Retailer Wishlist

Grooming Brands: Here’s What Retailers Want and Need from You!

Doodle kits, dry ear solutions and educational support are top requests from stores in this issue’s Retailer Wishlist.

Published

1 year ago

October 26, 2022

PETS+ Staff PETS+ September-October 2022

More face wash options. We do blueberry facials on all grooming and self-wash dogs, but I’d love to see maybe cranberry, charcoal or lavender. — Brianna Swanberg, Mutts + Meows Natural Pet Market, Nashville, TN
I would like to see more information on the effect of certain grooming tools on pet fur. For example, are brushes cutting fur, pulling loose fur, or pulling at both loose and attached fur? An institutionally trained groomer came in to the store once and pointed at each item on the rack and told me which were just good for bonding, which would actually damage fur, and made suggestions for ones to carry that were professional grade yet affordable. — Angela Velasquez, The Kitty Bodega, Houston, TX
Samples we can put in the hands of our groomers. If it’s something we’d list as an upgrade, they won’t upsell without having tried it and liked it! — Erin Paitrick, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Summerville, Summerville, SC”
More products that use essential oils instead of artificial fragrances. — Shawn Kombogiannis, Pet Wants, Lakeway, TX
Kits that include everything for bath time: towel, lick mat, brush shampoo, etc. — Diedra Giles, Reeses Barkery and Pawtique, McHenry, IL
Kitten and puppy products. There are so many new pet owners looking for products for these pets. — Debbie Lange, Benson’s Canine Cookies, Lakeland, FL
A “dry ear” solution like for human swimmers. I’m paranoid always about water getting in my dogs’ ears! — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
More POP displays. I have to make my own, and they don’t look as professional. — Julie Hilt, Animart Pet, Beaver Dam, WI
A silent grinder. Many dogs, including my own, are terrified of getting their nails done. — Michele Saharic, Barkley’s Marketplace, Flemington, NJ
A salicylic acid shampoo, unscented. — Andrea Demmons, The TailGait Market, Asheville, NC
Styptic powder in a “one piece” container with the lid attached to the base, and you can open it one-handed. If you quick a squirmy pup and are trying to not get blood all over the place … details matter! — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI
A cat spritz would be fun to bring in. We do have a foaming waterless shampoo, but no “body spray.” — Samantha Youngblood, Youngblood’s Natural Animal Care Center and Massage, Wilkinson, IN
A grooming product with colloidal silver. Great for healing skin with hot spots. It’s also antifungal, antimicrobial, and not toxic if they were to lick the skin. — April Meier, Pawsitively, Scrumptious, Crestview, FL

What’s the Brain Squad?

If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. pet business serving the public, you’re invited to join the PETS+ Brain Squad. Take one five-minute quiz a month, and you’ll get a free t-shirt, be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting the pet industry. Sign up here.

NASC Media Spotlight

At first it was just an idea: Animal supplements needed the same quality control that human-grade supplements receive. But that was enough to start a movement and an organization —the National Animal Supplement Council — that would be dedicated to establishing a comprehensive path forward for the animal supplements industry. In this Media Spotlight interview, NASC’s president, Bill Bookout, talks to PETS+ interviewer Chloe DiVita about the industry today: Where it’s headed, what’s the latest focus and why it’s vital to gain the involvement of independent pet product retailers.