Will Hayward
New Member
I took some photos of the recently opened retail store that I work for. The store is called Alternative Aquariums. The name, Mission, and reason for the company is all thanks to other stores in the area, primarily PetSmart. In early 2007 Petsmart acquired almost all of the assets belonging to SuperPet (A more popular Canadian owned and operated pet store chain with over a dozen and a half retail locations nationwide.) As everyone knows Petsmart is the largest retail chain in the pet industry, with nearly 1000 stores and expanding, and a focus on pet foods and supplies. While Superpet was still a chain, stores were run somewhat independently, and the managers of different departments from store to store had some freedom to put focus on different products, animals, etc. For this reason, even with nearly 20 stores, SuperPet retained somewhat of a smaller customer based store that could cater to long term customers requests. In mid to late 2007 changes had begun to remove all that was SuperPet and install the unified look of Petsmart into their newly acquired retail locations. Then begun the "re-education" of the staff to PetSmart standards.
And so, from the utter destruction of a great Canadian Petstore chain, spawned the privately owned, funded, and operated store in Burlington ON, called Alternative Aquariums. All the employees and owners of AA were bought by Petsmart during the acquisition, and all were appalled by the changes made. All of us have worked for at least 3 Pet companies, have have put as much effort into creating a better store based on our experiences with the pasts ones. It was time for a new option for local aquarists, and so while we all are disappointed by the sale of Superpet, we have the change to thank for the new company.
SuperPet, thanks for the times. John Jules et al, thanks for selling out. BigAl's, thanks for the competition.
Petsmart, thanks for being the uptight ever-growing chain, that lacks obvious sense and basic fundamentals of customer care relationship.
Doug and Wendy Mortimer, Thankyou for a great alternative.
And so, from the utter destruction of a great Canadian Petstore chain, spawned the privately owned, funded, and operated store in Burlington ON, called Alternative Aquariums. All the employees and owners of AA were bought by Petsmart during the acquisition, and all were appalled by the changes made. All of us have worked for at least 3 Pet companies, have have put as much effort into creating a better store based on our experiences with the pasts ones. It was time for a new option for local aquarists, and so while we all are disappointed by the sale of Superpet, we have the change to thank for the new company.
SuperPet, thanks for the times. John Jules et al, thanks for selling out. BigAl's, thanks for the competition.
Petsmart, thanks for being the uptight ever-growing chain, that lacks obvious sense and basic fundamentals of customer care relationship.
Doug and Wendy Mortimer, Thankyou for a great alternative.
