FEBRUARY

1 To promote NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH, create a “treasure map” customers can follow to find the many products in your store that support healthy teeth and gums. “X” can mark the spots for raw bones, dental powders, teeth-cleaning toys, dental chews and so on, complete with themed signage at each. Consider a discount on top of any promotions for customers who purchase a product from all of the “treasure chests.” It’s a great way to get them into areas of your store they may not regularly visit. If you offer grooming, tie into your teeth brushing add-on.

11 Football-themed jerseys, collars, bandanas, toys, cookies and more get the spotlight around SUPERBOWL LVIII! We love to reshare this simple tip from Brown Dog Bakery in Ankeny, IA: They use white duct tape and “grass” carpet to create a football field pups can pose on for the store’s annual Puppy Bowl Photo Contest on social media.

14 There are endless ways to show love and create a customer experience around VALENTINE’S DAY. Need a new-to-you idea? At Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique in Bradley, IL, customers can decorate a Valentine for their pet, which then hangs in the store window (shown above). On Valentine’s Day, the “love letters” get entered into a drawing for prize bags, one each for dog and cat, filled with vendor-supplied products. Firehouse Pet Shop in Wenatchee, WA, puts a fun spin on its annual Valentine’s Day photo booth: The “Smooch the Pooch” event gives discounts ranging from 10% to 20%, depending on the length of kiss between person and pet! And All Things Pawssible in Charlottesville, VA, gives handwritten Valentines to each customer when they pick up their dogs from day care during the week of Valentine’s Day.

20 Still have Valentine’s Day product in stock? Instead of deeply discounting or packing it away, give it a second push on NATIONAL LOVE YOUR PET DAY. Some customers may have been too busy celebrating with their human and need an apology gift for their other loved one.

22 Follow the lead of Four Muddy Paws in St. Louis, MO, during NATIONAL WALK YOUR DOG DAY. The stores hold a two-week promotion highlighting collars, harnesses and leashes, plus poop bags and holders. If your store sits in an area suitable for pack walks, plan one during your promotion to bring customers together and further create community.

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MARCH

1 On PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS DAY, sample your pet-friendly nut butters and get photos of the funny faces pups make when they indulge. Share on your socials along with a promotional bundle of nut butter with lick mat.

3-9 Pet Sitters International celebrates its 30th annual NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL PET SITTERS WEEK! If you don’t offer such services to promote, use this opportunity to connect with and support these amazing caretakers in your community. Some pets don’t do well in boarding and need in-home services. Launch a referral program to benefit you both.

9 & 13 Celebrate NATIONAL BARBIE DAY (Mar. 9) and NATIONAL KEN DAY (Mar. 13) with an inspired-by photo set like this one from Canine Culture in Laredo, TX. We’re pretty sure the interest that generated $1.44 billion in movie ticket sales (at press time) will still be high, helping you push any related products you carry and services you offer.

17 Celebrate ST. PATRICK’S DAY and encourage foot traffic with a “Turn Your Green Into Green” promotion. Pet Palace of New City in New City, NY, does this annually, giving customers who wear green 20% off their purchase.

20-22 Leading up to, during and after GLOBAL PET EXPO in Orlando, FL, promote the heck out of your attendance. Ask customers what they want you to look out for, share videos from the show floor and wrap up back once home. Not attending? We’ve got you covered! The PETS+ team will be reporting live from GPE, per usual, with a flurry of video interviews with brands. You can share those with your followers!