its always been a dream of mine to open a petshop(not selling any animals) never done anything like this always been a stay at home mum while hubby worked there is a empty shop near me and for some reason i feel i need to give it ago ,i have a meeting with the bank next week, could you tell me the feed you all use and what sort of stuff you would like to see stocked in a pet shop ,any help gratefuly recieved like i said never done anything like this last job was cleaning ,do you think am mad

I always wanted to do this,again like you with no animals,and a pet shop near me came up so I enquired.It was 100pound per week rent and then of course the outlay of stockng it.The lady who owned it obviously said it was a good prospect and the previous people had made a good livng etc with it as a pet-shop and let slip the name of the people.
Well I managed to get the tel.no and they told me to steer clear and they couldnt make a go of it hence it was up for let.
Disappointed I stayed away,though it is now running as a pet shop,but sells alot of animals especially parrots etc which I presume is a main source of the income.Obviously if you are selling animals you would have to be there near enough 24/7.
Just a little bit of info I can offer,but obviously this may not apply to you as the location/rent could be a totally different scenario to my experience.If you do decide to do it I sincerely wish you the best of luck.
There is a fantastic pet-shop near me and when I go in the lady is always busy packaging internet purchases up to send to people.That side of it seems really busy and I think that definately is the way to go to generate business.

thanks the only problem is the rent is 1000 a month and the tax is 600 a month but its in a really good location no pet shop for about 25 miles we was going to do deliversand internet  am just worried cos i have never done anything like this ,my kids are getting older and i just thinking should i just go for it ,but its a huge risk but dont what to be always wondering what if

brilliant!!!!! you GO  4 IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D
my local pet shops never stock any decent collars/leads so i wait to get them at shows

I say go for it - as long as its viable and you have the money to support it go for it. Depending on what you want to sell why not check out other local shops to see what they stock or alternativley go for something completley different. Do lots of research, find as much info as you can on pet sales and what is/isnt selling, what the trends are etc and start on that. You dont need to have loads of stock for the start, just as long as it looks 'full'

and for Michelled, have you considered buying online? Nicer more individual accessories are more available on the internet, my own online store stocks such items that you would never find in a store. I dont like to advertise on here so if you are interested you could mail me for the address.

Rox

Thats a lot of money.

You need to also consider the terms and length of the lease - if it goes bust you will still be liable for the rent and the tax.

Thats £19200 a year you have to clear out of your profits before you can even pay yourself.

That means your turn over would need to be in the region of £30-£40K minimum in order to take a salary - then you have to consider the following:

1. Tax
2. VAT - registration
3. Accountancy
4. Liability - Public - compulsary - becoming very difficult to get.
5. Working hours - you would need to employ someone unless you wanted to do every day yourself, in which case you would need Employer Liability Insurance
6. Finance costs - they have to be paid back before a salary can be taken

You need to consider the potential profit margins - can't be more than 20%?

You need to consider any planning permissions for change of business/change of usage you might need.

Alarm Systems

Delivery - need a van and insurance - if you use your own car you need business insurance.

HTH - if you can come up with answers to all this then go for it, but I have to say that in these types of business owners can too easily become slaves to their shops.

Go for it BUT no good asking people on here what they want you to stock, for most of us it is too far proberly, Carry out from feild research in your local area, see what people want, what pets are popular (I'f no-one owns a parot, don't sell things for parotts!) A good thing to think about is also opening time, no-matter what we say, people work 9-5, if your open 9-5 when can they buy pet food?

A good little money spinner is a notic board (puppies, kitten etc for sale, charge a small price (I'm talking small) just for abit of extra money in the bank!

Good luck, hope it all works out

thanks for advise wasnt asking what you bought cos i wanted you to buy from me ,just asking cos i wanted to see if the same brands kept coming up thanks for all your help bobsmum

I used to manage an independent pet shop and to be honest you wont make a lot of money on food, because as a rule you will have to sell it at the RRP and if you dont have to then you can guarantee places like pets @ home and Scats will under cut you because they buy in bulk and can afford to sell for less, although of course if the price is right food will get the customers in, you just have to think of the space it takes up and could it be taken up with something more profitable.  We found the things we made money on were accessories such as toys, brushes, collars and leads (generally 150% mark up) the shop in which I worked has now branched out into clothing and horsey stuff because the horse shop next door closed down and left a niche in the market.  Definitely go for the website idea and the free delivery (people generally buy more if they know it is going to be delivered ;) ) also go for individual accessories that not many other shops stock for instance contact a small business which makes collars and leads then sells them on the net to see what sort of deal you could get with a bulk buy at trade to sell in the shop.

Best of luck to you, I hope it all works out (and im jealous :( :) )

I'd say go for the online version, you can reach a large array of customers and carry quality stock, it's what I wanted to do for a long, long time until I realised i'm not financially minded enough to live off self employment :D Test out as much of the stock as possible on your own animals, I just think it adds something when all the stock is tested by the shop owner, even if it is online.

Of course I have no idea having only worked in a shop whose income came from selling parrots (£2500 per bird and he sold at least one a day), there are tons round here which sell purely food and supplies but most are specialist pigeon/equine. Gah, rambling, ignore me :)

thank for the great advice thats whats worring me am not financially minded and the thought of being self employed does scare me ,i dont know if am just getting carried away with my dreams  but i search everywhere for dog items for my dog and ended up buying in from abroad am going to see what the bank says i may just try a website first but i would love a shop  but i would also love to win the lottery   lol i think my nerve is beging to go

go with your dreams :)

A shop and a website would be a fab idea, because in the shop you get to meet like minded people who will also give you plenty of ideas on what they would like you to stock and the website will be an extra top up ;)

I would like to have a shop that delivers, and that orders stuff in that i use. I find currently that i have to get the meat in a different place to the dried food.really inconvenient

Holistic, organic,  meat packs etc are all big business now so keep that in mind.

There are quite a few decent organic biscuit mixes etc sold down south so worth looking at this.

You just have to look at the big dog food manufacturers who are now trying to capture the more natural way to see the way a lot of the country is going.    

thanks you are coming up with some great ideas,i even dream about dog collars at moment i will be glad when ive been bank and seen if i can go ahead ,fantastic idea about organic will look in that  bobsmum

Be aware that some companies will insist on you buying a minimum amount of stock, this can be very difficult if you don't have the money, storage space (stock in storage is costing you money, for the stock and the storage ;) )  and can't sell it fast enough.  My local small pet supply shop specialises in the brands you can't usually get in supermarkets and pet@home/similar.  They are now having difficulties with supplying Autarky as the price has risen dramatically and their supplier is now insisting they put in a minimum order - which the shop can't do for money/storage reasons.  This hits them very hard as the customers who are willing to travel will simply buy elswhere, and others will just go to the supermarkets.  They don't just lose dog food sales tho as these customer often buy other things too - which they then buy elsewhere.  They are working on the problem, but are having to be creative ;)

Don't let this put you off, if you plan for problems you're half way to licking them :D

Have you got a business plan?  There are some good sites to help you online ;) 

Depending on your age, sex, job status etc etc. you may be able to get help starting up (advice, help, grants etc.) and its definately worth exploring.

GOOD LUCK - its always worth following your dream :D :D

A petshop opened next door to the vets in our village (10,000 people). It closed within 6 months. People buy from tescos and asda when they do their weekly shopping. Those who buy in bulk purchase direct from the manufacturer.

The only pet shop that does well here is one in an industrial estate in the local town and sells dog food very cheap and frozen tripe. We've stopped going there since he started charing 12quid a box of ND - we can get it £9 direct, but we still buy the tripe.

I don't want to pour cold water on your dream, but times are tough and cynical market research is essential.

what space do you have in the shop? I am thinking diversification here, you could, if you had the space do some lectures, classes etc.

thanks everyone ive certainley got lots to think about ,i will let you all know in the next few weeks if i go ahead with things ,but you have gave me lots of idea,s and lots of sound advice i need to think about thanks bobsmum

thanks chole h you have gave me lots i need to think about i need to do alot more looking in this thanks bobsmum

Hi Bobsmum

Know someone in Hyde that may be able to help you regarding your fears on the financial side.  R U coming to the training club next week?  If so we can have a bit of a natter then!

As someone said we don't get to see good quality leads and the ones that the petshops in Stockport sell are really expensive and cheaper at the dog shows themselves.   They seem to like to well and truly rip off the general public.

Hope to see you soon.

Diane

thanks i will try to make it can you let me have details what day its on hope to see you there bobsmum