Food for Thought

Providing pet parents with the products and services they need to make sure that they come back for more will always be one of your main goals as an independent pet retailer. It’s easy to learn about your customers by asking them questions while they are in your store; however, we often forget that to build a truly valuable relationship it has to go both ways. In order to make lasting connections with your customers and your community, you need to prove your value. Sharing the story behind your business, not only the what and the how you do it, but more importantly the why you do what you do, and most importantly why pet parents should shop with you over your competition is the value proposition you need to succeed.

It is no secret that creating a memorable in-store experience is one of the biggest ways independent pet retailers can compete with big-box stores and boost their sales. Several factors contribute to a customer’s experience in your store such as interactions with knowledgeable staff, engaging events, and an inviting store layout. The look and design of your store is one of the things that will make a lasting impression on customers both old and new. Taking a strategic approach to merchandising your store will not only improve the customer journey but ultimately boost your bottom line.

Instagram is no longer just a social media platform for personal use, in fact, there are more than 25 million business profiles on Instagram. For businesses, Instagram can be an excellent tool to help humanize your brand, engage with customers, showcase products and services, and most importantly boost sales! As the fastest-growing social media platform, it is more important than ever that small businesses have a presence on Instagram. As a busy pet retailer, it may be overwhelming to try and figure out how to use all of Instagram's features to your advantage but our quick start guide can help you get a jump on it. 

As a pet store owner, you have a ton of pet-related knowledge. That knowledge (along with your stellar inventory of products) makes a big difference when it comes to attracting and retaining customers but in this growing industry beating your competitors requires more than just excellent customer service. As a small business owner it can sometimes be difficult to find new ways to market your business, connect with customers, and bring them more value. That's where blogging comes in. Blogging is a great and affordable way you can market your business and share your wealth of pet-related knowledge effectively establishing yourself as the local 'pet expert' and connecting directly with your customers.

In the busy world of pet retail it can sometimes be a challenge to decide where to allocate your attention. You see, as a small business owner there is one resource that is the most precious of all. Time. In some case there’s only one of you—but even if you have a small staff to help you support your business, there is a big world out there and a local pet market you want to conquer. The list of tasks can sometimes seem insurmountable. You’ve got the daily maintenance of your business, the big projects you’re working towards, the moonshots you’re dreaming of, the technology and trends to keep on top of and a million and one other odd jobs on top of that. But the more you reach for, the sooner you’ll realize that you simply just can’t do it all on your own, and there is no shame in that.

The term "Made in the USA" has become a label that consumers trust and seek out when searching for the perfect food or treat for their pet. After all, the horror of the 2007 melamine debacle still resonates with pet parents and subsequent pet food recalls remind us that it’s important to know the source and manufacturing of our food sources. A "Made in the USA" stamp on the packaging is one way to alleviate fears of off-shore (and often less standardized) sourcing. But can you trust it? Just because a product says it’s made in the USA, is it? Does it matter? Who decides this? What rules do they follow? As the trusted resource on everything pet you'll need to be ready to answer these questions for pet parents in your community.