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Recent Articles from Karen Karen Alley
From Fish to Tanks, the Nano Category Continues to Expand
“Nano” is officially defined as a prefix meaning “one billionth,” as in “nanosecond.” But as the aquarium industry embraces small tanks and capitalizes on the term “nano,” the word has also come to signify versatility. The growth of the nano category makes it possible for people to have small aquariums in almost any location—on their […]
Aquascaping Continues to Grow in Popularity Among Aquarists
For many of today’s aquascapers, Takashi Amano was their inspiration. “I’ve always had fish, but I also loved being out in nature, around rivers and lakes,” said George Lo, CEO of Aqua Forest Aquarium in San Francisco, California. “So when I saw a book by Takashi Amano on nature aquariums while I was in college, […]
Frozen Fish Food Category Offers World of Opportunity
If there was ever a category poised for growth, it would be frozen fish food. Although frozen products have been around for decades, the category is seeing some momentum lately for a variety of reasons, all of which provide retailers an opportunity to build sales and increase traffic within the store. Good displays, an emphasis […]
Fish Flake and Pellet Foods are Filled with Power
In the dark of night, while most people are sound asleep, the waters of Lake Okanagan in British Columbia become a powerhouse of activity. This is when the fishing boats of Piscine Energetics head out to harvest mysis shrimp, the main ingredient in PE Mysis pellet and flake foods. The operation uses a patented fishing […]
You Betta Believe It: Making the Most of This Profitable Tropical Fish Category
If there was a popularity contest for fish, bettas would win, hands down. Easy to take care of, these colorful fish with long, flowing fins make a great first pet and have introduced many people to the world of fishkeeping, helping make bettas one of the biggest sellers in the tropical fish category. And they’re […]
Keep Customers Loyal with Solutions to Common Aquarium Ailments
A customer walks into your store with a worried look in their eye. Their fish is sick, and while they can’t bring this fish into the vet, they’ve come to the next closest thing: their local fish expert. They want the comfort of talking with someone who understands fish health and wellness, as well as […]
Saltwater Fish Becoming More Popular Among Hobbyists
For the first time since the American Pet Products Association (APPA) has been keeping track, the saltwater fish category is growing. The most recent survey in 2016 saw an increase to 2.5 million households, up from 1.3 million in 2014. One thing that’s always sure to bring excitement to the saltwater category is the introduction […]
Offering Maintenance Services can Prolong Customer Relationships
What if there was a way to follow a fishkeeper home after the purchase of an aquarium or fish to help them set things up, get the water quality just right and then check in periodically to make sure the livestock was healthy? Stores that offer aquarium maintenance services have that ability, and the benefits […]
Decorations Keep Customers Happy, Spur Store Visits
So much of what fishkeepers buy on their regular visit to the pet store is a necessity. Food, water treatments and replacement cartridges for filters are important to keep fish alive and the environment healthy. But it’s the decorations that help keep customers happy and coming back to the store. Whether it’s a treasure chest […]
GloFish: A Glowing Opportunity
At some point every retailer has wished for a crystal ball. After all, wouldn’t it be great to have the ability to see into the future, to know which new products were going to be long-term best sellers and which ones would just end up collecting dust on the shelves? If someone looked into their […]
High Tech Lights Now Aquarium Centerpieces
Things are changing in the world of lighting, and these days, the pace of change is pretty fast. It all started with the advent of LED lighting, which brought big changes to the aquarium industry. At first, change was slow, and the cost of LEDs when they were first introduced made the products out of […]
Differentiation is Key in the Freshwater Category
When customers walk into B&B Pet Stop in Mobile, Alabama, they’re immediately mesmerized by the wall of fish tanks full of moving color. The store boasts 17 different 240-gallon systems and three 135-gallon display tanks that are teeming with neons, sword tails, rasboras, African cichlids and countless other fish. Owner Bill Trufant has made his […]
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