New Aquatics Shop?

[coll]

I was a bit surprised by the decision to put an aquatics shop 4 doors down from a pet shop that sells aquatics (not to mention a Pets At Home half a mile down the road. It reminds me of when an Italian restaurant was opened 6 doors down from Trattoria Raff. I will stick with Whites Pets and Trattoria Raffaelel! I'm all for new businesses on the Highstreet especially those that aren't betting shops, SIM card shops, Chicken Shops, Pound Shops and so on. It seems really not very well thought out or researched when the area is screaming for more diversity of its businesses.

[Pally]

I agree. I do sometimes wonder if people find an available affordable shop space for whatever it is they want to open but don't necessarily think about appropriateness of position in relation to other businesses around etc. I am always amazed when yet another food shop opens in Sydenham! Still I hope Aquatics can make a success as its so much better than an empty space.

[thomas99]

What a shame that a new business is opening on a high street and all it is receiving is negative troll comments. Get a life people. Are you all that sad that you criticise and judge before it's even up and running. Will be great to have a new shop selling fish. Fed up of all the food shops without signage. You snobs should be criticising the state of the high street and not new business owners. Good luck to the new owners. I will pop in and try it out if only to give support after reading this forum. Hope the poor owners haven't seen any of this negative crap.

[Rachael]

What a shame that a new business is opening on a high street and all it is receiving is negative troll comments. Get a life people. Are you all that sad that you criticise and judge before it's even up and running. Will be great to have a new shop selling fish. Fed up of all the food shops without signage. You snobs should be criticising the state of the high street and not new business owners. Good luck to the new owners. I will pop in and try it out if only to give support after reading this forum. Hope the poor owners haven't seen any of this negative crap.

You do realise that the majority of the comments on this thread are in support of the new shop?

[Pally]

I agree. The majority of comments are supportive of the owner whilst also making constructive comments about shop frontages, Sydenham needs etc. I am not sure what is snobbish in the thread. Shop frontages make a difference to business and high street success

[thomas99]

Rachael, Pally. I think if you read back through these posts your'll see it is mainly negative criticism. Criticism should always be presented in a positive way, which has not been done. The pet shop and pets at home do not cater for aquatic keepers. They keep run of the meal easy to keep fish and do specialise which I presume an aquatic shop will. I think it's in a superb location and won't affect the pet shop or pets at home. As for the signage it looks the most presentable by far compared to the rest of the street. You should all discuss something far more worldly and interesting, famine, rape, poverty are just a few to get you started rather than telephone digits!

[Rachael]

Rachael, Pally. I think if you read back through these posts your'll see it is mainly negative criticism. Criticism should always be presented in a positive way, which has not been done. The pet shop and pets at home do not cater for aquatic keepers. They keep run of the meal easy to keep fish and do specialise which I presume an aquatic shop will. I think it's in a superb location and won't affect the pet shop or pets at home. As for the signage it looks the most presentable by far compared to the rest of the street. You should all discuss something far more worldly and interesting, famine, rape, poverty are just a few to get you started rather than telephone digits!

Sorry, but I disagree. As far as I can tell (having been a participant in the thread from near the beginning), if you look at the number of PEOPLE (not the number of comments) who are positive, you'll find them in the majority. And it has already been commented that a specialist aquatic shop will be very welcome as there isn't another one near. As the dissenting voices had all but disappeared, you may have scored an own goal bringing this back up again.

[Pally]

I agree Rachael, the majority are positive and constructive. The other areas mentioned eg famine for discussion are obviously important but THIS one was about general areas relevant to Sydenham high street, making it work, providing the right services (including specialist aquatics) , making it attractive to bring in punters etc etc. I hope the aquatics shop is a success for the new owner, that does not make all the issues discussed here less relevant.

[coll]

I can only speak for myself and I really don't think that I was trying to be negative rather than curious about shops that seem not to actually be filling a gap.
I'm more interested in the fervent, passion/rage and blanket assumptions thomas99 is presenting here. Where did that anger come from?

[Pally]

Yes I wondered that too.

[mosy]

I can only speak for myself and I really don't think that I was trying to be negative rather than curious about shops that seem not to actually be filling a gap.
I'm more interested in the fervent, passion/rage and blanket assumptions thomas99 is presenting here. Where did that anger come from?

Oh, I see, so saying you thought it was a bad commercial decision to set up near a pet shop(s) and state that you won't be shopping there - even though it hasn't opened yet - is not being negative? I give up. To say that at least it's not a betting shop etc is surely to damn by faint praise.

On the sign itself, I think it's clever to have the graduated shallow to deep water colour. But I'm curious. What do people expect the shop to do exactly? Take the new sign down that they clearly want and replace it with an old-fashion painted one? Did they even keep indoor fish in Victorian times, or outdoor coi carp ponds either - surely it was lily ponds then. Edit: I'm genuinely curious now - I wonder if the Town Museum can help.

[Rachael]

I was a bit surprised by the decision to put an aquatics shop 4 doors down from a pet shop that sells aquatics (not to mention a Pets At Home half a mile down the road. It reminds me of when an Italian restaurant was opened 6 doors down from Trattoria Raff. I will stick with Whites Pets and Trattoria Raffaelel! I'm all for new businesses on the Highstreet especially those that aren't betting shops, SIM card shops, Chicken Shops, Pound Shops and so on. It seems really not very well thought out or researched when the area is screaming for more diversity of its businesses.

As someone has already said (someone who actually keeps fish!) you need specialist aquatic shops with expert staff. So there's no competition with either Whites or Pets At Home (the latter is woefully stocked. It's huge, but has lots of a few items rather than any depth of stock).

It has also been mentioned that people will travel to a decent aquatics shop. So they'll be bringing business to Sydenham from outside. Not such a bad business decision after all, maybe.

[Eagle]

Thanks Rachael

They may not be a ' fish out of water ' after all.

Good Luck to them

[Whites Pet Centre]

We have been watching this thread with interest,but have felt no need to reply until now, because we feel the need to correct a few misconceptions.
Firstly,we have knowledgeable staff with years of fish keeping experience. Myself and Di have both kept fish for over 30 years and in the past on a massive scale.
Also we can order in just about anything anyone could want in aquatic stock,both fish and accessories.
We have been gradually expanding our stock recently and running promotions & special offers ( one of which is at the end of this month.)
We would also like to thank the people of Sydenham,most of whom have very loyally supported us through a very difficult time with Pets At Home, and the loss of our forecourt.
We would also like to wish Clifton Aquatics every success for the future.
Liz & Di

[Rachael]

What a positive and gracious response from Whites. I'm sure you will be able to create a relationship with the new shop so each can benefit the other. I didn't realise you'd lost your forecourt - what happened?

I've been into Pets at Home twice when I happened to be at Bell Green. Both times they didn't have what I needed. Both times I was able to get it from Whites. These big warehouse stores are useless. And I'd never go to them for advice when I have Whites on my doorstep. The same goes for Mayow Vets - I'll stick with them and the dedicated, personal care they give my pets.

[Whites Pet Centre]

After the refurb of the high street,the council in it's infinite wisdom,removed the forecourt from our use,except for a very limited 1 metre.

[Whites Pet Centre]

After the refurb of the High Street,the council in it's infinite wisdom,removed the forecourt from our use,except for a very limited 1 metre.
With a yearly licence and unrealistic monthly rent it would make no economic sense for us to pay it in relation to what we can display.
There has been protracted communications since then in an effort to resolve the situation, but they refuse to budge.
We believe that we should have the right,as there has always been use of the forecourt since 1906 (when the shop traded as a corn merchant.)
It is a constant struggle now with people knowing that we are here and open,also with attracting passing trade.
We feel that it encouraged more people to come to Sydenham to shop and enhanced our business as well as others.
With the retail park growing, now more than ever, we need to support our local shops & keep our High Street secure.
Love it or lose it!

[missT]

A bit of an old tread but after a visit today we are The proud owners of a couple of gold fish what a great shop and fantastic customer service!!! Highly recommended !