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Reptile Category

Mar 29, 2017

Cozy Comforts

By Jennifer Higgins What better way to enjoy your reptilian family member than to display and maintain it in one of the most natural indoor habitats: a terrarium! Many reptile hobbyists are no longer satisfied with a tank containing a few pieces of rock work and a plastic plant or two. It has become more […]

Mar 23, 2017

One Hot Reptile

Want a way to ensure more register rings? Think insurance, as in Geico. That company’s pitchman has entrenched geckos within pop culture. It’s your job to get patrons to enroll in a pet ownership policy that involves purchasing more gecko goods from your shop. Most experts will tell you that geckos are a great beginner […]

Mar 7, 2017

Staff Training Redux

There’s a fundamental truth in life that many have to come to accept over time: people can’t be everywhere, and they can’t do everything. Even the owner of a small, mom-and-pop-style store is going to want to take a day off at some point. For that, they have their staff. The staff represents the machinery […]

Feb 9, 2017

Captive or Wild?

We throw around the terms “captive bred” and “wild-caught” on a regular basis, though we’ve not defined what these terms and categories actually mean. It’s time to elaborate on these two terms and how they impact your store. Captive-bred animals are those that are bred by a reptile wholesaler. These animals have never known a […]

Jan 11, 2017

The Heat is On

Reptiles and their owners appreciate the tech-free simplicity of merchandise provided by Mother Nature—from perky crickets for dinner to bona fide rocks for basking. But it’s the products you plug in that can have a dramatic effect on the health and longevity of herps and the long-term satisfaction of their keepers. Smart retailers who’ve seen […]

Jan 10, 2017

Winter Lizard Sales

Selling during the holidays is a relatively easy thing. However, maintaining that momentum into the coming year can really start your 2017 off with a bang. The most critical element to taking advantage of the winter months is to go in having a plan. As the saying goes, “prior planning prevents poor performance,” and few […]

Dec 14, 2016

Bugs are Big Business

They’re the most plentiful creatures on earth—skittering about by the billions from leaf to soil and undulating endlessly beneath the surface. Herps devour them ravenously, and reptile owners who care about their pets have learned to handle them, literally, and overcome their phobias. They are insects. And if you’re a reptile retailer determined to grow […]

Dec 12, 2016

Corn Snakes: A Brief History

While the bearded dragons from last month’s issue remain at the top of reptile sales, this month’s featured reptile may give those storied lizards a run for their money. Corn snakes can provide your customers with the perfect first herp and become your store’s steady seller. Corn snakes belong to the colubrid family, alongside rat […]

Nov 4, 2016

The Bottom Line on Herp Bedding

Every successful operation needs a good foundation. And that’s as true of a pet store as it is of a reptile habitat, which requires the proper bedding material on which a herp can habitate and thrive. According to experts, an increased focus from manufacturers on species-friendly products and more natural materials are among the reasons […]

Nov 4, 2016

A Lizard with Appeal

Stumbling upon an interesting article a few days ago revealed information that really bears discussing. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the British Survey of Herpetologists in the United Kingdom, reptiles have now outpaced dogs as pets within the UK. Approximately 8 million reptiles call the British Isles home, compared to approximately 6.5 million […]

Oct 5, 2016

Interior Embellishments

Eager to pump some visual pizzazz into an otherwise drab herp habitat? Want to feng shui your way to a more aesthetically appealing enclosure that reptiles can appreciate, too? It’s time to multitask as an interior “pet-corator” and earn the trust of your customers by stocking and recommending the best décor products for scaly companions—because […]

Oct 5, 2016

A Rising Star

Often overshadowed by their turtle compatriots, tortoises are a rising star of the reptile world. Sociable, friendly and easy to care for, tortoises could be one of your staples as the variety of reptiles widens within your store. The biggest difference between turtles and tortoises lies in their chosen habitat. While turtles prefer aquatic environments, […]