LFS in Doha, Qatar - AquaArt

**Shadow** · 11th Aug 2009, 09:22

that is why they have to sell it expensive otherwise they wont survive due to expensive shopping center rental

**Ian Lim** · 11th Aug 2009, 10:11

Originally Posted by Shadow

sell at onl double the price? wonder how the survive with such high shop rental.

Hi Shadow, equipment price is about double of what we get locally, as for fauna the price is higher e.g. cardina tetra at SGD3+ each, however this does not turn away the Arab who have deep pocket.

This store really stand out from what I have seen so far, it should be the best that you can find in the region and back home. Their customer base are from the middle and above income group. Sales for the Ehiem filters are moving faster that C325 and fuana/plants were snap up within 2-3 days on arrival. The display tanks were well kept and it really spur you to buy on impulse. Let's hope we can have something similiar over here soon.

**Shadow** · 11th Aug 2009, 16:59

yes-yes...they seem to have bottomless pocket

**Droicut** · 11th Aug 2009, 22:13

Originally Posted by Xianghao

yeah.. i have been to certain aquarium shops in singapore situated in shopping centres. they are selling fauna like cherry barb like 10 times as expensive? i'm appalled by how they are able to survive like that.

Like the one in Plaza Singapura? Don't forget they have alot of rich folks around that area too...

**Fuzzy** · 12th Aug 2009, 03:53

I love to visit this type of store, I would never buy anything there. Same way I like to visit Art Galleries but would never buy any of the pieces on show :P

It would be very hard to attempt something like this in Singapore, the population is too small and nowhere near affluent enough to be willing to pay price premiums for aquarium goods, for some reason buying LV bags is ok though...funny.

The thing about Qatar (they are not oil rich, but have a huge deposit of natural gas) and many of the other petroleum rich nations in the region, is that their more affluent portions of population are really incredibly rich, a reasonable percentage of the local population have never worked a day in their lives.

Many get "free money" either directly from the Government or in the form of kickbacks and commissions from foreign companies for referrals or use of their contacts and connections in dealings within the country.

So for them, its easy come, easy go, most of them just aren't very concerned about how they spend their money.

**kevkoi** · 12th Aug 2009, 05:21

Errrm... I manage the operations at AquaArt and while many seem to think because it's in a flashy looking store, the prices should be expensive?

Here's an example for comparison on international prices.
I believe the product prices are comparable, if not even quite competitive with international prices! The prices for familiar producst, especially famous international brands such as ADA, Eheim or even LV, Gucci etc cannot vary so much, from one country to another no matter what the overheads may be.

Eheim classic 2213plus is selling in Qatar at QR395 (USD108.50) off the shelf!
Online shops in the USA sell the same package for between USD90-115
Online shops in the UK sell the same package for between GBP58-65 (approx US$90-120)
Online shops in Australia sell the same package for between (AUD160-185) (approx USD130-160)
Shops in Malaysia sell the same package for RM365 (USD104)

So, while our overheads are high we're still considerably cheap!!

ADA Cube Garden 60-P is selling in Qatar off the shelf at QR450 (USD123)
ADA Cube Garden 60-P is selling in online store in USA at USD160
I find an online shop in Singapore selling ADA Cube Garden 60P at SGD188 (USD120)
So, again we're quite comparable...

With most products, we're within maybe 10-15% more than Singapore there abouts. Only thing is we have limited range of cheap competing Chinese products because it's a headache selling stuff that breaks down!

Of course with live stock, we cannot compare lah. Singapore is situated right next to Malaysia and Indonesia which are major producers of Ornamental tropical fish. And Singapore is an ornamental aquarium fish export hub!
Qatar Airways cargo charges are among the MOST expensive in the world (5-star airlines. The only thing 5-Star is the prices lah!)... So we have to account for the fish freight also.

Even then we have very good quality Apistogramma cacatuoides
"Super red", Apistogramma agassizi, hongsloi, viejita among others at very good prices, comparable if not less than S'pore.

We're very very competitively priced if you ask our European/American friends. Australians would think they struck gold with our prices here.... Heck, even AquaOne Aquariums which are an Aussie company is cheaper in Qatar than in Australia!

ALL this even with our overheads which are higher than Singapore!!
... And a population FAR smaller than Singapore. (Total population of Qatar is between 1- 1.2million with only around 300,000 Qatari nationals, the rest consisting of expatriates and migrant labour)

How'd u do it? You stream-line operations. Stay highly-highly competitive with top quality service to stifle out the competition or keep any from coming up. You purchase direct from source. And u don't get greedy! Afterall, with such a small population and market base, it cannot support that many aquarium shops anyway... So may as well have one that is good.

**Shadow** · 12th Aug 2009, 09:26

look at your price, must be very tough to survive? If I may ask how many competitor are there?

**kevkoi** · 29th Dec 2010, 21:48

Some updated pics of AquaArt...

**kevkoi** · 29th Dec 2010, 21:59

Some project works...
3m x 80cm wide x 1m tall planted discus aquarium

Building it:

Setting it up:

3months ago:

NOW:

**kevkoi** · 29th Dec 2010, 22:04

Another Marine aquarium at the Al Sharq Village resort - Ritz Carlton

**barmby** · 30th Dec 2010, 12:30

Thanks for sharing!

**celticfish** · 30th Dec 2010, 17:19

I think you need to buy scuba gear for your staff!

Thanks for the pictures and update of the going on in the middle east.
Its nice to know the lack of water isn't stopping them!

**zonkkie** · 1st Jan 2011, 17:10

Very nice! Can visit together with the 2022 World Cup.

**neverwalkalone** · 2nd Jan 2011, 00:21

Originally Posted by zonkkie

Very nice! Can visit together with the 2022 World Cup.

Hear! Hear! Plenty of time for prepare for the influx of Football fans from the world over - great opportunity to get this hobby into the masses and make a name for yourselves. Thanks for sharing. The Discus tank is beautiful!