[Killietalk] Killies at LFS's

["Koran, David HQ02" <David_Koran at hq02.usace.army.mil>]

Killies should normally sell themselves but it is always advisable to provide
tips to the shop on interim care so they continue to display properly.  I
gave up trying long ago when (my only time successful with the fish) I had a
good hatch of Blue gularis and bagged up 5 pairs individually and took them
to an area shop which impressed me with their selection of fish.  I asked
only to be reimbursed if they sold anything but they had assured me the fish
wouldn't sell and killies in general didn't sell.  They floated the bags
while I browsed around the store but by the time I was ready to leave they
had already sold 3 of the pairs without even releasing them from the bags.  I
left my name and phone number and don't remember if I ever got anything
before leaving the store but I never came back and they never called even
though they got 100% profit on the fish.

I tend to believe when you place killies at the LFS you are basically doing
missionary work.  Don't expect business and be thankful for anything good
that comes of it.  For most fish, your LFS can probably only continue to
exist as long as it focuses on the general hobby.  When you specialize you
serve a niche market and unless you have an extremely large pool of customers
you would spend your resources chasing a limited number of suppliers.  Again,
my feelings are that working arrangements between clubs and shops are best
fashioned on the general level and are non-(business) threatening.  I agreed
whole-heartedly with Bob Goldstein when he suggested at our discussion
session at the Convention that our best hope for recruiting killie people is
through the local aquarium societies, people who are already predisposed to
keeping fish and looking for the next challenge.

I don't want to imply you are throwing away fish if you take them to your
local LFS buy don't require reimbursement, let them suggest payment.  Instill
curiosity and offer suggestions but they are advertising an item that may
divert business to your club.  You want people to see killies and get curious
about them.  If the LFS offers the killies at outrageous prices, accept it.
It might add to the aura but I don't think it will stop the curiosity and you
will just need to have the fish show up in other venues before the truly
interested will seek you and your club out.  Heck, when they find you are
basically giving 'em away at club auctions for a few bucks, why pay double
digit prices at the LFS?

Dave Koran

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