Starting up a pet shop business?

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kajabe

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Hi,

I'm currently a 2nd year Bioveterinary Science student and I hope to, once qualified, open up an animal supplies shop.
It would be in a large (warehouse style) building to allow me to stock a wide range of items, and this would also mean that there would be parking outside for customers. It wouldn't sell pets, but would sell food/accessories/toys/beds/hutches for companion animals, feed/rugs/equipment/treats/bedding for horses, as well as livestock feed and some farm items. I'm also hoping to complete my AMTRA R-SQP qualifications (suitably qualified person) which will allow me to sell farm, equine and companion animal wormers to the general public. Having spent my gap year working with the public, and children, I'd also like to run childrens classes/activities in the holiday/half term periods to increase their knowledge on animal welfare etc in the hope that they can grow up with a respect for animals (not that they wouldn't have otherwise!)

Having my degree in bioveterinary science, it will also help me offer out advice on nutrition/wormers/health and well being etc.

Does anyone have any experience on running/owning an animal supplies store? I know there is obviously a large start up cost etc and the work is tiring, but i'm fully prepared to be committed - I also have 2 more years left of uni then would probably work in a pet shop style environment for a year to gain more experience!

Thank you!
 
kajabe said:
Hi,

I'm currently a 2nd year Bioveterinary Science student and I hope to, once qualified, open up an animal supplies shop.
It would be in a large (warehouse style) building to allow me to stock a wide range of items, and this would also mean that there would be parking outside for customers. It wouldn't sell pets, but would sell food/accessories/toys/beds/hutches for companion animals, feed/rugs/equipment/treats/bedding for horses, as well as livestock feed and some farm items. I'm also hoping to complete my AMTRA R-SQP qualifications (suitably qualified person) which will allow me to sell farm, equine and companion animal wormers to the general public. Having spent my gap year working with the public, and children, I'd also like to run childrens classes/activities in the holiday/half term periods to increase their knowledge on animal welfare etc in the hope that they can grow up with a respect for animals (not that they wouldn't have otherwise!)

Having my degree in bioveterinary science, it will also help me offer out advice on nutrition/wormers/health and well being etc.

Does anyone have any experience on running/owning an animal supplies store? I know there is obviously a large start up cost etc and the work is tiring, but i'm fully prepared to be committed - I also have 2 more years left of uni then would probably work in a pet shop style environment for a year to gain more experience!

Thank you!
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Given there's many many online shops who have low overhead costs that do the same thing, you'll likely struggle to set up a large warehouse type store as an independent business. The only big pet shops in England that i've seen are Pets at Home and that's a chain, as opposed to independent.
 
I would personally find out all about your competition, i.e what companies are already providing this service in the area that you wish to open your business. The nationwide companies that already do this are the likes of Countrywide, Mole Valley etc.

I would personally have a look at what they offer and then maybe look for a niche that hasn't been filled as you must understand that as they are huge companies then they will have buying power. They will be buying in such huge quantities that they are often able to keep their costs lower than smaller businesses so might be able out price you. The smaller businesses in our areas that have been a success have fencing, a farm shop, petting zoo as some of their specialties.

Good luck with it all! :)
 
running a large pet shop is a massive thing to set up and pay for stock etc. and you see so many closing down as they can't compete against the online stores now. You have a very valuable set of skills which could be put to better use. Most people (myself included) aren't 100% confident with wormers, nutrition etc. What about setting up a website and doing local ads offering your services. You could do worm counts and then work out worming schedules etc for clients. That way you'd build up a client base and get repeat business and word of mouth recommendations etc. I am always amazed there isn't a holistic type person who can come out and advise on nutrition, worming etc. Most of the nutrition advice you get is from feed companies who obviously have their own agenda to push their products. I would love an unbiased person to be able to come out, look at my horses and work out cheapest and best feed plans.
 
FlyingCircus said:
Given there's many many online shops who have low overhead costs that do the same thing, you'll likely struggle to set up a large warehouse type store as an independent business. The only big pet shops in England that i've seen are Pets at Home and that's a chain, as opposed to independent.
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Not so sure about this. We have a wonderful local warehouse-style independent animal feed store locally that covers all the bases mentioned in the OPs post aside from the animal care courses. They have been trading for over thirty years and are beyond helpful.

I believe there are several reasons for their success:

Customer service is excellent. Bags of feed are loaded into your vehicle in their car park

Anything out of stock or not normally carried by them is ordered within days

There is never a 'problem' if you need to return something it is refunded or replaced immediately and cheerfully

Prices are very competitive plus they run special offers

Unfailingly chatty and friendly and knowledgeable

Huge range of stock, including all the specialist dog/cat foods etc.

Sometimes its far nicer to deal with real people rather than internet, plus the delivery cost of larger items on a regular basis puts them out of reach of many on a budget.

And I know of another store with similar values just 20 miles from this one.

Giving a shameless plug now for Tenterden Animal Feeds at Leigh Green, Tenterden, Kent!!
 
I think it may be hard to compete with online shops for prices of rugs and such.

If I was you I would stay away from the big brands that countrywide stock and go for the new natural types of feeds as lots of people are cutting out the sugar overly processed stuff now so things like .. thunderbrook, simple systems, honeychop and herbal supplements are popular as well as barrier natural products but not always readily available.. I have to go miles to get micronised linseed or order it online where the price increases considerably with postage!

Bedding is always popular, people will generally buy whatever is the lowest cost :)

Perhaps for the petshop part you could find a local carpenter who will make hutches and things like that in a different range of budgets? Maybe sell wooden poles/ jump wings/ mounting blocks/ tack cabinets etc.

A local tackshop to me closed down, it sold overpriced rhinegold rugs and shires leather products.. I don't mind buying quality things for a big price, or low end things for cheap - but don't try and mark up on low end products like they did because people won't bite! Perhaps you could set up a second hand tack/ equipment section.. that way there is always variety and bargains to be had and keeps people coming back!
 
Ladyinred said:
Not so sure about this. We have a wonderful local warehouse-style independent animal feed store locally that covers all the bases mentioned in the OPs post aside from the animal care courses. They have been trading for over thirty years and are beyond helpful.
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It's brilliant that local suppliers like that exist. If they are in business that long though, the chances are they own the building they trade from. in which case they won't have the high rent a new business starting up will have for a large unit.
 
It seems a waste of a biovet degree to me :p. and certainly hard to make work in this day and age when pretty much everything is cheaper online.
 
I've owned a small pet shop in a market town now for 14 years, it's been a pet shop for around 35 years. I make an OK living from it just for me, I don't have any staff (apart from my dog 😉) I would struggle to pay anyone else except for odd days. The profit margin isn't great, on large bags of non speciality foods it's next to nothing. I am also an SQP, I probably lose money by the time I've payed AMTRA and the VMD and done CPD. The profit margin on licensed products isn't very good and most internet pet companies sell them for less than I can buy them for.
You would need a lot of stock to get started, I've got around 17k of stock and you would laugh at the size of my shop.
Sorry I sound a bit negative, on the whole, I really enjoy it, although it's very tiring and all consuming. I have some great regular customers, many whom I regard as friends, and I get to see loads of puppies 😀
 
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