Enter the 2026 PETS+ Retailer’s Choice Awards for recognition, media exposure and the potential to boost sales!

ELIGIBILITY

1) Products available wholesale to retailers for sale to consumers may be entered in the contest. Entrants — whether with the manufacturer or submitting on behalf of the manufacturer with approval — must be 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Employees (and their immediate families and household members) of SmartWork Media and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, or any other companies sponsoring the contest, are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law.

2) Products must meet the requirements of the category in which they are entered.

IMAGE SUBMISSION

All images must be:

• Submitted via our entry form; please do not send images separately via email.
• On a white background with no surrounding text
• Of only one product; you can mention in the description if it’s part of a line.
• Accepted file types: JPG, TIF and PNG
• 300 dpi for online and print reproduction
• 4 x 6 inches minimum

NOTE: Please proof all images and copy before submitting; we cannot change after submission. The image and copy you supply will be used in all PETS+ Retailer’s Choice Awards online and print products.

WINNER SELECTION

PETS+ will showcase all category entries in the May-June issue Voting Guide and online, giving retailers a clear view of the top products and opening doors to new relationships. Pet product retailers will then receive an online ballot to select the ‘Retailer’s Choice’ winners in each category.

Winners will be notified in August 2026.

EXPOSURE:

All entries will be:

• Featured in the online PETS+ Voting Guide during contest voting period.
• Featured in the print PETS+ Voting Guide in the May-June 2026 issue, guaranteeing exposure and readership among the entire pet retail community for your brand and product.
• Featured in the PETS+ Voting Guide digital publication for a full year.

Winners will be:

• Featured in the 2026 September-October issue of PETS+
• Showcased online at petsplusmag.com
• Featured in a product e-blast promoting winners. Individual categories also will be featured.
• Sent a PETS+ Retailer’s Choice Award logo to promote your accolade.

GENERAL RULES

1) Entries that do not comply with any of these rules will be disqualified.

2) By entering the contest, you grant SmartWork Media the right and license to reproduce, publish, distribute and display your entry materials (and portions thereof) in any of its SmartWork Media publications in all media and/or advertising, and you represent and warrant:

• That the information provided in your entry form is accurate and complete;
• That the product(s) you entered belongs to your company, that SmartWork Media’s use and publication of your entry materials will not infringe upon or otherwise violate any trademark, copyright, trade secret, patent or other intellectual property right, any right of publicity, privacy or other personal right or any law, rule or regulation;
• That you have obtained all necessary licenses and releases from persons involved in creating your entry materials (including photographers) so that SmartWork Media will not incur any obligation or liability to them based upon its use or publication of your entry materials.

3) Entries must include an entry fee of $395 for first entry, $150 for each additional entry (discounted rates may apply). The entry fee is nonrefundable, regardless of whether or not your entry is determined to be ineligible or disqualified, unless competition is cancelled or postponed by SmartWork Media.

4) SmartWork Media reserves the right to cancel or postpone all or portions of the competition for any or no reason. If you have submitted an entry for a cancelled or postponed portion of the competition, SmartWork Media will refund your entry fee for that entry within 30 days of the decision to cancel or postpone, and the licenses granted by you to SmartWork Media under these rules for the affected entries will terminate. In addition, SmartWork Media reserves the right to combine categories.

By entering, you accept and agree to be bound by these rules and by the decisions of SmartWork Media regarding the same. SmartWork Media’s decisions are final on all matters regarding the Awards.