CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Aquarium Depot, located at 8201 Auburn Blvd., hosted the 7^th annual Customer Appreciation Anniversary Event on Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1. Jason Liang, one of the owners of Aquarium Depot, explained that the event is a way for the business to give back to the customers who have supported them throughout the years.

The event started at 11:00 AM on Saturday, and people started lining up at 6:30 that morning—with the line wrapping around the parking lot all the way to Auburn Blvd. The first 50 customers in line each day received a free T-shirt, and customers earned a raffle ticket for each $10 spent—hoping to win tanks and equipment for their exotic habitats.

The event lasted all weekend, and thousands of customers attended. Liang was happy to see such high engagement at the event: “It’s pretty awesome — just to be part of it is fantastic. … I’m seeing a lot of our usual, regular customers that we see once a week, twice a week … but also a lot of new customers.” Liang explained that keeping exotic fish and reptiles is a luxury hobby, so “it’s really important for us to gain new audience.”  He especially loves to see parents sharing their love of the hobby with their own young children.

Dawn, Don, and Piper (8) Streubing are regulars at the Aquarium Depot, making the drive from Plumas Lake every weekend. Dawn said they got their first reptile—a frilled lizard—at the Depot and it “started a chain reaction.” Now they are raising a tree frog as well.

Citrus Heights local Caprice (15) is the proud owner of a Beta fish, and she came to the event looking for some substrate for her aquatic plants: “We come often. If we need something, we always come here.” She got in line early hoping to win one of the free T-shirts.

Orangevale resident Grace (15) keeps arachnids—including tarantulas and black widows—along with both freshwater and saltwater aquariums, so she visits the Aquarium Depot frequently: “Everyone knows me here.”

Brendon Salazar has worked for the depot for five years, and he loves helping customers build living reefs in their saltwater tanks. He said, “It’s living coral, with organisms and anemones. … It’s a thriving environment.” Salazar loves seeing the younger generation get involved in the aquarium community: “You see a lot of kids now with tablets, so it’s nice to see them get back into having a hobby.”

In addition to attracting new business and thanking loyal customers for their support, the Customer Appreciation Event is also a way for the Aquarium Depot to increase public awareness about the aquarium and reptile hobby by introducing people to an array of exotic creatures. For more information about the store, visit www.Aquarium-Depot.com.