RIP to another LFS.. Thanks to PetSmart

[ToeKnee]

On of the oldest pet shops in Leesburg, VA is RIP.

Pet's Etc. will be closing their doors in the next few months.

After KMart closed their store in Leesburg, the building sat empty.
It is right next to the pet store.

PetSmart has seen how good PetCo has done in this little town, and has
decided to try and crush all the competition, PetCo, and the little
locals.

There are plenty of places they could have moved to, but they chose
the one next to Pet's Etc, a shopping center that has lost two major
stores in the last three years.

After being unable to find somewhere else that was affordable for a
small pet shop, Pet's Etc must close. Years of community service,
years of knowledge are going away.

Rest in peace, and in our memories, Pet's Etc. We will miss you!


--Tony

[Dan J.S.]

"ToeKnee" > wrote in message
...
> On of the oldest pet shops in Leesburg, VA is RIP.
>
> Pet's Etc. will be closing their doors in the next few months.
>
> After KMart closed their store in Leesburg, the building sat empty.
> It is right next to the pet store.
>
> PetSmart has seen how good PetCo has done in this little town, and has
> decided to try and crush all the competition, PetCo, and the little
> locals.
>
> There are plenty of places they could have moved to, but they chose
> the one next to Pet's Etc, a shopping center that has lost two major
> stores in the last three years.
>
> After being unable to find somewhere else that was affordable for a
> small pet shop, Pet's Etc must close. Years of community service,
> years of knowledge are going away.
>
> Rest in peace, and in our memories, Pet's Etc. We will miss you!
>
>
> --Tony

Part of the problem is that businesses do not know how to position
themselves against the giants. Why do you still see mom and pop restaurants
thriving with McDonald's next to them? Because the mom and pop shop can
offer things the big chains can't.

I can show you two cases, where a small pet shop is THRIVING next to a
PetCo. The reason? People are attracted to PetCo by their brand name, but
then visit the smaller shop if they can't find what they need. The managers
from the small mom and pop shop check what the petco has and has not and
carry that in the inventory ---

There are cases where its almost impossible to compete with a chain, like
Home Depot, or some big lumber place that gets huge discounts, but a pet
shop has so much product diversity, and add on value (like setting up or
caring of aquariums) that small shops thrive.

Here in Park Ridge, Illinois, there is a shop called Living Seas. They
charge 40% more than a petsmart 3 miles away, but yet their store is filled
with customers all the time, their net profit is much higher than local
PetSmart (on relative basis) , and they offer things that PetSmart could
never offer.

Also -- I believe stores like BigAlsonline.com will eat into profit margins
of merchandise of small mom and pop places, but like I said, services is the
whole new thing in the Aquarium industry. Someone just posted a story about
how people utilize services of smaller shops to build aquariums into the
homes, etc. This is the new future of small mom and pop places. Only way to
survive in business is to move quick and strategize.

[humBill]

"ToeKnee" > wrote in message
...
> On of the oldest pet shops in Leesburg, VA is RIP.
>
> Pet's Etc. will be closing their doors in the next few months.
>
> After KMart closed their store in Leesburg, the building sat empty.
> It is right next to the pet store.
>
> PetSmart has seen how good PetCo has done in this little town, and has
> decided to try and crush all the competition, PetCo, and the little
> locals.
>
> There are plenty of places they could have moved to, but they chose
> the one next to Pet's Etc, a shopping center that has lost two major
> stores in the last three years.
>
> After being unable to find somewhere else that was affordable for a
> small pet shop, Pet's Etc must close. Years of community service,
> years of knowledge are going away.
>
> Rest in peace, and in our memories, Pet's Etc. We will miss you!
>
>
> --Tony

Yes it is a shame. But unfortunately even in our hobby, the big fish eat
the little fish, unless they are smarter. A LFS opened during the last year
and is doing terrific. He thinks it is because he offers primarily more
uncommon fish and knowledgeable advice. Of course it is true he is two
miles down the hwy from PetSmart and he is only competing for the fish
dollars with a much lower overhead. Still it is sad.
Bill

[winddancir]

Rest in peace, and in our memories, Pet's Etc. We will miss you!


--Tony

Yes, I say it as well. Several years ago, my local (Best Pets) closed due to a large pet store moving in nearby (a couple blocks away).

May all the little stores still left have a long and prosperous friendship with their customers!

[Victor Martinez]

Larry Blanchard wrote:
> Yes, a good local store can thrive against competition. We've got both
> PetsMart and Petco within a mile or so of the pet store.

Absolutely! Besides, it's not PetSmart's fault. It's the people who
sacrifice service for cost.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Angrie.Woman]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
>

>
> Part of the problem is that businesses do not know how to position
> themselves against the giants.

We used to own a fresh seafood store. Our lease had a clause that prevented
the owners from renting any other store in the strip to a tenant that would
be in direct competition. And when we moved in, we had to agree not to sell
bagels in our store, because the bagel shop owner had the same clause in his
lease.

Business is business.

A

[Larry Blanchard]

In article >, says...
> I can show you two cases, where a small pet shop is THRIVING next to a
> PetCo. The reason? People are attracted to PetCo by their brand name, but
> then visit the smaller shop if they can't find what they need. The managers
> from the small mom and pop shop check what the petco has and has not and
> carry that in the inventory ---
>
I went to PetsMart the other day for an SAE. Not only didn't they have
one, the clerk had never heard of them. They do have another clerk who
is quite knowledgable (he also works in a LFS) but he wasn't there.

So I went to the local pet store. They had SAEs and Flying foxes and a
clerk who could discuss the differences. Not only that, he cut the
price from $2.99 to $1.99 without my asking because "you got a little
one".

Yes, a good local store can thrive against competition. We've got both
PetsMart and Petco within a mile or so of the pet store.

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[Andy Hill]

ToeKnee > wrote:
>On of the oldest pet shops in Leesburg, VA is RIP.
>Pet's Etc. will be closing their doors in the next few months.
>After KMart closed their store in Leesburg, the building sat empty.
>It is right next to the pet store.
>PetSmart has seen how good PetCo has done in this little town, and has
>decided to try and crush all the competition, PetCo, and the little
>locals.
>There are plenty of places they could have moved to, but they chose
>the one next to Pet's Etc, a shopping center that has lost two major
>stores in the last three years.
>After being unable to find somewhere else that was affordable for a
>small pet shop, Pet's Etc must close. Years of community service,
>years of knowledge are going away.
>Rest in peace, and in our memories, Pet's Etc. We will miss you!
>
Damn, how could Petsmart (or Petco) put a good LFS out of business -- they both
have some of the crappiest stock in town? Shoot, here in Boise (which is
quite a bit smaller than Leesburg), I can think of at least 3 fish stores that
have opened (and seem to be doing quite well) since Petco and Petsmart hit town.
Maybe the owners were just tired?

[Rick]

> >
> I went to PetsMart the other day for an SAE. Not only didn't they have
> one, the clerk had never heard of them. They do have another clerk who
> is quite knowledgable (he also works in a LFS) but he wasn't there.
>
> So I went to the local pet store. They had SAEs and Flying foxes and a
> clerk who could discuss the differences. Not only that, he cut the
> price from $2.99 to $1.99 without my asking because "you got a little
> one".
>
> Yes, a good local store can thrive against competition. We've got both
> PetsMart and Petco within a mile or so of the pet store.
>
> --
> Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description


yeah but where did you go first? If the large chain store had what you
wanted you would have bought it there and that is the reason the little Mom
and Pop stores can not survive. We are what we are and if we can save a
dollar at a large store we will to the detriment of those that have served
us well for many years.

Rick

[Gill Passman]

In the UK PetSmart is now Pets at Home. They offer a 7 day guarentee on the
fish that they supply. This has a great deal of appeal to some fish
owners.....but it has to be said, I have never purchased any fish from Pets
at Home/PetSmart. I prefer the personal service and good honest advice that
I get from my LFS. I can go there or phone them at anytime for advice
irrespective of whether I am making a purchase. They know me and are always
keen to help out and give advice. This is the whole point of service and is
what makes me go back. If I went to PetSmart I could not count on getting
the same people each time who know my set up and what fish I have...and may
I say it actually care.

It is not only our LFS that need to give good service but we need to
acknowledge and support them in this. I, for one, do not mind paying a
little over the odds to know that I get the level of service and support
that I do from my local store.

This is my first post so I'm sorry if I've "gone off on one" but......

Gill

[Larry Blanchard]

In article >,
says...
>
> yeah but where did you go first? If the large chain store had what you
> wanted you would have bought it there and that is the reason the little Mom
> and Pop stores can not survive. We are what we are and if we can save a
> dollar at a large store we will to the detriment of those that have served
> us well for many years.
>
You're right. I plead guilty, but with extenuating circumstances - I'm
a retiree on a budget. But if I hadn't known PetsMart had that one
employee who knew what he was doing, I wouldn't have gone there first.
I have already ruled out Petco for poor service and idiot clerks.

I don't mind paying a little premium either. But when an item is under
$10 at PetsMart and over $15 at the LFS, I can't justify that high of a
premium.

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[Kay]

>
> Damn, how could Petsmart (or Petco) put a good LFS out of business -- they both
> have some of the crappiest stock in town? Shoot, here in Boise (which is
> quite a bit smaller than Leesburg), I can think of at least 3 fish stores that
> have opened (and seem to be doing quite well) since Petco and Petsmart hit town.
> Maybe the owners were just tired?
>

Tell me about it! I live in Chicago SouthWest Side and all
Petsmart/Petco's fish die. Within a day or two. Even if your return the
dead fish the replacement dies. Its a waste of time. Workers don't have
a clue. No matter what I will only buy from a Mom and Pop store or from
private breeders. The Mom and Pops petstores thrive her also.

Kay

[Eric Schreiber]

Dan J.S. wrote:

> Here in Park Ridge, Illinois, there is a shop called Living Seas.
> They charge 40% more than a petsmart 3 miles away, but yet their
> store is filled with customers all the time

I bet they're all there to gape at the spiffy shark tank :)


--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

[Tom Randy]

On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:04:15 +0000, Kay wrote:

> Tell me about it! I live in Chicago SouthWest Side and all
> Petsmart/Petco's fish die. Within a day or two. Even if your return the
> dead fish the replacement dies. Its a waste of time. Workers don't have
> a clue. No matter what I will only buy from a Mom and Pop store or from
> private breeders. The Mom and Pops petstores thrive her also.
>
> Kay


The Petco near me isn't too bad. Clean tanks, healthy fish. I'm not
expecting fish experts at these places like most do I guess. PRices for
supplies are on the high side but it's nice to have a fish place near by
that is fairly well stocked if I need something quick. I shop at both LFS
and Petco. There is room for both, it's just how badly the LFS wants to
stay around. They have to work a bit harder but it can be worth it if they
tried harder.

[Dan J.S.]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Dan J.S. wrote:
>
>> Here in Park Ridge, Illinois, there is a shop called Living Seas.
>> They charge 40% more than a petsmart 3 miles away, but yet their
>> store is filled with customers all the time
>
> I bet they're all there to gape at the spiffy shark tank :)
>

Haha! Ya! But make/have enough $$ to keep expanding!!

[Kay]

Tom Randy wrote:
> On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:04:15 +0000, Kay wrote:
>
>
>>Tell me about it! I live in Chicago SouthWest Side and all
>>Petsmart/Petco's fish die. Within a day or two. Even if your return the
>>dead fish the replacement dies. Its a waste of time. Workers don't have
>>a clue. No matter what I will only buy from a Mom and Pop store or from
>>private breeders. The Mom and Pops petstores thrive her also.
>>
>>Kay
>
>
>
> The Petco near me isn't too bad. Clean tanks, healthy fish. I'm not
> expecting fish experts at these places like most do I guess. PRices for
> supplies are on the high side but it's nice to have a fish place near by
> that is fairly well stocked if I need something quick. I shop at both LFS
> and Petco. There is room for both, it's just how badly the LFS wants to
> stay around. They have to work a bit harder but it can be worth it if they
> tried harder.
>
>

True. At least where I live they have no trouble staying in business.
But I am lucky to have a shop that buys from local breeders. I also just
found out that an owner of a petstore when I was a child is still in
business in another location and doing very well. This place is great,
they take in tanks people trade in for or sell andresell them at a very
decent prices.

Kay

[Larry Blanchard]

In article >,
says...
> Tell me about it! I live in Chicago SouthWest Side and all
> Petsmart/Petco's fish die. Within a day or two. Even if your return the
> dead fish the replacement dies.
>
That's a shame. I've got 10 fish from the local PetsMart and they're
all healthy after a couple of months or more. Even though I didn't have
a quarantine tank at the time. Is PetsMart a franchise operation? That
would explain a lot.

And the knowledgeable clerk I mentioned in another post has gone so far
as to tell me not to buy something they carried when I could go to a
hardware/Walmart/home center and get the equivalent item a lot cheaper.

He even warned me that their plants probably had snails when I bought
some a couple of weeks ago. They did, and are just beginning to hatch.
But I may be lucky. Through a magnifying glass they look like they
might be trumpet snails.

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description