Fish Tails and Story Trails

12/18/2024

With the store being closed, Brian has been busy getting his second book in the series ready for publication.
Check out the press release below, and follow this link to purchase it. If you haven't got the first book yet, it's also available through the provided link.

https://www.chickenhousepress.ca/press/the-empty-swing-continues-brian-c-austins-gripping-survival-series

08/29/2024

Yard Sale Alert!!!

Last chance for bargains.

Friday 8:30 to 5
Saturday 8:30 to 12

Remaining fixtures, shop lights, slat wall accessories are all priced to go. Too many miscellaneous items to list, come see for yourself at 419 Durham St. E Walkerton.

08/28/2024

Shelves are emptying.

Tanks are draining.

We will continue to be in the store for the next 2 days, but inventory is limited.

For those of you who have reserved a tank, please come in Thursday to pick it up, or call us at 519-507-7026 to make other arrangements.

Thank you for your support!

08/24/2024

We're nearing the end. Our doors will officially close on the 31st of August. We are working on emptying out the store, which means deals for you.

We still have limited fish, aquariums, pumps, etc.

And books! At 40% off, how wonderful would it be to gift a couple classics to your child's classroom library? It never hurts to start buttering up the teachers early on...

And small business owners, pop in to see what display items you can use in your store!

We are open Saturday, and Tuesday through Saturday of next week.

Thank you for supporting this dream!

07/11/2024

These high quality, like new bookshelves are also for sale.

At $125 per shelf, these are a steal of a deal!

Call 519-507-7026 or come in to reserve yours.

07/09/2024

One of the piranha agreed to a photoshoot. They're notoriously shy, so this is a big accomplishment.

What would you name this guy? We're thinking Colonel Sanders, because he probably likes chicken.

Stop into Fish Tails and Story Trails to pick out your unique pet today!

All fish start at 15% off.

07/05/2024

Meet Elliot.

Elliot was the only pet in his household for a few years. And then his humans brought home fish from Fish Tails and Story Trails.

Elliot continues to receive all the love he always has, and frankly, doesn't seem to know the fish exist.

He's here to tell you that there is room in your heart (and house) for some fish.

But he does recommend bringing home treats and new toys at the same time, just to ease the transition.

Our fish start at 15% off. Come on in and find your new companion. Our fish don't cover you in hair and slobber.

07/02/2024

NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS!

This is not a current picture - we still have lots of fish in stock. This is simply one of the only pictures we have of the tanks themselves.

We are not inviting you to sleep in a tank. We are inviting you to reserve a high quality tank with extra thick glass for pick up at a later date. We have tanks and stands ready to have your name on them. To reserve one, come visit, pick your tank, and provide a 25% deposit for us to hold it for you.
In the event we sell the business as a whole, we will return your deposit in full. Otherwise, we will notify you when your tank is ready for pick up.

Prices start at $56.

The following sizes are available: 33 gallon, 42.5 gallon, 58 gallon, 70 gallon, 80.5 gallon, 103 gallon.

These would be a wonderful addition to any man-cave or she-shed.

Pop in to 419 Durham Street East Walkerton, or give us a call at 519-507-7026 to talk about details.

06/28/2024

Whatever your weekend plans involve, they should definitely include reading a classic.

We're open until 5 tonight, so pop in to get your long weekend reading material.

All new books are 15% off.

06/27/2024

ATTENTION BARGAIN HUNTERS...

Get these deals while you can. If we get a firm offer on the business, this sale will end (and let's be honest, we hope this sale will end).

Select Piranha and Cichlids 50% off

Other fish starting at 15% off

New books 15% off

Make sure your long weekend plans include a stop at 419 Durham St East in Walkerton

06/13/2024

The Countdown has Started

The Countdown has started for selling the business as a whole. It is still a work of love. I KNOW I’M GOING TO GRIEVE, when it is no longer mine. But I will grieve far less if this life-time dream can continue to function and thrive.

The listing is being carried by Joan Stewart of McIntee Real Estate in Walkerton, ONT. Office number 519-881-2270. The asking price of $69,900.00 includes Aquariums & Stands, Fish & Supplies Inventory, Bookshelves & Book inventory. The Aquariums and Stands alone cost me over $50,000 to have custom made by Miracles Aquariums. Much of the plumbing and Canister Filters plus the high capacity Air Pump came from Fish Farm Supply. The Bookshelves came from Brodart Canada, a Library Supply Store.

My preference is unquestionably to sell the business as a whole. I’m increasingly aware that I’m getting too old for this. My understanding of on-line marketing, almost essential in today’s world, is virtually non-existent. This has also been unfair to my wife. We were retired and debt-free when started this. I haven’t missed a single day being in the store since the first fish arrived almost 3-1/2 years ago, so we’ve never been able to do anything together or go anywhere even for a weekend in our late 60’s, early 70’s. I’m convinced it is time to fix that.

I will be open to lower priced offers BUT convince me you are passionate about aquariums and fish, and hopefully books as well. If you are lowballing the offer just because you know I’m anxious to sell, that may tell me you are not the kind of person I want to take over the business.

If I can’t sell the business as a whole with a confirmed offer by the end of this month (June 2024) I have no choice but to begin to sell things piecemeal and have the building emptied by the end of August.

3 identical Aquarium Units 17’-2” long x 24” wide x 72-3/4” high (plus room for lights, plumbing & access)
Each unit includes 4 Aquariums 48” x 24” x 16.25”/ 70 gal 4 Aquariums 48” x 20” x 16.2 / 58 gal and 4 Aquariums48” x 16” / 33 gal

1 Aquarium Unit 17’-2” long x 28” wide by 72-3/4” high (plus room for lights, plumbing & access)
Unit includes 4 Aquariums 48 x 28 / 80.5 gal 4 Aquariums 48” x 24” / 58.5 gal and 4 Aquariums 48” x 24” / 35.4 gal

1 Aquarium Unit 17’-2” long x 28” wide by 66” high (plus room for lights, plumbing & access)
Unit includes 4 Aquariums 48” x 28” / 80.5 gal 4 Aquariums 48” x 24” / 103 gal

Fish and Fish-food Inventory as of June 12 at Retail Price About $7,250.00 Note Inventory changes daily. Many small accessories are not included in the above price.

9 Steel Bookshelves by Sandusky with 5 adjustable shelves each.
Various Wooden Bookshelves, some with fixed shelves and some with adjustable shelves

Book Inventory as of June 12 at Retail Price About $19,000 Note inventory changes daily. Cards, Magazines & Puzzles are not included in the above price.

The store is WANTED in the community. I hear that almost daily. There is an excellent, but tiny Aquarium store in Hanover, but the closest full-sized store is in Owen Sound, a 70 minute drive from Walkerton, so the potential market is constantly growing. Bookstores have almost ceased to exist, and that too is wanted in the community.

THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL HERE
but it needs someone younger and better able to function in an on-line world.

Call now to connect with business.

05/08/2024

A Go-Fund-Me Account?
Fish Tails & Story Trails started as (and continues to be) a work of love. But Old Age is RELENTLESS! Old age brings exhaustion. Old age brings health issues. I CANT CARRY ON WITH THE STORE yet I want so much for it to survive.
I have a buyer as passionate as me, but he can’t raise the funding.
One of my big handicaps is age related. I don’t understand on-line marketing, but know that without it the store has little chance. I don’t even understand Facebook, so I’m shooting in the dark with this post.
Is there someone out there with the knowledge and ability to set up a Go-Fund-Me Account in a way that can’t be dipped into by me, but might provide the purchaser with the possibility to step in and keep this business alive?