in a row with exporters from egypt to jakarta. I truely understand the frustration in dealing with these fine upstanding gentlemen.

A question would you pay an extra ..lets say .30 per pound on you delivery if you could have pictures and a garantee that what you ordered was all you were going to get.


thanks
mike

[flameangel]

Hi Mike,,
Not to start a flame here, but,
as 95% of a delivery is water, .30 cents for the picture is a bit much.

Also- if there were pictures of who/ what/how these animals are handled-
pictures of the animal as it was being put into the bags (not just when first collected)- might not be so bad.

[reeferism]

No worries about flames Judy. THis is the delima, for the LFS (or at least those with in a hundred miles or so) we will set up a delivery system as in the LFS will order with us we will bring stock in and allow them to come to our facility and pick out thier order. then take it to thier respective stores. THe problem is for those that are out of that zone and can not use the convenence of this approach. If I am going to offer the quality of product and allow them to see it (even if only by cameria or pic) I will need to bring it to my facility (I dont not want to have it drop ship and lose the quality contolr to my customers) the extra cost is for this shipping, I am willing to pay for some to, but to pay all will not make it viable. Currently we are grovaling to the airlines to have the point of entry come to us and not to LA, if we accomplish that then its problem solved.

I am trying to set up a wholesale operation that will try and take some of the problems that LFS have. The logistics are difficult to overcome as this biz is full of long seeded partnerships and rederic. I know that price is important and I think I have got past that. quality of product, I believe I have gotten passed that to, transprotation, although mystical at times I beleive it can be done also. the biggest problem is bringing it all together.

thanks for your reply

[SPC]

Posted by reeferism:
quality of product, I believe I have gotten passed that to,

-How so Mike?
Steve

[reeferism]

Hey Steve. We have hired a person to hand pick our stock at the collection station. It costs us a little more but he handles the picking of the product and supervises its delivery to to airport. Then when it comes to our location we take the time to acclimate the corals and such. We have designed our systems to give the inhabitants a little more than just an overnight puddle of water to stay in (ozonators, reactors and a ton of bio filtration). The corals stay in our shop for at least a week before being offer to our vendors.

Its probibly not everything we could do but it is all we can do and still be competitive.

[SPC]

Posted by reeferism:
We have hired a person to hand pick our stock at the collection station.

-Great idea Mike, this should help a great deal. I would sure like to hear what this person sees on a day to day basis, I'll bet it would be quite informative.
Steve

[JeremyR]

Being able to be reached via phone or email would be a good starting point as well. Some wholesalers are impossible to get ahold of via phone, and no matter how good your stock is it really annoys me if I can't talk to you directly at some point during regular business hours. Taking pictures of exact corals doesn't matter to me if the quality is there and your species ID is good. I don't really have time to handpick via photo 6 boxes of coral and .30 a pound for such a service isn't really worth it. You are also not going to have time to offer this service once the ball gets rolling, trust me on this one. Better to answer the phone than to spend 12 hours taking and uploading photos.

[MaryHM]

Gee Jeremy, I can't help but feel that the phone comment was directed toward me!!

Posted by reeferism:Currently we are grovaling to the airlines to have the point of entry come to us and not to LA, if we accomplish that then its problem solved.


The airlines won't be your main problem with point of entry. You have to be located at a designated fish & wildlife port of entry for live tropical fish in order to clear your shipments into the US.

[JeremyR]

Take it for what ya want mary.. but I was talking about more than one company :p

[reeferism]

Jeremy thank you for your input. I agree with you that good communications are one of the most important tools in any biz. The reason I put this thread out to you folks is to try to get a feel of the general LFS needs and desires, since LFS are going to be my main customer base. Because of the logistics I dont think we will be able to satisfy all the people all of the time. I personally have a couple of companies that are self-suffient and will not have to survive of this venture. I think this will allow me a little more breathing room. The Local LFS's are the ones that have pushed me towards doing this. I have been in the SW hobby at a hobbest level for almost 20 years and have been helping folks both online and off for a long time to. I know the arguements and agree with most in regards to sp. ID, bag stuffers, poor quality and such and I want to give it a try and see if I can turn these problems around. At least in my immediate world.


Mary I am aware of the designated fish & wildlife port of entry and I have been told that that is not the problem for us. It seems more to be in the way the shippers and forwarder make the money and at what point. but thanks again for your imput.