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MarineDepot.com is an e-commerce company that sells aquarium supplies for reefkeeping hobbyist and fishkeeping. It is based in Garden Grove, California. The company was founded in 1997 by Ken Wong. MarineDepot.com is a subsidiary of Fins, Furs & Feathers, Inc. Fins, Furs & Feathers, Inc. also operates PetStore.com, an online retailer of pet supplies and NAWSupply.com, an aquarium supply wholesaler.
Contents
History
In 1997, pre-med student and self-professed "reef geek" Ken Wong was frustrated: there wasn't a single fish store in Orange County, California that could satisfy all his saltwater aquarium needs under one roof. Sometimes a store wouldn't have the right product. Other times store employees were unable to answer technical questions about the products they carried. Wong often found himself commuting from store-to-store in order to find the best products, the best prices and the best advice. This gave him an idea.
Wong envisioned a one-stop shop where customers could find everything they needed, from product specifications and information on marine aquarium fish species to expert advice on the hobby and friendly, one-on-one technical support. He began contacting product manufacturers and distributors to secure inventory and, armed with some off-the-shelf software and a copy of HTML 4 For Dummies, Wong launched the first MarineDepot.com website on January 7, 1998.
Wong's vision of a one-stop shop for aquarium hobbyists began as a one-man operation in a one-bedroom apartment. He fielded customer service calls, packed orders, handled the books and was the company IT guy. Wong invested everything he had into his startup company. His dedication paid off: with the advent of always-on Internet technologies like DSL, along with advancements in the aquarium hobby, Wong's small business grew exponentially.
Wong relocated MarineDepot.com in 1999 from his apartment to a 1,000 square foot location in a Santa Ana, California strip mall. Continued growth necessitated another move midway through 2000 to a larger 3,600 square foot location in Costa Mesa, California. Later that same year, the company moved into an even larger 5,500 square foot warehouse. In early 2001, MarineDepot.com moved into a 15,000 square foot building on Gene Autry Way in Anaheim, California, down the street from Angel Stadium. The company acquired a second 9,500 square foot building to accommodate additional staff and inventory. In 2007, the company moved into its current 30,000 square foot location in Garden Grove, California.
An aquarium hobbyist himself, Wong felt it was important that his company educate customers about responsible aquarium keeping techniques. By teaching hobbyists how to propagate corals, Wong hopes to lessen the aquarium hobby’s impact on the world’s ocean reefs. MarineDepot.com sponsors aquarium fish clubs and message boards that share Wong's ideals. In 2006, the company hosted a full-fledged aquarium expo, Reef-A-Palooza, at the company’s headquarters. In 2007, MarineDepot.com launched a Conversation through Propagation section on the company website to explain the importance of captive breeding to hobbyists.
Catalog
MarineDepot.com began printing a biannual product catalog in 2002, which has since become a staple of the brand. Catalogs are mailed twice yearly to customers, usually in the fall and spring. A typical catalog contains 136 or more pages and consists of non-paid product placements accompanied by paid advertisements. Later catalogs have been bolstered by the addition of monthly coupons and helpful how-to articles.
Products
MarineDepot.com specializes in the sale of marine aquarium and reef aquarium supplies. They also carry an assortment of freshwater aquarium products and equipment for ponds, water features and water gardens. In total, the company carries more than 7,500 products, which include the following: