In the early 1980's I was involved in the selling and keeping of exotic birds, a hobby since early childhood. As time went by my interests transgressed into reptiles and amphibians. At the age of sixteen I began travelling in search of fine reptile species to bring back to the UK for both commercial and propagation motives. These early years took me to Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand. This time was valuable as it led me to a greater understanding of how reptiles and amphibians live in the wild and how we can replicate these habitats in our captive environments. Time spent with our overseas colleagues also put me in a great position for hands on venomous species training.
By the late eighties I had set up a business near Swindon Wilts. selling a diverse range of reptiles (including a large collection of venomous species), birds and aquatics, serving customers throughout the UK. In 1991 I abandoned all other varieties of livestock to concentrate solely on reptiles and amphibians. We moved to a much larger site located in Cirencester T/A Tropifauna, and began to stock a wide range of herpetological accessories and books. At this time we were selecting many of our species from the USA with up to 12 shipments a year, consisting increasingly of captive bred individuals.
Realising the importance of captive breeding we set up a reproductive facility in Cheltenham maintaining colubrids, boas and pythons and various lizards. Initially we produced Corns, Kings, Milks, Leopard Geckos, Yemen Chameleons, Royal Pythons, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Frilled Dragons, Bearded Dragons, Day Geckos, Plumed Basilisks, etc., then in more recent years; Bredls Pythons, Diamond Pythons, Coral Cobras, Velvet Geckos, Giant Knob Tailed Geckos, Uromastyx and Dwarf Monitor species. Many of these species were the first of their kind to be bred in the UK or even Europe.
Around 1997 we were spending so much time at the captive breeding facility we decided to relocate the store to Cheltenham. By now we were providing many of our own offspring for sale in the store and supplementing with stock from breeders around the Continent. Our sales of venomous species had also grown and we were working with many exciting species including Collett's Black's, Red Bellied's, Tigers, King Cobras, Waglers, Death Adders and Eyelash Vipers. Along with the likes of Black Headed Pythons, Womas and Stimpson's Pythons. Our extensive travelling throughout Europe also triggered an interest in naturalistic terrarium design and the all glass European style terraria.
As a result of spending vast periods of time visiting private and commercial breeders, shops and exhibitions throughout such countries as Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, Spain , Portugal, Slovakia, Russia and The Czech Republic, I realised there was a gap in the market place for premium quality, practical gimmick free reptile products. During late 2000, after three years of product research and development, the first Naturerep products were released for sale and the Company was born.
As a consequence of our networking in Europe, it was in Countries like Belgium and Germany, that Naturerep was first distributed, though ironically, it wasn't long before UK dealers and breeders were buying our products at shows and bringing them back to the UK.
By 2002 our reptile store was busting at the seams and needed to relocate again to larger premises. On December 16th 2002 we re-opened at our current site, a brand new custom built unit 2 minutes from the M5 junctions 10 and 11. The extra space allowed us to stock an even wider range of terrariums and accessories, living plants, t-shirts, books, videos and of course; reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The 1st floor of this unit, provided warehousing and distribution for Naturerep.
Currently, Naturerep has just undergone a company restructure, and is now looking for larger premises again!
Over the years our ideas and opinions toward the captive care of reptiles has modified, as has our facilities to market them. Technologies and information have all come a long way allowing us to give our animals the greatest level of care and our customers the very highest degree of support and back up.
