I Need Feedback on my Business Idea.

They are both owned by Central Garden and Pet. Kind of hard to compete when there is a monopoly.


I agree with others that say shipping is going to be killer. I would look more toward making some demo stands and selling the Contract guys on using your stands in their builds for people.

 

I agree with what most everyone is saying. I'll throw in my current thoughts...

There are 2 kinds of reef keepers as possible target clients we can talk about. There are of course many different ones in between but let's talk about these 2.

- Client 1 - On a budget, want to have a reef tank as cheap as possible. This person will either go to Home Depot and buy raw material themselves and build it, not looking the best, but accomplish the cheap factor. They can also find someone (friend or family), who knows how to screw together some 2x4's and slap some laminate over it to get it done. Not the best results but it's more important there's water in the tank and something is holding it up. I assume this is not your target. But I'm willing to bet this is a large percentage of reefers out there.

- Client 2 - Have had reefing experience. Want to build somewhat of a "dream tank", would like really nice furniture grade stand and canopy. Has already done the "cheap" route and want something different and more permanent. This person can either go buy something like a Elo's tank from a dealer (reef store), or hire different kinds of builders to piece it together. (Sometimes it's wood, sometimes it's steel framed.) In the latter scenario, they will have the build (custom) exactly the way they want. Not quite DYI, but manage the project and make all the pieces designed to fit together.

I think your target client is #2. That being said, you can either be a competitor to Elos, or you can be a custom stand builder. I think it's hard to sell Elos type of tank to everyone, since majority of the reefers are DIY'ers or have a certain dimension, specs, and customization to fit exactly the right part of their home. This is especially so with the 100 gal or less crowd. 10 years in the hobby and I've seen very few Elos tanks in person. For most people involvement in how the tank goes up is important to them, so you will have to help them with their "build" project. Which leans on the "customization" part of the business.

I'd be curious to see where in this market you see yourself fitting in.

 

There are 2 other clients as well. Businesses that want something beautiful with no fuss and wealthy homeowners that want decoration.

 

Agree, although, if I am either, why am I not just going to have a local company build it and maintain it? I think around here, there are a few companies that just work with cabinet makers to make custom stands. If money were less of an issue, why would I want something pre-fab? I may, I guess, but you probbably need to explain why, as I don't know what i want ;D

 

There are several answers, but I'll offer just one (comprised of lots of little ones I guess ). Everyone's local cabinet maker will make a stand with a big open area you put stuff in. A stand should be a piece of equipment, designed to fit everything conveniently. It should hold controllers neatly, hide them out of view and make them available at a comfortable height when needed. It should have a place and manner for keeping your wires tidy. It should integrate the lights and light wires so we're not all looking at loose wiring hanging onto our tanks. It should allow access to sump, skimmer, socks, etc. without having to become a gymnast. The stand is the piece of equipment that should be designed to make the rest of the equipment work together properly. It isn't and I plan on changing that.

 

Make one that fits a 40 Breeder footprint and you'll corner the market. If your not a DIY'er then forget one for that tank.

 

IMO, both of those types will simply get whatever the service company that they are dealing with provides. Most service companies would never order a custom stand with all the bells and whistles as they are trying to get the most money for a product with the least amount of outlaying costs. For them it's about maximizing profits. And if that company is servicing the tank, it will have a canister filter because they are not going to be dealing with a sump, top-off, skimmer, ect...

 

My current tank is on that footprint. I like the size.

 

I like that size too. There is just not much out there prefab.

 

Wow, has been a while since I've posted on here (sorry guys, tank is still going slowly :) but I love design and this idea interests me.
I have no idea what your chances are of turning a profit from this is but as far as the tank concept goes I have some thoughts.

The first thing I thought of to help with shipping was to make the stands flatpacked as much as possible, as long as it doesnt require too much compromise on quality. You would expect the stand could be broken down into 6 panels tho.

In an attempt to cater for both kinds of buyers already mentioned, you could make the systems modular.
Possibly breaking down components into
-Basic stand (structural part and skin, to suit standard tank dimensions and your own custom ones if you want)
-Optional/interchangable internal stand components (dosing containers, ATO resevoir, controller dock, power management etc)
-Hoods to suit different light setups (perhaps a skin with adjustable rails or something that can adapt to suit most lighting)
-Tanks specifically suited to everything above (designed with vortech placement in mind, or maybe built in surge boxes to fit an assortment of pumps, an internal divider plate that slots in drilled to suit whichever pump the buyer requests)
-Complete system packages to suit wealthy impulse buyers

A hint of leather in the stands somewhere to add a touch of class?

Can I start drawing these up yet? haha