Trade News - October '24
Hello Koi Keepers,
October is nearly over - as crazy as that feels to say! Temps have been dropping, koi activity is slowing, and so is that of their keepers. Koi dealers, on the other hand, are springing into action with the Autumn Harvests. Some take the pilgrimage to Japan to make their selections, while others source from the comfort of home. Both provide hobbyists with a bombardment of new koi to view via social media and dealers' websites.
It’s a great time of the year to feel immersed in the buzz of buying koi. More and more dealers share their exploits in Japan, helping to bring hobbyists along for the ride during what can feel like wind-down time in the hobby. Aside from buying new koi, many dealers offer discounts on stock to make way for new arrivals and often do specials on dry goods to encourage sales.
To help you keep tabs, I’ve been checking in with some of our trade sponsors to see what they’ve got coming up in the next few weeks - so without further ado…
Coastal Koi: Dave will be heading to Japan in the new year but is starting to receive news about his Azukari koi, which have been growing in Japan over the summer. Some are pictured above. The shop is also still stocked with a good selection of koi for all pockets like those below. You can pick them up in store or get them shipped to your door!
Dave is also offering customers a chance to stock up on Saki-Hikari before the RRP price increase comes into play from 2025 - link below:
Queni Koi - Team Queni are shortly heading off to Japan. In preparation, they added the “Japan Live” section to the website. Here, all the new koi will be listed. The page already has newbies they have been purchasing via their agents whilst still in the UK, but I’m sure it’s about to become very full!
Buying trips are busy for dealers, but Adam says the team will do their best to keep new koi purchases updated and respond to customer requests. So be sure to reach out if you have a special koi in mind. Check out the link to see what they’ve already been purchasing!
Norfine Nets - Dan and the Team have been busy making new products - nets, would you believe! These new models have a net protector around the frame to prevent damage. They also make shipping easier for online sales as they split apart - avoiding damage in the post!
They are now available to order directly from Norfine, along with all their other UK-made products:
Shirley Koi - Shirley Aquatics (the mothership store) celebrated its 85th Birthday in September, a giant milestone for any company. There’s a tremendous amount of history to Shirley Aquatics, and there’s a brief summary via this link:
Shirley Koi is a branch-off, a dedicated facility for Japanese Koi, away from the hustle and bustle of the main store. It’s manned by the big boss, John Cook and his right-hand man, Dennis Wordsworth. Neither of them will mind me saying - they’ve been around a bit, so they are very handy chaps to know and quiz about all things koi.
Dennis recently informed me there are plenty of quality koi at the facility, and it could be a good opportunity to pick up something special. The best way to view their stocks is in person. The store is easy to get to and is located in Earlswood in the West Midlands.
I took this video earlier in the season, but it gives you an idea of what they have up their sleeve, although we missed bowling the bigger girls at the time.
Koi Water Barn - Tony Pitham is soon heading to Japan to make his new selections for the Autumn. An area on the website has been created to showcase these koi - clearly becoming a popular trend with dealers at the moment. New koi are definitely hot property, but don't forget to look at what the dealers already have on home soil!
The Barn still has a great selection of koi available, including their Sakai Fish Farm Collection. Amir is pretty good at keeping the website up-to-date, so it’s worth scouring through if you're on the hunt, and I know there are some special offers floating about in-store too!
Evolution Aqua - The team have been sharing information on their social media channels about the Takazumi food supplement, Kien Pro. Here’s what they’re saying...
KIEN PRO: Essential Nutrients for Your Koi.
Available in 0.5L, 1L, and 2.5L
Kien Pro compensates for the vital nutrients lost during the production process of granular feed. Its unique blend of herbs, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, trace elements, probiotics, and enzymes supports your fish’s digestion and overall health.
Use Kien Pro all year round, even in winter
Monthly: 25ml / 1000L pond water
At temperature below 12°C: Monthly 50ml / 1000L pond water
For eating or metabolic problems: One-time 100ml / 1000L pond water
Want to learn more? Visit: evolutionaqua.com/takazumi-kien-pro
Byer Koi Farm - I caught up with Amanda at The All England Koi Show - Enjoy!
Supreme Koi: Mark is doing more raffles on his WhatsApp, with a really varied array of prizes to win. I know he’s also gearing up for his infamous Christmas giveaways - I know, I know, don’t mention CHRISTMAS! But, you've got to be in it to win it!
Anyway, joining his WhatsApp group is a great way to keep tabs on giveaways and new stock from the autumn harvests.
Viking Fish Health - Simon informs me that his summer season has been incredibly busy with koi health and pond management visits, but now cooler weather is making its way in, he’s able to come up for air. It's a great opportunity to take advantage of his quieter diary - and snatch that breath from him!
As the seasons shift, it’s vital to get our koi in tip-top shape before they head into winter. If you’re not yet confident in your skills, there’s no shame in that and hired professionals like Simon are here to help. It might be worth reaching out if you suspect a problem or just want peace of mind that your koi and pond are in peak condition. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure! Besides, if you do have a problem (chances are), it won’t go away on its own.
You can read about Simon’s work in Volume Five, as he helps save a hobbyist's pond with the aid of Andy Finch (Finch Filtration Solutions). It’s a jolly good read - even if I say so myself!
Elite Koi - A word from Chris - he’s got some spooky stuff going on…
Get ready for a frightfully fun time with our Halloween Spooktacular Koi Auction!
This special event is packed with Halloween-themed surprises, featuring some incredible Koi, including the mysterious Black Magic Koi, the spooky Yamabuki Ogon (a.k.a. "Yamaspookie"), a stunning Hi Utsuri, and an amazing Showa that looks like Japanese brushwork has been painted on its head!
But that’s not all! You can join in the fun with our trick-or-treat game and the higher-or-lower card game, where top bidders get a chance to spin the wheel for amazing discounts and treats!
We're also thrilled to present a one-of-a-kind Halloween wire bonsai tree, handcrafted by our friend Wills Koi, famous for creating the world's best wire bonsai trees! Don’t miss your chance to see it, and bid on this one-of-a-kind tree set in a graveyard.
Join us for a spooky good time and a chance to snag some extraordinary Koi! Head to the website for more info and links:
Clearwater koi - Matthew Ball is heading to Japan in November and has made the following anouncement:
Japan trip 2024 - 2 spaces left
We have 2 spaces available for our buying trip towards the end of November - We are flying out on Thursday 21st November and leaving on the 1st December, arriving 2nd December.
Over the past 10 years and with a stronger Pound over the last 2 years, the costs for our Japan trip are still relatively around about the same in total. The biggest rise however is the return flight and depends on the carriers, stops, airports etc.
We’ve spent a lot of time over the past couple of years looking at all carriers, both with a change or direct and have now found on 4x trips with BA/Japan Airline & Emirates they appear to be the most cost affective. Estimated costs for Japan trip (not including koi) based on a 10 day trip is approximately £2,640.00 Gros.
Obviously this amount is approx. At present it’s around 190 Yen to a £1 - Long may a strong pound last!
The above costs can be paid direct by yourselves except the flights (flights we book with you present in our office and you pay at the time of booking). Or we can raise you an invoice for all your Japan costs, and you pay our company in a VAT produced Invoice.
If anyone is interested please direct messenger us or email shop@clearwaterkoi.co.uk.
World of Nishikigoi - The Show Season is now over, with The Junior Koi Show (BWMKS) bringing a wonderful close to the year. That has meant lockdown for me as I concentrate all my efforts on the next volume of the magazine. It’s so very, very close! I’ll be releasing more details and snippets of what to expect over the next month, so keep those eyes peeled! On that note: pick up a subscription if you haven’t already, as it guarantees you a copy!
I’ve also been saving time to sort through the many videos I have on file to put out some film content for a change - it seems a waste to forget about them! This week I made a video about Torazo Koi Farm’s Main Harvest from last year. My photos formed an article in the BKKS National Program, but this is the extended moving picture version. If you enjoy it, please subscribe to the channel as there’s plenty more to come…
With Koi Shows over, this time of the year can feel a little void of koi-related socials or events, which is a big part of the hobby for some. However, more goes on than you think. Dealers now often hold open days to showcase newly purchased koi and create a buzz, and these days out can provide a welcomed koi-fix. It's wise to keep an eye on social media, but if I hear of anything tasty, I'll be sure to spread the news.
Well, that’s it for now, so keep safe and keep those koi safe too - I’ll be glued to my desk finalising the next volume - wish me luck!
Best Wishes & Happy Koi Keeping,
Liam
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