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by Peach Reid, President

Business Update:

For the first part of the year, most everyone we’ve worked with was happy to experience an increase in sales!

The nicer winter weather may have been the primary reason for this, especially compared to the horrendous winter of 2011 – but most everyone is hesitantly acknowledging that at least some of the sales increases are still there. In my talks with other leaders in the pet industry across the country, this uptick does seem to be nationalized, welcome news indeed for all of us!

Pond Season: This segment of our sales is starting to kick in, typical for this time of year. While replacement fish for pond-owners may not be needed as much this year, we are hearing of new ponds being installed, another positive indicator.

Goldfish Supplies: Unfortunately, both the domestic and international suppliers of all types of Goldfish are experiencing shortages. Though Koi seem to be plentiful now, as well as some of the other pond fish, some of the fancy types are short or non-existent in supply, and will be through July or later. There are several factors involved in this – producers estimating the demand were caught off guard, there have been weather-related problems, and it’s the spawning season on top of that.

Pond Plants: Just a reminder about various laws prohibiting certain plants as Invasive Species. Hyacinths cannot cross state lines. The common Anacharis (elodea) many of us know, and other oxygenating bunch plants, are now illegal in Connecticut and many other states (so we cannot bring them in or sell them). We do have some Egeria Najas, a legal Anacharis. Various other types of marginal plants are also available, most on a pre-order basis. Please talk with your salesperson about that.

Tropical Fish Availability: The good news is that availability and quality (including bigger sizes) of many types of freshwater tropical fish is much improved of late! Weather plays a role in this as well. In Florida this year, for example, the good weather this winter increased both production and growth on the fish farms. Asian farms are also producing fish of good size and quality, so there’s plenty from which to choose.

In Colombia, however, from May 1 until July 1, the government does not allow the collection of fish from the Orinoco River and the Eastern range portion of Colombia, as part of their protecting fish during the breeding season. Because of this, many types of Fancy Plecostomus, Silver Dollars, Exodons and other species will not be available for a time.

Marine fish and invertebrates - especially from the Indo-Pacific region, are more plentiful, have great variety, and also of excellent quality. Come visit us and see for yourself all the beautiful items we have! Our hours for stores with current accounts are Monday thru Wednesday 7am thru 8pm, Thursday, 7am thru 3pm and Friday 9 am thru 1pm. Come on in and take the tour! Check our website - www.fishmartinc.com. Every Monday we post our weekly specials and inventory, along with other information!

Many of you who know Peach already recognize her active and years-long involvement in PIJAC with legislative and regulatory matters that affect us all. So with great pride we announce that Peach has been elected to the Board of Directors of PIJAC!

"I am honored and humbled to have my peers elect me to the PIJAC Board. I pledge to do my very best in every way I can to help our organization, our industry move forward in achieving our mission."

“Check out www.HumaneWatch.org This is a great group monitoring the so-called

animal rights groups, whose agenda is different than what they purport, and they do want the pet business out-of-business!”

peach@fishmartinc.com