What supplies/animals would you want more of in a store?

[Akuma223]

I just started working at the pet section of countrymax and was wondering what products or animals you would want stocked at a pet store. I'm just trying to think of stuff we could add that wouldn't normally come to mind, especially with reptiles and birds. Abstract things that are important towards certain animal care or just things you don't see enough of that do sell well.

[EL Ziggy]

The most important item for keeping reptiles that I find missing in most pet stores is thermostats. That should be the first piece of equipment recommended to any customer buying a reptile IMO.

[reptiledude987]

I agree with zig on the t-stats for sure. something else Ive noticed is the stores in my areaa dont carry useful hooks at all or long hemostats. they have this super light duty telescoping hook. The only way I can get a useful one is from the expo an hour away. They also dont carry the mist king and accessories. by far the best misting system on the market. IMO the exo terra monsoon isnt worth the money at all.

[ManSlaughter33]

thermostats, no sand even available or even to look at lol and proper care.

[Aaron_S]

Problem with trying to exclude product is that stores have to carry certain ones due to the manufacturer. Like for example if you want Zoo Med you need a light rack with all the bulbs on it. I'm not sure on what they demand for stock levels but some times product needs to be on the shelf. So my advice is to have proper knowledge of product and help customers sort through all the options.

Also, do up care sheets. Simple, 1 or 2 pages could be enough that are designed by the store. So you can also recommend product from the store. Like a grocery list for popular species.

[prairiepanda]

I agree with thermostats, more useful hooks, and longer hemostats/tongs. I haven't ever seen a thermostat in a pet sore at all, and as others have mentioned pet store hooks and tongs are often not very useful. Also, those generic black snake hides that are so popular; they're great because they come in so many sizes to accommodate different animals. I've never seen those in pet stores. Instead, all they have are the really expensive naturalistic caves which are often only big enough for babies.

Care sheets are a great idea too, but I'd prefer if they aren't from product vendors. A lot of pet stores offer care sheets, but they usually consist of "buy every single thing this brand manufactures and you'll be a pro pet parent!"

As for animals, I like to see regular stock that consists only of easy beginner species; corn snakes, crested geckos, etc. More advanced species should be available for special order by individuals who know exactly what they're looking for, rather than putting them on display to sell to anyone who thinks they're pretty.

[trailblazer295]

Ditch the analog temp/hyrometer and have digital ones.

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by ManSlaughter33

thermostats, no sand even available or even to look at lol and proper care.

No calcisand or crushed walnut, play sand is perfectly fine if all the proper temps and humidity levels are met

[ManSlaughter33]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

No calcisand or crushed walnut, play sand is perfectly fine if all the proper temps and humidity levels are met

this is what i meant :P they don't even sell playsand where I live so I forget it exits

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

The most important item for keeping reptiles that I find missing in most pet stores is thermostats. That should be the first piece of equipment recommended to any customer buying a reptile IMO.

I'll write down t-stats on my list

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Problem with trying to exclude product is that stores have to carry certain ones due to the manufacturer. Like for example if you want Zoo Med you need a light rack with all the bulbs on it. I'm not sure on what they demand for stock levels but some times product needs to be on the shelf. So my advice is to have proper knowledge of product and help customers sort through all the options.

Also, do up care sheets. Simple, 1 or 2 pages could be enough that are designed by the store. So you can also recommend product from the store. Like a grocery list for popular species.

Yup, I don't yet know what vendors or whatever we buy from and what we can get is dependent on that. Ima already ahead of you on the care sheets lol. I was writing one up on a scrap of paper when they had a baby sav a over a month ago before I worked there. After that the pet area guy (aka the bearded man) said he really wants me hired back there as soon as possible. He's been subtly trying to help me be hired since then and I just got the job finally last Friday.

I am absolutely OCD when it comes to proper care and will work the cages over a lot I bet. The bearded man says he wanted me because I was good with reptiles etc whereas he's the fish guy. I'll either be writing up my own care sheets for each species, or finding the best ones online to print out.

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Ditch the analog temp/hyrometer and have digital ones.

Will write those down on the list, maybe see if we can get temp guns you think?

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

No calcisand or crushed walnut, play sand is perfectly fine if all the proper temps and humidity levels are met

Yup, ima try and avoid that crap best I can. If we can avoid stocking it I will, otherwise I'll warn against it like I've done with other things already.

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by prairiepanda

I agree with thermostats, more useful hooks, and longer hemostats/tongs. I haven't ever seen a thermostat in a pet sore at all, and as others have mentioned pet store hooks and tongs are often not very useful. Also, those generic black snake hides that are so popular; they're great because they come in so many sizes to accommodate different animals. I've never seen those in pet stores. Instead, all they have are the really expensive naturalistic caves which are often only big enough for babies.

Care sheets are a great idea too, but I'd prefer if they aren't from product vendors. A lot of pet stores offer care sheets, but they usually consist of "buy every single thing this brand manufactures and you'll be a pro pet parent!"

As for animals, I like to see regular stock that consists only of easy beginner species; corn snakes, crested geckos, etc. More advanced species should be available for special order by individuals who know exactly what they're looking for, rather than putting them on display to sell to anyone who thinks they're pretty.

Great point about the simple black hides I'll look into that, longer tongs and the hemostats a good idea as well.

I was thinking the same for the animals. That seems to be what we do already, normal things ordered like royals, corns, leos, and beardies. The bearded man is really good about doing things right and trying not to sell animals to morons.

Do you have any suggestions on more abstract reptiles that are easy to care for? Something that would catch a customers eye more than a royal or corn? I've noticed with a few customers (as well as myself!) that just having the above mentioned species is boring. This includes any reptile, amphib, invert, etc you can think of.

[Minkness]

Sorry if I repeat anything someone else said, I'm a bit on the sleepy side and only read a little bit. But, here are my recommendations.

Pangea gecko products (food powder mostly)
Appropriate sized feeding cups
Roaches (dubia preferred, but most others will be good too)
Sanichips
Cypress mulch (my store doesn't carry it, and it is almost impossible to find a pure cypress bag wothout unknown mixed wood as well)

As for what kind of critters to sell that are beginners but 'different', that is a bit tough because the stores around me carry a pretty good mix of stuff. So, perhaps instead of different types, maybe you could go for specific colors. Instead of just normal royals or corns, get some morphs in there too.

However, for the more interested/dedicated owner, perhaps a catalog that has different things in it along woth care requirements to let people know what else is out there beyond the norm, but also see, right up front, what their needs are. Then (as someone else memtioned) they can choose to order them fron the store. I personallybwould ask for half of the cost upfront, then half upon receipt. If the customer doesn't pick up in a specified time frame (say, 30 days) then the ordered animal can go on display with a sticker that states only those with previous experience can purchase. And if course the partial upfront payment should be non-refundable.