Fancy Schmancy Pee Pads, Plus 60-Plus More Hot Sellers for Indie Pet Stores

The new pee pads from THE AVALON SOCIETY sold really well. We sold 18 in September, and they just came in. $24.99 retail. We promoted them with a fun Reel/Video and a promotion in our newsletters. (Editor’s note: See the video at instagram.com/fourmuddypaws. It’s hilarious!) — Jeffery Jensen, Four Muddy Paws, St. Louis, MO

K-9 SkinRescue by LĀ‘AU INC. We brought this in at SUPERZOO and sold out within weeks. We’ve already reordered twice! We carry the 2 ounce, and it’s $30 retail. We get it direct from Lā‘au Inc. We’ve sold 25 units in just over a month. — Jennifer Guevin, Holistic For Pets, Bradenton, FL

• We had a special sale to launch the new FLUVAL Aquaclear power filters and sold 31 units! The filters were 30% off, and if you brought in a used filter for an upgrade, you got the new filter for half price! We had brand support in the form of the Fluval rep here all day and a bunch of Fluval swag to give away. — Bill Trufant, B & B Pet Stop, Mobile, AL
• FIRSTMATE Grain Friendly Duck & Oats 25 pounds. It’s our No. 1 kibble seller, even though, overall, we sell more raw than kibble by revenue. FirstMate offers great deals for purchasing in large quantities, so at the beginning of every quarter, and sometimes two times per quarter, we take advantage of this offer and stock up. It helps our margins significantly! — Molly Lewis, Dog River Pet Supplies, Hood River, OR
• A&E Java Tree stands and table-top perches, huge variety and price points. They always sell better when there’s a group of six or more. Made well, priced accordingly. — Paul Lewis, Birds Unlimited, Webster, NY
• On Neighborhood Pet Store Day, many products were on sale, but WERUVA offered 25% off on all of its canned foods (cat and dog) that day. We sold 261 units. — Denise Strong, Pawz On Main, Cottonwood, AZ
• My dog-treat display counter. Half is devoted to gourmet iced dog treats from PREPPY PUPPY BAKERY. They look and smell human-bakery quality. I also have single-serve bully braids, pig ears, regular and filled cow hooves, bags of treats, etc. This is my checkout counter! Customers have to stand there and look at it while they wait for their crickets, worms, other staple items to be packaged and input into the POS. It gives them plenty of time to have an idea before we ask, “Is there anything else I can get for you today?” It usually works. — Amber Hudson, The Aquarium Pet Store, Weatherford, OK
• Last month we started carrying K9 GRANOLA FACTORY Original Small Batch Chew Sticks. It’s a 10-count 7-inch chew, star shaped like a churro in a resealable bag. In Pumpkin & Honey and Blueberry Coconut Cobbler, and retails for $17.99. I attribute the popularity to the time of the year (it’s fall, y’all), but they do smell super yummy, and pumpkin is popular year-round. I ordered a few to try out and had to restock in a week, which is not typical of products here unless they go on clearance. — Corey Heenan, Boutique And Pet Spa, Altamont, NY
• NATURE’S LOGIC kibble has become increasingly popular. Everyone loves the “Buy 12, Get 1 Free” program! — Samantha Youngblood, Youngblood’s Natural Animal Care Center and Massage, Wilkinson, IN
• PET HOUSE Candles were a big seller. I think people are looking forward to the holidays. — Michael Dan, Redridge Pet Market, Richmond, VA
• GO DOG toys were very popular. Lots of fun shapes, and the cow toys are very Vermont. Customers, especially fall visitors, love them. We sold six per store per week. At $12.99 for a small toy, that’s a good deal. — April Wright, The Dog and Cat, Essex Jct, VT
• NORTHWEST NATURALS allowed us to do a 10% off all SKUs (for a credit to us via distribution). The sale was great! — Jodi Etienne, Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique, Bradley, IL
• ETTA SAYS 4-inch Crunchy Chews all flavors. We put a free one in every WEST PAW Quizzle we sold. Some customers would buy extra at the time of purchase. Others would stock up after trying them. We sold 105 for $1.50 each. — Diane Mullen, Winni Paw Station, Wolfeboro, NH
• Our customers love CHLOE AND MAX bandanas that are handmade, double-sided and come in five sizes. The variety of fabrics is tremendous. Average price $18. — Elysa Cooper, Junebug’s Beach House, Kennebunkport, MA
• Strollers were a big hit in September, likely because the weather was showing signs of cooling. Prices range from $115 to $270, and we sold about 10. We only have one optional promotion as part of our rewards program, which is to get $100 off anything enrichment-related if you save 1,000 points. So for us, spend $1,000 and get $100 off, which typically only costs us $50 when you account for markup. Two of the ones we sold were discounted in that way. — Angela Velasquez, The Kitty Bodega, Houston, TX
• We sold a lot of our VITAL ESSENTIAL Raw Bar. We are running a “Buy 1, Get 1 Free Happy Hour” special from 2 p.m. to close, but it seems to be bringing attention at all times of the day as well. — Taylor England, Earthwise Pet Lake Nona, Orlando, FL
• As always, nail trims. All staff members have been trained using the protocol developed by DR. JULIE BUZBY, “Nail Trimming Without Fear.” (I’m not sure whose fear is most relevant here — the dog or the person doing the trimming — both are important and addressed by the online course.) We have a great reputation for doing a good job: We actually get the nails shorter, and the dogs have an easier time at our shop than they do elsewhere. — Susan Weyrauch, Total Dog Company, New Hope, MN
• HONEST PAWS CBD Bites and Chews: September brings storms with thunder to our area. Having a calming option is great for my guests. I sold 12 bags of the Bites and eight bags of the Chews at $25 and $35 respectively. I have customers from other states pick them up as they are not available in all locales. — Amy Wolf, The Dog Spot, Joseph, OR
• PAW PATCH PASTRIES cakes, pastries and treats. They are made fresh and customized to our client’s needs and specifications No special promotion and/or brand support. 1,000-plus at $5 on up. — Carla Ocfemia, Paw Patch Pastries & Pet Boutique, Daly City, CA
• FROMM Classic Chicken and Rice Pate 12.5 ounce for dogs. I think the fact it is family-owned, made in USA and is very economical, easy for people in the tougher economy we are in right now. — Morgan Monty, The Cheshire Horse, Swanzey, NH
• HOME RANGE chews. We sold over 400 units, no special pricing, but we created a new display, closer to the cash out. Great price points. — Savanna Skinner, The Savvy Dog, Longview, WA
• One of our best-selling products in September was the HEALTH EXTENSION Gently Cooked Pouches, priced at $5.49 each. We sold 250 pouches during the month. The success of this product was largely driven by the Neighborhood Pet Store Day promotion, where we offered a “Buy 5, Get 5” deal. This special offer not only provided customers with great value, but also helped introduce more people to the benefits of gently cooked pet food, making it a standout hit in our store. — Victor Santucci, Garden State Pet Center, Audubon, NJ
• STELLA & CHEWY’S Freeze-Dried Dinner Morsels for Cats, the promotion through Astro Loyalty Program, and FROMM Dog Rancherosa Food 12 pounds, no promotion. — Natalya Schilling, Pets On Brady, Milwaukee, WI
• FARMINA Pumpkin cans. — Gloria Von Zech, The Principled Pet, Collingswood, NJ
• WEST PAW lick mats. No special discount, just arranged them as the end cap closest to our register. They sold out quickly. — Becci Scott, The Fetching Dog, Scottsdale, AZ
• HEALTH EXTENSION shelf-stable 9-ounce Gently Cooked pouches with bone broth are really hot right now. $6.99 per pouch, $29.99/five pack and $49.99/10 pack. My customers’ dogs are hooked! — Brett Foreman, Eupawria Holistic Pet Center, Owego, NY
• Health extensions. Fromm. Virbac. — Jodi Miranda, Paw’d Pet Supplies, Coral Springs, FL
• VITAL ESSENTIALS freeze-dried on Astro on Neighborhood Pet Store Day. We SOLD OUT of every protein! MSRP is mid $30s. — Janet Cesarini, Pupology, Georgetown, TX
• WOOF Pupsicle and refills. New product to the store. — Kristen Hawkins, Pup, Carl Junction, MO
• Day care was our best seller in September. We had a lot of new pet parents sign their pups up with back to school time! — Jenn Frankavitz, Four Leggers Pet Supplies & Services, Beverly, MA
• Overnight boarding. Fully booked. Last-minute vacations, and parties where the dogs would be stressed. $50 a day. — Terri Ellen, Salem Bed and Biscuit, Salem, OR
• Rabbit feet are a huge seller for us. We put them in a jar next to the register and sell them for $1.89 each. We get them locally from RABBIT TAP here in Atlanta, GA. — Victoria Park, Park Pet Supply, Atlanta, GA
• Bulk treats we bag ourselves and sell for $4.99 or three for $12. It’s such a good value. — Pam Campbell, Bonediggity Barkery & Gifts, Gatlinburg, TN
• Fish are always a big seller going into fall and winter, as people prepare for indoor activities. — Emily Ellsworth, Pure Pet – Ohio, Salem, OH
• We did Mystery Barkpacks (mystery bags) for our Bark to School Photos, and those did very well! We were also very busy for Neighborhood Pet Store Day! — McKenna Burzimati, Roxie’s Barkery, North Adams, MA
• PUP CUP! We carry Original, Peanut Butter and Pumpkin. We debuted it on National Neighborhood Pet Store day and were topping our pup waffles with it. Folks loved it, and we sold out! We sell it for $9.99. — Kimberly Gatto, The Wagging Tail Pet Grocery & Supply, Las Vegas, NV
• Day care was our top selling service. With everyone finally back in school, their dogs needed an outlet. — Jennifer Hall, All Things Pawssible, Charlottesville, VA
• Bulk treats. They are affordable, can sample first, mix and match. $6.49 a pound, 37 pounds. — Virginia Schetter Wagz, Elevated Pets, Fort Collins, CO
• Our bestselling product of September was freeze-dried whole quail, chicks, baby quail, and rabbit heads. They’re freeze dried with the feathers and fur intact, which we promote as a natural anal gland expresser! They range from $5.99 to $13.99 in price, and we sold over 100 of each during the month (about 500 units total). — Samm Albright, Whisker & Bone, Saint George, UT
• Nail Trim Service. $15, no specials but have been advertising it more on social media. — Kirsten Puhr, The NW Dog, Poulsbo, WA
• Our bulk bar did great in September. It’s $7.99 a pound, mix and match. — Kris Lamoreaux, Healthy Pets Mountain West, Cottonwood Heights, UT
• Day care with free bath. — Hope Garlick, Little Paws of Hope, Westbury, NY
• Bully sticks have been flying off the shelves for us! Customers want to keep their pups occupied! Especially during storm and hurricane season! — Kristen Watson, The Hipster Hound, Savannah, GA
• SAVAGE CAT Quail Eggs had really nice growth for us. We did put them on a 10% off sale. I had to reorder both the frozen and freeze dried every week. We hope to see this happen with a couple other of the items Savage Cat sells. — Ruth Sturgis, Dog Daze, North Syracuse, NY
• Puzzle toys and games were big, the WOOF treat ball is slowly taking off. — Jennifer Moore Baker, Grateful Dog Bakery, North Ridgeville, OH
• Wild bird seed. Between some cooler weather and migration, the birds were eating and people were happy to feed them! — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
• We did a 25% off sale on FUSSIE CAT, and sold a LOT of cans, especially the 2.8-ounce Tuna and Salmon, as we have one customer who feeds a lot of that. — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
• Four times a day, 1-hour visits for dogs, twice a day visits, 30 min for cats — due to wet food! $66 /hr, $33/half hour. — Amber Van Denzen, Suarez Atta Boy! Animal Care Pet Sitting + Dog Walking, Mulberry, FL
• Neighborhood Pet Store Day was awesome for us, not only for people coming in but also for revenue. We did offer to have “scratch off” tickets (that we made) for either a free treat or even a year’s worth of food as the grand prize. Much anticipated by our customers. — April Meier, Pawsitively Scrumptious, Crestview, FL
• If you are asking about total $ sales, 30-pound FROMM Classic is still our top seller; no promos. But total units would be FUSSIE CAT Tuna/Chicken/Aspic pouches — current promo $0.59 each, units sold 108. — Theresa Sexton, For Healthy Pets, Wetumpka, AL
• DR. MARTY’S 48 oz Essential Wellness was a huge seller in September. That line has just exploded in recent months. — Robin Greenough, Greenfield Farmers Cooperative Exchange, Greenfield, MA
• ST. ROCCO’S TREATS keep flying out the door. These limited-ingredient treats are a hit and their generous sample policy allows us to give a piece to any dog that walks in the door. — Barbara Clemmens, Aardvark Pet Supplies, Inc., Thornwood, NY
• CBD DOG HEALTH products as a whole was one of our top sellers. — Beth Kidd, Dogs By Design, Llc, Irwin, PA
• WOOF Pupsicle. Everyone is obsessed with this item! I literally cannot keep the products in stock. — Kim Aspenleiter, Moore Equine Feed & Pet Supply, Southern Pines, NC
• VITAL ESSENTIALS Raw Bar. Eighty-eight items ranging in price from $1.49-$9.99. We removed one display in the store, which opens up the main floor, and the VE display stands out. People are drawn to it, plus it also has a good following of repeat buyers. — Randy Walker, Lakeshore Pet Boutique, Douglas, MI
• NATURAL FARM stuffed bones. We had about four cases, and they were short dated. We put on sale at half price in addition to Astro offering “Buy 3, Get 1 free.” We sold the cases in less than two weeks! — Heather Miller, Just For Pets, York, PA
• Agility class. We started two new classes in addition to the ones already offered, and filled both immediately. We have a waitlist for agility classes. So 12 new registrations, in addition to the 40 registrations we expected. — Stacy Dickinson, Dogtown, Gresham, OR
• Flea and tick products. Mostly natural ingredients. KIN + KIND pet sprays ($18.99), VET’S BEST flea and tick spray for dog or cat ($20.99). — Mary Owens, Delchester Feed and Pet Supply, Holmes, PA
• THE HONEST KITCHEN $10 off sales for Neighborhood Pet Store Day was great for us! — Sandy House, Paws ‘N Effect, Hamden, CT
• NUTRISOURCE dog and cat food was our best-selling brand for the month. We did have a one day sale on Neighborhood Pet Store Day that included NutriSource as well as other brands, and that definitely got people to stock up. — Joanna Shaw, All Pet & Equine Supply, Mountain Home, AR
• EARTH ANIMAL No-Hide Chews in 4 inch and 7 inch, and stix remain one of our best sellers. We carry Chicken, Salmon, Peanut Butter, Beef, and more specialty flavors such as Bacon Cheeseburger. We sold about 130 of these in September, and we offered a “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” sale for Neighborhood Pet Store Day. Prices are $7 for the 4 inch, $10 for the 7 inch, $15 for a bag of 10 Sitx, and $17 for an 11 inch. — Stephanie Bennett, Believe In Dog Training, Houston, TX
• TUESDAY’S NATURAL DOG 12-inch Braided Collagen Sticks. $14.99. Sold two cases (50 units). We had a very wet September. Tuesday’s is always a great seller, during rainy time it sells even better. — Roxane Cann, The Dapper Hound, Mount Airy, NC
• NULO 3-ounce canned cat food. We sold 115 cans at $1.79 each of six different varieties: This was primarily due to a “Buy 3, Get 1 free” Astro promotion on Neighborhood Pet Store Day. — Jennifer Marshall, Northwoods Pets, Rhinelander, WI