TEEf! This new dental product is a game changer. There is nothing else on the market that has as much scientific evidence proving significant reduction in bad bacteria. — Diane Groff, Other End of the Leash, Durham, NC
Products
- FROMM Crunchy Os. All flavors are selling great. We give samples of a flavor that hasn’t been tried. The next time the customer comes in, they usually buy the sampled flavor. — Nancy Okun, Cats N Dogs, Port Charlotte, FL
- My best seller of the month, other than our regular food and treats, was GAMMA food storage containers. People are looking for ways to stretch their dollars, and buying larger bags and storing. — Keith Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC
- Raw food! People are learning the importance of fresh feeding and adding fresh to their pet’s current diet. We love to promote and sell fresh food because of the benefits for health and wellness. We carry ANSWERS, THE BONES & CO, VITAL ESSENTIALS, SCOUT & ZOE’S AND PRIMAL. — Samantha Youngblood, Youngblood’s Natural Animal Care Center and Massage, Greenfield, IN
- My No. 1 seller was CBD DOG HEALTH — Heal. We had Angela Ardolino and her team come into our store and host a seminar on CBD and animal health. We did a Facebook live and had a great turnout in- store. I think it sells well because of the price point, $99.99, and because the packaging makes it easy to understand. We have repeat buyers so that tells us it’s working and our customers are seeing results with it. — Elaina Stanley, Three Happy Hounds, Fernley, NV
- BRAVO! Dry Roasted Duck Feet for $1.09 each. They’re on our front counter as an impulse buy, and it works. I believe customers like them because they’re a unique treat and dogs love them. We like them, because it’s pretty much a guaranteed sale if the customer picks it up or asks about it. — David Price, Alabama Pet Foods, Pelham, AL
- WEST PAW Qwizl. Customers love the guarantee and the sturdy toy. — Gudrun Cobb, Uncommon Paws, Portland, ME
- Aquarium livestock were our best sellers in January. There’s a big upswing in the winter as people are indoors more and focus on their fish tanks. — Nicole Olesen, Woofs & Waves, Sioux Falls, SD
- Our own HAWAII DOGGIE BAKERY product: Doggie Lai See for Chinese New Year. Lai See are red good luck envelopes and are typically given out to the children and unmarried adults in the family from the married adults. We make biscuits shaped like Chinese Coins and put them in red envelopes! People buy for their dogs and also more to give out to friends. — Niki Libarios, Hawaii Doggie Bakery, Honolulu, HI
- ZIWI PEAK. The salesperson really wants to get the food moving so she had promos in November, December and January. In January, she did a Buy One Get One Half Off. It was on all the flavors, and it seems to have worked because this month I have already seen purchases without the sale. — Paula Gorman, Pet Supplies ‘N’ More, Muskego, WI
- HIGGINS Worldly Cuisines. Six flavors, cook and serve. As cheap as #2.98 so people can try them and not worry that they’ll be tossing away money if their bird won’t eat it. Placed on an endcap. Has been very consistent for a year or more. — Paul Lewis, Birds Unlimited, Webster, NY
- Frozen raw food! We ran a “Frozen Fest” in the month of January and worked with our reps to offer sales and to hold “Sip & Learn” Yappy Hours once a week. What a great response! People learned about feeding raw and took home samples. Yes, they came back in droves to buy! — Tammy Vasquez, Bark Life Market, Seminole, FL
- MIKA & SAMMY’S Philly Chicken Cheesesteak. Every dog (or human) who tries these, loves them! Made in our hometown, a huge plus for us! No additives, preservatives. Every flavor is awesome, but this is our top — but what would you expect from the Philly area! Family owned and operated. — Sue Hepner and Paula Jaffe, Cool Dog Gear, Langhorne and Warrington, PA
Services
- We have two dog agility competitors on our training team, and offer 20-minute agility training sessions as an add-on to our Educational Daycare. These really took off! — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones Dog Academy, Providence, RI
- Aquatic massage and conditioning, done in an indoor heated pool. Primary customer has a dog with arthritis or damaged crainial cruciate ligament. I love to offer this service because it’s so beneficial to dogs. I sell this service in packages: buy three get one free. — Diane Pekarek, Modern Dog Massage,
Medina, OH
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.