Food for Thought

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.

In the age of online retail, it is more important than ever to have a reliable customer base. When you have the same consumers repeatedly return to your store for expert advice and products that they can only receive from you and your staff, this creates a bond of respect, trust, and cash flow for your business. The goal is to be continually assisting and educating the customer on their journey with their pet. In terms of pet health, there is always something to be focusing on that you (the local pet expert) have solutions for.

When a customer enters your pet retail store their first impression will be based on what strikes them visually. Displays play an important role in nurturing the customer experience in your pet business. Having interesting and eye catching displays will immediately make your store stand out from your competitors. A great display may make a customer stop and take notice of a product they do not typically buy. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how to make a display look like more than just products laid out on a table or sitting on some shelves. Oftentimes the simpler the display design idea the greater the impact it will have. 

Original Post by: NextPaw March 4, 2019 Local pet shops face many unique challenges. For one, how do you stand out from the pack of other independent pet retailers in your area? Or even more challenging, how do you get noticed more than big box stores with their big marketing budgets? Getting a pet owner’s attention is the first step to driving more business to your store. The act of enticing customers has become increasingly difficult as consumers choices have drastically multiplied. “The paradox of choice,” states that when people are presented with a wider selection of options, the time that a person takes to make a decision increases rather than decreases.

Within the past few years, there has been a major shift in the pet industry towards more sustainable practices. With the fast growing concern for our planet’s welfare, many companies within the pet industry (and beyond) are taking a long hard look at their personal effect on the environment and are beginning to change how they do business. Not only that, but as consumers become more aware of their impact on the planet they are seeking out sustainable brands and products more than ever before. As a retailer, you play a huge role in helping promote sustainability to this growing number of concerned consumers. Today on Earth Day it is the perfect time for you to begin taking steps towards the sustainable future consumers want. 

Creating a unique shopping experience and building customer loyalty is the most surefire way to beat out big box stores and online retail giants. You can offer insights and advice to pet parents that they can't get anywhere else and by doing this you offer a more personalized shopping experiencing. Manufacturer frequent buyer discounts paired with your own rewards program is another great way to improve the customer experience and grow customer retention. Research shows that acquiring new customers can cost 5x more than retaining current customers and by increasing retention by just 5 percent through customer loyalty programs you can boost revenue by 75 percent. Wow!