The success of these relatively new products, however, may first depend upon on whether or
not pet specialty retailers see value in them.
Not all pet specialty stores are created equal.
Not exact matches
If you don't know what these are, you're probably
not familiar with the world of exotic, or
specialty,
pets.
According to
Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communications and events, the increased level of early booth sales is a clear indicator that
specialty - equipment businesses can
not afford to miss the annual Show.
Still, this category requires a bit of brain power and elbow grease from
pet specialty retailers, as these products won't typically sell themselves.
While the past five years of economic strife have proven disastrous for many retailers, five
pet specialty chains prove that it is possible to
not only survive, but grow in a difficult economy.
But what does it mean for independent
pet specialty retailers who aren't operating on an Amazonian budget?
«We have the value of being able to produce affordable products, but in
pet specialty brands that are
not available to mass retailers.
Retailers can encourage small animal owners to shop in their store by
not only carrying some of these
specialty foods, but also educating owners about how the foods can benefit their
pets.
The need for housetraining products is
not going away —
not as long as people have
pets — making this an excellent category for
pet specialty retailers, says Linda Jangula, owner of Jalyn Enterprise, LLC.
It has always been committed to the independent
pet specialty market and does
not plan to delve into the mass market or other channels.
Yet, while it advantageous to have treat market that is flush with options, at the same time,
pet specialty retailers must be careful
not to overwhelm consumers with too many choices, caution experts.
Creating a personal experience that shoppers can't find in larger stores or online will serve
pet specialty retailers well and may help combat the showrooming that has become so endemic, says Johnson.
«Offering a distinct set of high - quality products will differentiate their stores from national
specialty chains that don't sell a wide variety of alternative
pet food products.»
Dr. Baumwart said most veterinarians don't have a board - certified
specialty, but he wants
pet owners to know that
specialty care is available if they should ever need it.
Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen an important
pet specialty food brand gobbled up by a large CPG company from the human - food world — Mars, Inc. acquired Nutro in 2007 and Del Monte bought Natural Balance in 2013.
Jack's Pets isn't the only
pet specialty retailer thinking outside the box to harness the power of the Internet for itself and its customers.
While the sale of crocodilians in the
pet trade is illegal in some places,
pet specialty retailers that are
not subject to such bans should be aware of the species that make for fantastic
pets for capable owners.
Dog treats are
not just great tasting, they've become more functional, giving dog owners the ability to better match treat to lifestyle and
pet specialty retailers the chance to ring up higher sales.
Many of the industry experts we spoke with for the cover story noted that the
pet industry is full of small, niche distributors that are ready and willing to step in and pick up any
specialty lines that do
not fit into the business model of large distributors.
Grain - free dog foods and treats offer significant benefits that are
not limited to fostering canine well - being but also enable
pet specialty retailers to create a healthier and stronger bottom line.
Knowing the trends and attributes important to customers and stocking accordingly isn't enough;
pet specialty retailers need to call attention to the features and benefits of their bed and mattress inventories and be aware of buying trends in the category.
WellPet prides itself
not only on making the healthiest natural products for
pets, but also on supporting
specialty retailers, whom they consider the backbone of the industry.
«Pet
specialty shoppers want science and quality in the products they choose for their
pets,» said Dale Metz, director of companion animal business unit at Vets Plus, Inc. «Smart Fido USA and Smart Kitty USA products are formulated to meet these expectations with a solid basis in science and a list of high - quality ingredients that doesn't include soy, gluten or artificial colors and flavors.»
It was
not long ago that health - conscious
pet owners looking for all - natural treats for their
pets would find only a smattering of options at their local
pet specialty retailers.
For this article,
Pet Business partnered with GfK to get the latest data for the
pet food market — which, at the time this article went to print, included data collected up to October 2017 — so we could dig into what is currently selling in
pet specialty (and what's
not) to shed some light on this complex subject for store owners.
Consumer awareness of grain - free dog foods and treats is high, but this doesn't mean
pet specialty retailers can kick back and let the products sell themselves — retailers must educate, promote and discuss.
Skimping on the selection may also cost
pet specialty retailers
not just one sale but multiple sales to the same customer, since, as Cao observes,
pet owners tend to buy more than one of these items during a visit to the store.
Still, I can
not imagine a worse business decision for a
pet specialty retailer than opting out of the category altogether.
Along with directing customers to the appropriate solutions,
pet specialty retailers should be prepared to offer concrete dos and don'ts that customers can act on.
«I wanted to change the experience [of shopping at a
pet specialty store] so that
not only do you have an aesthetically pleasing place to come into, but most importantly, a place where you can come to be educated and trust that everything you see in the store, I have personally looked at and vetted to [ensure] that it is best for your
pet.»
Yet, while Kriser did
not possess a crystal ball, he believed
pet owners would respond favorably to an independent
specialty retailer that went above and beyond what the supermarkets and big - box stores were offering both in terms of product assortment and customer service.
There are additional benefits
pet specialty retailers may
not even be thinking of, such as lighter and smaller packaging, says Sternlieb.
Every
pet specialty retailer would be wise to follow this example, but it's important to keep in mind that simply cutting a check to a humane society probably won't be enough.
Pet Valu is
not the only
pet specialty retailer with the considerable resources of private equity behind it.
We don't compound medication in - house, but use a licensed and accredited
specialty pharmacy to make the compounds for your
pets which are then delivered directly to you.
The Timberwolf Organics brand may
not be one of the most popular brands on the market, but only because it is primarily sold in
specialty pet food stores and from the company website.
If there's any area of
pet retail where the internet can't directly compete, it's services, and with oodles of prime real estate, PetSmart, Petco, Petsense and other
pet specialty chains can be expected to evolve ever further into service - oriented
pet health destinations, with veterinary at the leading edge and additional top - dog product marketers joining forces.
We have a state of the art veterinary facility which is
not only clean, comfortable, and efficient, but is easy to get to and offers a variety of healthcare services for your
pets including
specialty care.
Not all veterinary clinics are equipped to provide oxygen support for extended periods of time, so it is possible your veterinarian may have you take your
pet to an area emergency clinic or
specialty hospital for treatment.
Not sure if your
pet needs a
specialty appointment?
If you think, or know, that your
pet is in need of a
specialty procedure, please do
not hesitate to call us at 215-331-2968 for a quote or to set up a consultation.
If you are
not completely satisfied with the diet, return it to the
pet specialty retailer or veterinary hospital for a 100 % refund or an exchange.
Amazon is
not a platform that promotes brand storytelling, so our strategy is to «invest» in
pet specialty brick - and - mortar retailers who can help us build brand awareness and who can educate consumers about our premium - quality American - made products.
As Philip L. Francis, CEO of PetSmart Inc. (PETM), the world's largest
pet specialty retailer, explains: «You can't train a fish or groom a snake.»
Paw's -
n - Claw's is owned and operated by Misty Stephan, a Registered Veterinary Technician, who has acquired over 25 years of career experience and
specialty skills working with local veterinarians and area
pet care facilities.
Not only that, TSC is a great place to shop, and closer to me than any
pet specialty stores.
Optimizing a product assortment for the travel category isn't exactly easy for
pet specialty retailers.
Global
Pet Expo gets bigger every year, and that creates opportunities
not only for
pet specialty stores looking for innovative products, but also for grocery stores that know they need to keep up with trends.
It is currently
not found in most of the big name retailers, but a numbers of smaller
specialty shops across the country do carry the product, and the company website provides a handy store locator to allow curious
pet parents to find the nearest Honest Kitchen retailer to them.