Ecotech joins BRS as a sister company..

[joshwaggs]

The point is BRS is not the only place to buy stuff for reefing, and not the "one ring".

True.
I think he means that Bulk Reef Supply has or might get the ability to stop others from selling and become the only place you can get anything they control. If they bought out a couple other companies, they could pretty much control the entire hobby.
Like Ecotech owns AI, but Bulk Reef Supply owns Ecotech. That means Bulk Reef Supply has the ability to decide to be the only place to get the AI brand. Customer service would be the same way.

 

[FishyFishFish]

The point is BRS is not the only place to buy stuff for reefing, and not the "one ring".

Maybe not to buy, but where do you go for customer support? And who controls who can stock these products? And who sets MAP?

 

[flourishofmediocrity]

True.
I think he means that Bulk Reef Supply has or might get the ability to stop others from selling and become the only place you can get anything they control. If they bought out a couple other companies, they could pretty much control the entire hobby.
Like Ecotech owns AI, but Bulk Reef Supply owns Ecotech. That means Bulk Reef Supply has the ability to decide to be the only place to get the AI brand. Customer service would be the same way.

BRS cannot "pretty much control the entire hobby." This is completely irrational.

 

[joshwaggs]

BRS cannot "pretty much control the entire hobby." This is completely irrational.

I know it isn’t realistic, but it would be in their power. They would be able to set prices and control the supply.

 

[tharbin]

I know it isn’t realistic, but it would be in their power. They would be able to set prices and control the supply.

I think the real issue is that they can manipulate the supply chain with their monetary resources. Other online vendors seem to be low on some products (e.g. IM tanks) that BRS has in stock. They can buy up supply essentially forcing end-users to either wait or buy through them.

I'm not saying it is happening, or will, but it is a possibility.

 

[flourishofmediocrity]

I think the real issue is that they can manipulate the supply chain with their monetary resources. Other online vendors seem to be low on some products (e.g. IM tanks) that BRS has in stock. They can buy up supply essentially forcing end-users to either wait or buy through them.

I'm not saying it is happening, or will, but it is a possibility.

I know it's an anecdote, but I literally just found the opposite to be the case when I went to buy a pair of nero's the other day. Saltwateraquarium.com had them in stock, BRS didn't. Speculating about what a company *can* do isn't really a good use of anyone's time because anything can be put forth as a possibility. Can BRS "control the supply chain"? I mean, I guess it's possible for the things their companies make, but how much is that really?

Of the 12 aquarium controller manufacturers that BRS sells products for on its site, how many are influenced by BRS because of the mergers? Answer: One. BRS doesn't own Coralvue or GHL do they? To say that BRS is not exactly cornering the market is an understatement.

And yeah, BRS *could* do those things... if BRS wanted to lose money. All of the hyperbolic speculation is unreasonable if the goal of BRS is to make money. The example you just gave of "buying up all the supply so everyone is forced to buy from them" is not a winning business strategy.

 

[Nonya]

I called BRS this mourning to discuss Flow pumps, particularly the MP40. I was told the BRS, as of today, owns Ecotech Marine.

First question I though of is that since BRS also own Neptune are they gonna make them play nice together and let Apex control the lights and pumps again. I got a "not sure what the future will be with that"

interesting news

The full story is more interesting. BRS was acquired by Bertram Capital in early 2021. Then BRS bought Marine Depot. Then Neptune Systems merged with BRS. In late 2021, Bertram bought Ecotech Marine.

So that means Ecotech and Neptune products have a single parent company. It also means BRS and Marine Depot fall under the same umbrella.

 

[kados]

There is no more Marine Depot now

 

[Nonya]

There is no more Marine Depot now

Looks like you're right. It comes up as bulk reef supply. It's a monster.

 

[Nonya]

I see Petco had bought Live Aquaria several years back, then resold it to Tropical Fish International. It still comes up as liveaquaria.com.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Business expansion is not the devil, it could quite possibly bring prices back to a reasonable mark-up in these expensive times, if they did things wrong they would disappear like every other co. with operational errors. I have no issue with @Bulk Reef Supply they have always done more than right by me, until that changes, im not going to speculate anything different.

 

[neonreef3d]

Elon Musk can save the hobby!!! I hope he buys BRS

 

[Nonya]

Business expansion is not the devil, it could quite possibly bring prices back to a reasonable mark-up in these expensive times, if they did things wrong they would disappear like every other co. with operational errors. I have no issue with @Bulk Reef Supply they have always done more than right by me, until that changes, im not going to speculate anything different.

The risk is that, since the control a huge market share online, that they will stop selling certain products and steer the market in the most profitable direction, rather than catering to every niche of the hobby. As long as I can DIY most of the hobby (minus certain supplements and things with motors), I can still afford SW.

 

[Nonya]

Elon Musk can save the hobby!!! I hope he buys BRS

You mean Bertram Capital.

 

[dedragon]

Aperture Pet & Life is formed to join BRS, EcoTech, and Neptune Systems brands | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Aperture Pet & Life is a new company which was announced today to amalgamate and further develop some of our favorite reefkeeping brands. Last year investment group Bertram Capital acquired Bulk Reef…

reefbuilders.com

they are just under one overall brand now, we will see later this year if BRS decides to drop other companies or what they will end up doing

 

[Shooter6]

Business expansion is not the devil, it could quite possibly bring prices back to a reasonable mark-up in these expensive times, if they did things wrong they would disappear like every other co. with operational errors. I have no issue with @Bulk Reef Supply they have always done more than right by me, until that changes, im not going to speculate anything different.

Since the mergers prices increased not decreased. That's what happens in a monopoly market.

 

[Nonya]

Acquisitions are the future. For example, Mars (the candy people) own Aquarium Pharmaceiticals (API), IAMS, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Sheba, Eukanuba, Cesar, Whiskas, Greenies, and Nutro, as well as Banfield Veterinary, among others.

 

[Nonya]

Aperture Pet & Life is formed to join BRS, EcoTech, and Neptune Systems brands | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Aperture Pet & Life is a new company which was announced today to amalgamate and further develop some of our favorite reefkeeping brands. Last year investment group Bertram Capital acquired Bulk Reef…

reefbuilders.com

they are just under one overall brand now, we will see later this year if BRS decides to drop other companies or what they will end up doing

BRS isn't in a position to drop any companies on its own.

 

[dedragon]

and yes, I think we all suspected bertram would continue to acquire more aquarium companies when they got BRS and BRS bought marinedepot. People were hoping they wouldnt be merged and be considered sister companies but i dont think that is the case now

Since the mergers prices increased not decreased. That's what happens in a monopoly market.

not certain if this was due to pandemic price shifts or monopoly influence

 

[dedragon]

BRS isn't in a position to drop any companies on its own.

I know, BRS doesnt havent that control now that they were bought