Is the recession over for aquaria?

[rayray]

Remember in 2006 when LFS large & small, online retailers were swimming in livestock?

I checked out some LFS yest and was happy to see...inventory! Nicer coral are back, & more expensive fish. Owners say sales are up, but everyone is cautious.

After 3 years of seeing my friends close their LFS doors, and struggling stores with empty tanks, are we returning to the good old days?

 

[JOSE CASAS]

I would say some are picking up but not fast enough. It is slowly better but will take a while for every to benefit from.

 

[El Dude]

I agree with Joe. Since this IS a hobby peoples first financial priorities are going to be catching up with bills, paying off credit cards, then maybe once consumers feel comfortable THEN the hobby might see the results of the economic recovery. I certainly believe these current gas prices are going to shake consumer confidence. We will see...any thoughts?

 

[rayray]

one indicator is the sale of new fish tanks. I hear from everyone that it is up & up every month.

also, the liquidation of fully stocked tanks on craigslist seems to have at least leveled off.

gas prices @$120/bl may plunge us back into recession. But im sure the fed will open up reserves before that happens.

 

[dwolson2]

I think with the technology behind the tanks being better and making this "less" of a risk tied with everyone wanting "Nemo" its going to start picking up again.

 

[Laker]

Like any business, the stores that are clean, customer-oriented, friendly, and have better selection will inevitably earn more customer flow and referrals. Whether that translates to sales and meeting the bottom line, probably so, albeit slowly. I think that things are picking up compared to two years ago, when all the banks were going under.

 

[DesignerAquatics]

As a guy in the biz, I can tell you that the last three years were tough. Now 'adays people are super price conscious and only seem to go for super customer service. If you can't answer peoples questions, solve their problems, and out compete the .com's, your gonna close up shop fast.

The only way we stay working is because of our service customers with big budgets. However, these are few and far between.

 

[JOSE CASAS]

Yes I think the lfs that are pulling through also service and maintain aquariums.

 

[happaman]

I think the gas prices are going to hit the industry a little harder--fuel for planes, delivery trucks etc. anything flown in to the States is going up in price. But, maybe that will spur aquaculture, who knows. Problem with opening the reserves is it's only 2 months worth, meant for a real crisis and there's no oil crisis. No real shortage (Saudi's are pumping more) just the "fear" and of course greed.

 

[zigginit]

oil is all greed..... pisses me off big time that they just jack the price up when ever they hell they fell like it. they have us by the balls and they know it! its economical terrorism. think about it, they can cause our whole economy to just crash nearly over night if they wanted to. and sometimes i think they flex their power a little just to remind us who is holding who's balls.