What Brands do you guys think a LFS should always have?

bigmoose52 · Jul 26, 2022

What brands do you think every LFS should carry? Atleast when it comes to drygoods/equipment/etc. I know a lot is preference but brands most can agree is the best options that a LFS could offer. Also any products you wish your LFS carried?

There may be a business opportunity coming up in the near future and I was trying to get an idea of what majority of people are looking for. There’s plenty I wish my LFS carried.

Waters · Jul 27, 2022

I personally wish they carried all brands of everything

bigmoose52 · Jul 27, 2022

Waters said:
I personally wish they carried all brands of everything

I wish it could be that easy, normally they don’t because of contracts. These big brands are babies when you become a vendor.

Waters · Jul 28, 2022

bigmoose52 said:
I wish it could be that easy, normally they don’t because of contracts. These big brands are babies when you become a vendor.

Yeah.....they often get locked into carrying one or two major brands (Apex equipment comes to mind), but that isn't always the case. It is going to be tough to answer your original question though.......I want them to carry the stuff that I currently use, which I think is going to be the case for everyone. You are probably safe with the big names (again, like Apex) but that will probably lock you into those same contracts?

biecacka · Jul 31, 2022

Instant ocean salt.

corey

Opus · Aug 1, 2022

Depends on what kind of LFS. Is it salt only or salt and fresh. My closet LFS doesn't have a lot just because it takes away a lot of room needed for fish/coral tanks.
One of the biggest issues with a lot of the stores in the DFW area is that they are small so they only have a couple of tanks available for sale or to look at. Really makes it hard to choose a tank when you can't even see it in person.

WheatToast · Aug 3, 2022

The Literal Ocean

…
In all seriousness, for dry goods, Aqueon tanks have always worked wonderfully for me (though the only tanks I have ever purchased were Aqueon or Marineland tanks, I think), and their vast selection of freshwater products isn’t half bad either.