“Feel the Wind Bern Mitten cookies. Couldn’t make them fast enough,” Nancy Guinn of Dog Krazy stores in Virginia says. She made 250 personally, sold 500 total at $3 each in three days.
Products
- Coats and boots! CANADA POOCH coats and SALTSOX are our best sellers! — Penny Murano, Unleashed, New London, NH
- Aquarium livestock and new aquarium setups were selling so well! People have extra time on their hands, it’s cold, and nobody is doing much for outdoor activities so they’re more focused on what fun hobbies they can do inside. — Nicole Olesen, Woofs & Waves, Sioux Falls, SD
- CHARMING PET toys! Creative, engaging designs with lights, crinkles and different textures. — Marcia Cram, Just Fur Pets, Springfield, VA
- COUNTRY BLENDS Complete Patio wild bird seed. Great seller this time of year. — Lisa Boegl, Eldorado Country Pet, Santa Fe, NM
- FUSSIE CAT canned food is always a best seller. — Alexis Butler, The Dog’s Meow, Salt Lake City, UT
- The 2 HOUNDS DESIGN Freedom Harness, and it’s the favorite of our trainers. — Sue Hepner, Cool Dog Gear, Warrington, PA
- MIKA & SAMMY’S jerky. — Gloria Von Zech, The Principled Pet, Collingswood, NJ
- Live feeder bugs were the big seller. Lots of folks added reptiles to their family during the holidays. Customers appreciate that we source healthy feeders and give them the knowledge to keep them alive and make them a healthy meal for their creepy crawly eaters. — Liz Harris, Creatures Featured, Madison, FL
- FLUFF & TUFF toys, P.L.A.Y. toys, EARTH ANIMAL No Hides, SENTIMENTS shag beds. — Laurie Wilson, Teca Tu-A Pawsworthy Pet Emporium, Santa Fe, NM
- We sold about $1,000 in “miscellaneous” items. We always invite customers to special order items (provided they meet our standards), even if we don’t regularly stock them. Why not offer them the chance to buy from us instead of a competitor? — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
- Unique coral sales. — Bob Bianchi, Blue Ribbon Koi & Marine, Catharpin, VA
- I am seeing more of my body parts bar sell, but the best sellers are still bird food and bird toys. — Stephanie Steelman, Wings Wags and Whiskers, Amarillo, TX
- Coats, coats and more coats. — Kim Loper, Harbor Pet, Greenport, NY
- Harnesses, sweaters and health supplements boomed in January. Cold weather brought owners in to warm up their cold pups! We have seen an even larger boom in people bringing puppies into their lives. This has increased sales in chews, harnesses and a huge number of puppy classes. I have added seven puppy classes in the last month to accommodate all of the puppies! We see a lot of dogs and cats with allergies, and we help many of them. Our supplements and raw food also got a boom and continues in that direction. — Comora Tolliver, Barkers Anonymous, Hendersonville, NC
- Wild bird seed. This category has been up since last summer. I think it has to do with COVID and so many people working from home. So many new customers feeding the birds. They are home and have time to actually notice them. — Shelly Nicastro, Essex Bird & Pet Supply, Essex, MA
- Toys!!! Puppy toys in particular. So many new lil’ ones. — Anna Woodcock, Ankeny, IA
- Locally made meat treats. Regular best seller, no promos necessary. We also saw an uptick in one brand of frozen and one brand of kibble. Most likely due to growth overall. More customers are finding us. — Becci Scott, Fetching Dog, Scottsdale, AZ
- ANSWERS Goats Milk (as usual). — Michelle McConnell, A Natural Pet Pantry, Osprey, FL
- Our best sellers year-round are still live animals. No promotions on live animals. We do offer a 20 percent discount on all of their supplies on any newly purchased animal. — Rhonda Olson, Rhonda’s Aviary, Milton, FL
- Duck feet are always a top seller — inexpensive chew with a great source of chondroitin and a natural teeth cleaner. Second up was HAPPY HOWIE’S 6-inch Beef Woof Stix. We have ’em right by the counter for an easy 99 cent add-on sale! — Matthew O’Leary, Felix & Oscar, Springfield, VA
- Raw category was up nearly 10 percent as a whole. — Nicole Cammack, NorthPoint Pets, Cheshire, CT
- ZIGNATURE Ziggy Bar BOGO. I mean, who doesn’t like free treats? Especially with the wide array of protein options. From lamb to goat, they’ve got ’em! — Jack Carey, Food for Pets, Manchester, NH
- We’re full-line, and everything is going like crazy! New animals, set-ups, supplies, etc. — Paige Elder, Buzz n’ B’s Aquarium & Pet Shop, Erie, PA
- LED collars! We recently started carrying NITE IZE NiteHowl LED collars that light up for nighttime use. They come in a bunch of different colors and are completely adjustable. I personally bought two for my own dogs and realized how great they are before deciding to sell them in our retail area. I also recently found out how easy and cheap the batteries are to swap out when needed. They were a huge hit this last month, and I’ll be putting in an order for more soon! — Natalie Bosch, Albany Pet Hotel, Albany, OR
- Big sellers were bully sticks, joy sticks and raw bar items. Canned dog and cat food and ANSWERS goat milk were also big movers. We had a promo on the goat milk before the holidays, and I’m sure that helped boost Jan. sales. — Jodi Etienne, Razzle Dazzle Doggies Bow-tique, Bradley, IL
- CBD by Pet Releaf. — April Meier, Pawsitively Scrumptious, Crestview, FL
- SOGGY DOGGY — the whole line. It has been on my top favorite list for years. Helps with snow and mud, easy to use the shammy on wet dogs. — Beth Staley, Happy Dog Barkery, Downers Grove, IL
- Raw. We finally got our new glass door Minus 40 freezer, and the results speak for themselves. Customers can see the product, and the glass door is inviting. — Brett Foreman, euPAWria Holistic Pet Center, Owego, NY
- We did a calendar with different companies (they had to pay to get in the calendar). For January 2021, the featured food was STELLA & CHEWY’S, so they had a sale on their products and there was an increase in their food and supplements. — Paula Gorman, Pet Supplies ‘N’ More, Muskego, WI
- Cockatiels. We have a waiting list of about 30 to 40 people always. It’s been this way for the past year. — Paul Lewis, Birds Unlimited, Webster, NY
- Per-pound Treats. We did a “Welcome to 2021” with 25 percent off per pound. One of our best sellers always. — Nikki Fredericksen, Fetching Frieda’s Dog & Cat Emporium, LaSalle, IL
- WHOLESOMES treats are a steady best seller. You can’t beat the value, and dogs love them. — Sandy House, Paws N Effect, Hamden, CT
- Coats, coats and more coats! We have a very nice selection for a store of our size, so we sell a lot of them. — Caroline Gunther, Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, Hendersonville, NC
- Raw food sales were up. EARTH ANIMAL No Hides were up and other chews to keep dogs occupied. — Leslie Stewart, Southern Barker, Lexington, KY
- Locally handmade dog collars, ETTA SAYS! bully stick chews, locally handmade candles. — Megan Meiran, Wagamuffins Dog Boutique, Mooresville, NC
- Small animal cage accessories. I think lots of people got new little pets during COVID. We also moved and are seeing an increase in business. Seasonal sellers were Mardi Gras colored items. We didn’t do any promotions other than continuing to point out that we moved. — Rachael Creech, Adventure Pets and Adventure Pets Covington, Mandeville and Covington, LA
- M.E.D. Healing Shampoo by BEST SHOT. I have a hard time keeping it in stock. I just purchased a case. It helps and stops all skin issues and the fleas cycle as long as you are on a flea/tick prevention also. — Frances Rivera, Pause For Paws, Chincoteague Island, VA
- SMALL BATCH lightly cooked has really taken off for us lately. I think it’s due to the FreshPet supply issues. — Jennifer Guevin, Holistic for Pets, Sarasota and Bradenton, FL
- VALUPAK dog food $33 for 50 pounds. It’s a regular high seller but has been growing. — Trace Menchaca, Flying M Pet Grocery, Houston, TX
- Our bakery treats sales were way up, nearly double from last January. Our kitchen is now on the sales floor, which has really increased sales. Bulk chew sales were also up to last year. I attribute this to people staying home more and also to the amount of newly adopted pets over the last eight months. — Jennifer Thomas, Lucky Dog Pet Grocery & Bakery, Lawrence, KS
- N-BONE teething rings! No promo, just lots of pandemic puppies. — Annabell Bivens, The Dog Store, Alexandria, VA
- Valentine’s Day toys and treats bundled into our signature gift boxes were huge! Customers are really responding to the creative packaging and seasonal aspect. Coming up with a different theme for each month is super fun for staff, and they really get involved in the pre-buying aspect! — Pattie Zeller, Animal Connection, Charlottesville, VA
- Turkey tendons. — Susanna Furlone, The Wishbone Pet Company, Freedom, CA
- All types of chews, especially bullies and EARTH ANIMAL No-Hides. Wisconsin weather makes chew sales skyrocket according to the weather predictions. — Connie Roller, The Feed Bag Pet Supply, Mequon, WI
- With winter weather, puppy pacifiers have been huge. KONG, bones, etc. — Keith Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC
- CBD oil and green-lipped mussel. — Roncy Roehm, Canyon Pet Lodge, Puyallup, WA
- STELLA & CHEWY Kibble, CANINE BUTCHER SHOP dog chews, LENNOX dog chews. — Frank Frattini, The Hungry Puppy, Farmingdale, NJ
- Still natural chews. I have expanded my Bully Bar offerings and have widened my price range to $1.99-$39.99 (for bagged bully sticks). Supplements are growing slowly/slightly. Birthday Bar is getting more attention, as are toys like leather and natural teeth cleaners/chew toys. I’m replacing some WEST PAW with TALL TAILS and BECO. — Janet Cesarini, Pupology, Georgetown, TX
- With major winter weather happening in January, we sold a lot of dog coats/sweaters (THE WORTHY DOG, FAB DOG, CHILLY DOG) and boots (ULTRA PAWS). Customers were also looking for things to occupy their dogs: LICKI MATS, puzzles and long-lasting chews. — Kaye Busse-Kleber, Bark On Mulford, Rockford, IL
- P.L.A.Y. Toucan. — Lynda Allen, Emerald City Pet Supplies, Seattle, WA
- A & E CAGE COMPANY’s playtop cage! It’s a huge favorite because of its well thought-out design and efficiency for the home. — Sal Salafia, Exotic Pet Birds Inc, Webster, NY
- Our local raw dog and cat food, and WERUVA cat food have been our biggest sellers. They are typically super popular at our store. The raw is big because we take the time to educate our customers on how to serve it and all the benefits. — Anna Fortini, Croton Pet Station, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
- Our top-selling brand is FROMM, but FARMINA but was up 66 percent and was our second highest brand. NUTRISOURCE Large Breed Puppy was our highest-increase product (both grain free and grain inclusive). — Jennifer Larsen, Firehouse Pet Shop, Wenatchee, WA
- We showed a large increase in toy sales! Evidently people are spending more quality time and wanting to stimulate their cats, dogs and small animals. — Jennifer Flanagan, Nature’s Pet Market Sherwood, Sherwood, OR
- Chews were six of our top 10 best sellers in January. Everyone wants to keep their pups occupied while they are working from home! — Amy Schiek, Lucky Dogs, Skaneateles, NY
- Winter set in, and the cold temps came out — which means coats and fleeces were our big sellers. — Johnna Devereaux, Fetch RI, Richmond RI
- SWELL Gelato sold great. Dogs love it. Promo: Buy four, get 10 percent off. If it’s a dog’s birthday, get 1 free. — Nancy Okun, Cats n Dogs, Port Charlotte, FL
- Interactive feeders because of the amount of new puppies we are seeing! — Toni Shelaske, Healthy Pet Products, Pittsburgh, PA
- STEVE’S REAL FOOD raw has taken off! We’ve stocked it on and off for a decade, but their new sample program has generated a ton of new fans. We are able to give away an 8-ounce sample patty in one of three proteins for clients to try. Since it’s approved for dogs and cats, it’s a hit with clients with both. No promotions, but they do have a frequent buyer program through Astro. We brought in the 20-pound size boxes to accommodate all the multi-pet households! We are thrilled, of course! — Karen Conell, The Bark Market, Delavan, WI
- Himalayan cheese sticks. People looking to keep their dogs busy. — Gina Swansburg, Gone to the Dogs, Wakefield, MA
- Our baked treats and dog cakes fly out the door. — Jennifer Moore, Baker, Grateful Dog Bakery, North Ridgeville, OH
- ANSWERS goat milk continues its lead. — Diana Farrar, Fifi & Fidos Pet Boutique, San Antonio, TX
- NORTHWEST NATURALS raw bulk food. — Lorin Grow, Furry Face,Redlands, CA
Services
- Cold weather is wreaking havoc on dogs suffering from osteoarthritis. My best-selling service in January was in-home canine massage training for pet parents. — Diane Pekarek, Modern Dog Massage, Cleveland, OH
- Events and add-ons are a hit because they are fun, original and break up the winter blahs. We had to get creative to boost revenue with decreased day care and boarding numbers. Add-ons like our Winterberry Pupsicle treats, Woofles on Wednesdays,
Crafty K9 Days, Frozen Friday Ice Cream Socials, and event days like Snow Much Fun Pawty definitely help and are popular. — Krista Lofquist, Wagging Tails, Wolcott, CT
- Deshedding and moisturizing treatments. — Rachel Diller, The Poodle Shop, Littleton, CO
- Doggy Day Care Flash Sale — 20 percent off day care gift certificate with no expiration. — Tammi Bui, Wishbone Pet Care, Missouri City, TX
- Six-week Puppy Training Package. — Aaron Jones, AJ’S Waggin’ Train, Katy, TX
- Day care was busier this January compared to last January. So things are looking up, and we might come out of the pandemic stronger than when we went in. — Andy Wiltz, Woof’s Play & Stay, Merriam, KS
- Last-minute requests for overnight dog boarding. People are starting to move again, with last-minute plans to go to the coast or visit family. From very little business to almost a full schedule, things are looking up. — Terri Ellen, Salem Bed & Biscuit, Salem, OR
- Weekend visits and staycations.— Amber Van Denzen Suarez, Atta Boy! Animal Care Pet Sitting + Dog Walking, Mulberry, FL
- Boarding reservations made a slight comeback. Maybe there’s a few places people can travel now? And more puppies were gifted over the holidays, so an uptick in our Saturday Nursery School was seen as well as a renewed interest in small group training classes. Yay! — Angela Pantalone, Wag Central, Stratford, CT
- Pup N Love grooming package add-on with cookie and fresh breath spray. — Charlsye Lewis, Metro Animals, Fort Worth, TX
- Grooming the never ending supply of Doodles — Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Bernadoodles, Woodles, Shepadoodles. I think you get the idea. — Jarbas Codoy, The Dog From Ipanema, Miami, FL
- We continue to be slammed with puppy training clients, and our Puppy Day School program continues to be very popular. With the holidays behind them, clients are also signing up for group class passes as well. — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI
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