Loading ...Each year I observe a huge drop off in interest in the hobby, and it all centers around the same time. So from a business perspective, I wanted to try to gauge our market that is Toronto. When does our reefing season begin and end?
To start, I look at all that things that are relevant in the reefing world in Toronto. Things like coral shipments, messageboard activity, and social reef events. This all happens around the start of June. The first indicator, that I found, is activity on forums. If your ‘urgent’ question is not answered within a minute or two, then either ask it on a popular site or you have hit the summer schedule.
Soon after, sponsors get the little activity message, but still try their luck with a coral shipment. Sometimes, you never know how the community will respond to a sale in June. If sponsors go 2-3 weeks without a new sale, they all know that they’ve hit the reefing summer schedule. I talk to many store owners and they don’t mind the summer season, as it gives them a chance to retool their shops or rethink their business model.
For the reefers outthere, we get to look at our current setups to see what we can improve on. Some might just do a quick reaquascape, and some a full on tank setup. But most are just wavering between a chiller or a triple fan setup. Fans all the way baby!
So when does the season begin? Realistically, October for Toronto. September is the finale for a lot of people of their summer vacation. Plus, retailers like to get shipments it colder weather. October fits the bill! Frankly, I love it when it starts up again. Corals in 30-40 boxed shipments are a thrill. Unpacking that surreal undata, or tenuis is a moment of serenity that I wish many of you can share (someday). But for now, let August fly by and lets skim through September because I am ready for the season to begin!!
Trained by the thirteenth ring master of the Sian Xiuang Coral Temple. Currently is apprenticing the art of Acropora shaping in the ancient tradition of Ninja Fragging. Known as the SPS hero!
Best season to buy used equipment or perhaps whole full setup is around June & July, with some random deals hitting in May and August. Most people decide to get our around June/July timeframe and that’s when $10,000 setups will be sold at $2000 or less.
As a store owner, I can say that July & August are more or less write-off months. Vlad hit the nail that it does not even get busy until October. Last huge coral shipment I went to in mid-July, there were only 4 people in the first 15 minutes (comparing to 40-50 people in peak season).
CHEERS, Hubert@ReefAquatica.com
It is almost too boring in the community. Oh well… October will be around the corner.
On the bright note, I did pickup a winter swade leather jacket at factory outlet for the price of a coral…. i.e. JOHN’s price. Can’t beat it LOL