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  1. #1

    Koi family business start up

    Hi Guys,
    ,
    Ive been a passionate koi hobbiest since a young child over 25 years happy koi keeping other than 3 issues over that time.
    1, heron caught having breakfast
    2, neighbours german shepard escaped jumped in my pond lots of holes in the liner ..
    3, leaky welded liner failure

    during my late school years i did work experience in a pet shop that sold koi kept outside , later turning into a part time role and I took responsibility for the fish and serving customers ect. a job I loved..

    looking back its something I miss , and im very lucky that my partner and our kids love koi keeping.

    my question is ,

    is their space in the market should I decide to try..

    ive got space at home in my garden with growing on ponds,

    workshop I can utilize some space for indoor pond/fry tanks as a starter with long term ambitions of a large scale koi farm in my local area. (derby)

    any pointers/tips anyone can give

    thanks
    Mark



  2. #2
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion bowsaw's Avatar
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    does your mortgage allow you to run a business from home?
    the slow pond build thread

  3. #3
    https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/kno...ess-from-home/

    Some useful info.
    Planning is usually the major issue.
    I currently run two business’s from home but neither involve deliveries and one only has me receiving the odd visitor. I’ve never had an issues however my neighbour opposite is an art dealer and has vans coming and going regularly for delivery and receipt of paintings, he’s had the planning officer round to check things out as one of our other neighbours complained.
    Probably the same ones who moan about the people either side of us putting their bins out early.
    Anyway, it wasn’t ultimately an issue for him but it could be if you had people turning up at all hours, blocking drives etc.
    Maybe Graham from Maple Koi could provide some insight on this one?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  5. #4
    thanks for the reply bigcarpchaser,

    will have a good look at that link thanks.

    planning is not too bad here, council are some what more flexible with businesses from home due to higher poverty levels.

    street parking isn't an issue, plenty are spaces, though I plan for appointment visits only.. usually a couple of spaces outside my home.

    I had a noise complaint for power tools being used everyday in the garden late at night , a complete lie... I respect the neighbours and always stop at 6pm weekdays , earlier on weekends and not everyday like my neighbours like to make out...
    ive got a idea who it is who have threatened violence because I had a one off inclosed fire burning scrap wood..

    living in derby, their isn't any specialist koi shops near me, bardills on A52 is a garden centre, they used to be really respected for koi and equipment.. but my last visit there . They have neglected the koi many with infections ect, prices increased, choice reduced, .. only specialist koi place is Japanese water garden next door to them, they sell lovely koi none were deformed or diseased ect.. but their prices were extortionate to say the least.. with not a great choice..

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  7. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Just wondered if you have had any success in starting up your business.
    John

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  9. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Just wondered if you have had any success in starting up your business.
    Hello John,

    To be totally honest mate, ive not done anything yet, im testing the waters so to speak
    but with little comments on here makes me step back alittle bit .

    long term ambition is breeding rare varieties, with imported koi that other breeders in the UK are not doing.
    and then hopefully showing and winning recognition in the hobby as a quality breeder .

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    I think if you really wanted to start up either importing or breeding koi then you need to first get some experience in Japan.

    If your lifestyle/family commitments don't allow that then at best you would be yet another importer of low quality fish for the mass inexperienced market. I wouldn't be expecting to make anywhere near a decent living doing that kind of thing to be honest. Sorry if this sounds really harsh!

  12. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    I think if you really wanted to start up either importing or breeding koi then you need to first get some experience in Japan.

    If your lifestyle/family commitments don't allow that then at best you would be yet another importer of low quality fish for the mass inexperienced market. I wouldn't be expecting to make anywhere near a decent living doing that kind of thing to be honest. Sorry if this sounds really harsh!
    funny you mention japan, today came across japan koi export when they cater for trips out their as well as directly imported koi without the need to travel over every time.. but yer your correct going their would put me in the best position to start.. and getting good contact links .. just been going through UK law - CEFAS lots of paperwork involved..

    I dont know what they earn, but Cuttlebrook koi seem to be doing well with the English koi breeding?
    what do you think to them?

    I would love a setup exactly how they have it japan. mud ponds, huge greenhouses with those large tanks .

  13. #9
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markini5 View Post
    Hello John,

    To be totally honest mate, ive not done anything yet, im testing the waters so to speak
    but with little comments on here makes me step back alittle bit .

    long term ambition is breeding rare varieties, with imported koi that other breeders in the UK are not doing.
    and then hopefully showing and winning recognition in the hobby as a quality breeder .
    That to me is a very difficult mission to achieve but more of a dream,dont want to sound blunt or offensive but it is a very difficult thing to do not that i have any experience in it but i do know folk who have been doing it for years and still learning.

    I wish you all the success in your venture,will be watching this space.
    John

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markini5 View Post
    funny you mention japan, today came across japan koi export when they cater for trips out their as well as directly imported koi without the need to travel over every time.. but yer your correct going their would put me in the best position to start.. and getting good contact links .. just been going through UK law - CEFAS lots of paperwork involved..

    I dont know what they earn, but Cuttlebrook koi seem to be doing well with the English koi breeding?
    what do you think to them?

    I would love a setup exactly how they have it japan. mud ponds, huge greenhouses with those large tanks .
    I love the Cuttlebrook setup, and I buy fish from them because Mark worked out in Japan and knows a huge amount about koi farming and koi breeding. He is working on his blood lines and always seeking to improve the next generation. The problem is that you need that lifetime of working knowledge BEFORE you start out in business.

    I also by fish from Adam Byer. His parent stock are very carefully selected (and expensive) from Yume Koi's Mike Snaden. What started out as a hobby setup for him is now a business. But you won't be able to replicate anything like that with less than half a million capital!

  16. #11
    for me, im inbetween jobs a lot.. not a lot of work out there..
    im sick of working for others and want to do my own thing and that's possibly starting up my own koi business ..
    everyone of these top sellers started from a dream, life is about continuously learning,
    since age 8 when I built my own pond, ive always been successful in keeping healthy fish be it carp, goldfish lol or koi . a lot of it is common sense stuff..
    the next stage is breeding. and what species to go for ..
    ive read through lots of books, you tube video's , cuttlebrooks useful info on breeding, culling, ect.
    I have more time on my hand. although a young family that can get involved and eventually would like my kids to have a stake in the business and hand it over to them when retire/die .
    mu partner is backing me and does help...
    going over to japan isn't likely to happen soon... maybe in a few years..
    dont know what else I can say really..

    currently looking at Japanese exporting koi from award winning koi farm that people here go on trips to where I have access to purchasing , buti need to apply to gov - cefas for importing and have my inspection if need be … and be on top of paperwork at home ie water testing weekly, their is a lot to it …

    but ive been through a lot tougher challengers in my life and having to change career twice by 2 nvq level 3 apprenticeships
    im not going to just pour money into it and hope for the best, im going to take my time and gradually over many years build upon previous years experience and always do better than my last year and always aim to produce prize winning koi with stunning patterns and the most vivid of colours

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  18. #12
    Exclusive Japanese Koi

    they offer buying trips and direct sales with the breeders . would love to go over ..

  19. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion Doghouse Riley's Avatar
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    I don't want to put you off, but I bought several fish from Mitchkoi. They dealt exclusively on-line and their fish were excellent and terrific value.


    They were quite popular on here. Then after a few years they disappeared overnight. You'd have thought they would have been suuccessful. But in my experience far more koi places have closed in the last twenty years than opened. It's not an area I would consider trying to make a business of.

    https://www.koiforum.uk/koi-carp-cha...operating.html
    "The information's out there,
    You only have to let it in." (Jesse Stone)

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  21. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley View Post
    I don't want to put you off, but I bought several fish from Mitchkoi. They dealt exclusively on-line and their fish were excellent and terrific value.


    They were quite popular on here. Then after a few years they disappeared overnight. You'd have thought they would have been suuccessful. But in my experience far more koi places have closed in the last twenty years than opened. It's not an area I would consider trying to make a business of.

    https://www.koiforum.uk/koi-carp-cha...operating.html
    maybe the Saudi's kidnapped them lol dunno mate, never heard of them in all honesty .
    I second that mate, only 1 serious koi place near me - Japanese water garden , been their years, but not doing that well , they have down sized and sold of huge amount of their land for commercial interests. but they only sell via the shop, and their website isn't upto date..
    I just want to make a living from it,, dont care about making tons of money . dont want a shop premises , more costs ..

  22. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion Doghouse Riley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markini5 View Post
    maybe the Saudi's kidnapped them lol dunno mate, never heard of them in all honesty .
    I second that mate, only 1 serious koi place near me - Japanese water garden , been their years, but not doing that well , they have down sized and sold of huge amount of their land for commercial interests. but they only sell via the shop, and their website isn't upto date..
    I just want to make a living from it,, dont care about making tons of money . dont want a shop premises , more costs ..
    Here's the competition, well some of 'em. Just the first ten pages.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fish-Aqua...w=Japanese+koi
    "The information's out there,
    You only have to let it in." (Jesse Stone)

  23. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley View Post
    Here's the competition, well some of 'em. Just the first ten pages.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fish-Aqua...w=Japanese+koi
    that not a comparison really is it, a lot of these are private sellers, pond closures, over stocked, food, ornaments, T-Shirts, lol
    competition

    Ive been an ebay member 15 years, its not the place I would ever want to sell koi.

    nothing else to say on the issue..

  24. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion Doghouse Riley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markini5 View Post
    that not a comparison really is it, a lot of these are private sellers, pond closures, over stocked, food, ornaments, T-Shirts, lol
    competition

    Ive been an ebay member 15 years, its not the place I would ever want to sell koi.

    nothing else to say on the issue..

    Whether you want to buy koi from e-Bay is besides the point. It's not about what you want, it's about where the general public will buy them. I just gave you one example of where koi are sold with whom you'd be in competition.

    This should give you a clue, the "sold listings." Ten pages of them.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fish-Aqua...p2045573.m1684


    Mitchkoi was one of those retailers who only sold on-line and via eBay.
    I guess you only looked at the front page. There will be a host of koi sellers who use e-Bay as well as their own site. It happens with every category of retail goods.

    It's a very competitive market.
    "The information's out there,
    You only have to let it in." (Jesse Stone)

  25. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley View Post
    Whether you want to buy koi from e-Bay is besides the point. It's not about what you want, it's about where the general public will buy them. I just gave you one example of where koi are sold with whom you'd be in competition.

    This should give you a clue, the "sold listings." Ten pages of them.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Fish-Aqua...p2045573.m1684


    Mitchkoi was one of those retailers who only sold on-line and via eBay.
    I guess you only looked at the front page. There will be a host of koi sellers who use e-Bay as well as their own site. It happens with every category of retail goods.

    It's a very competitive market.
    guessing is where you go wrong my friend, im on ebay everyday almost looking at alsorts of things including koi, and have brought some koi from a business seller on their.... maybe think before typing away.

    not everyone sells on ebay, I use to run a ebay business so know how it works..

    you mention Mitchkoi again, you dont know what happened to them, your just guessing again...

    yes I know, their are lots that sell on various online platforms inc facebook …

    life is competitive … I get it...

    I haven't committed to anything yet, its just idea's being floated ..

  26. #19
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markini5 View Post
    that not a comparison really is it, a lot of these are private sellers, pond closures, over stocked, food, ornaments, T-Shirts, lol
    competition

    Ive been an ebay member 15 years, its not the place I would ever want to sell koi.

    nothing else to say on the issue..
    Actually Adam Byer sells some of his koi on eBay. Several of the sellers on there also have a presence elsewhere.
    Perhaps before dismissing what DHR is saying you could do a bit more research about the current UK market, by actually speaking to people rather than Googling.

    I stand by my comment upthread that any serious attempt to enter the UK koi breeding market requires both experience and a huge injection of capital. Never forget that the people reading this forum are some of your potential future customers and advocates.
    The koi world is a small world. Best place to start if you want to be a player in that is joining koi clubs and visiting shows and networking with people.

  27. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    Actually Adam Byer sells some of his koi on eBay. Several of the sellers on there also have a presence elsewhere.
    Perhaps before dismissing what DHR is saying you could do a bit more research about the current UK market, by actually speaking to people rather than Googling.

    I stand by my comment upthread that any serious attempt to enter the UK koi breeding market requires both experience and a huge injection of capital. Never forget that the people reading this forum are some of your potential future customers and advocates.
    The koi world is a small world. Best place to start if you want to be a player in that is joining koi clubs and visiting shows and networking with people.
    I never said ALL sellers, I said most seller on ebay.. taking my comment out of context …. I know adam byers and others are on their, im watching his listing, and not just because you mentioned it.. it gets annoying on here that anything can be taken out of context and altered to fit someones views..


    do you not think that I have spoken to people and doing lots of research ect, and not just googling.. again taking anything I say out of context to suit your narrative and paint me in a dim view.

    ive been to 1 koi show a few years back.. the big shows are along way from me.
    I can enquire about joining east midlands koi club which isn't far from me..
    East Midlands Koi Club

 

 
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