Our top-selling product was the Plush Step-In Air Mesh Harness. It is a great-looking harness available for dogs 2 to 40 pounds. The small dog owners we cater to love the fit and quality of the Plush brand. — Tom Jeffrey, Dinky Dog Club, Charleston, SC
Products
- Cool Pup freezer toys were great. Bomb pops were the big hit! — Kaye Busse-Kleber, Bark on Mulford, Rockford, IL
- Primal Pet Foods’ goat’s milk and bone broths were hot! We encourage kibble feeders to enhance the bowl so these two products are a perfect fit. We’ve run “get free goat’s milk with purchase” promos and have created a lot of loyal fans. The broths are super-popular for increased hydration, freezing into treats, etc. The pickiest eaters will eagerly slurp up broth. — Karen Conell, The Bark Market, Delavan, WI
- Our bestseller was our mix-and-match limited-ingredient bar. Customers love it because they can grab “a little of this and a little if that” and know that it’s good for their carnivorous pet! $2.50 per ounce … options include lamb heart, beef heart, beef liver, etc. — Johnna Devereaux, Fetch RI, Richmond, RI
- All calming products, but mostly Herbsmith. It is very effective for fireworks. — Toni Shelaske, Healthy Pet Products, Pittsburgh, PA
- Emmi Lu’s Barkery Cookies. Customers are always so impressed by the level of detail and artistry. Plus, good, organic ingredients. We bundle three in a bag to upsell as a pack. — Mark Vitt, Mutts & Co., Delaware, OH
- Super Snouts CBD products. They work well for all types of things and they have no side effects, which is what people want: something safe for their dogs that will help their needs. — Dylan Giampaolo, Woof Woof Pet Boutique & Biscuit Bar, New Bedford, MA
- Gibson’s Jerky Dog Treats — all flavors sell great. They smell like bacon but don’t contain bacon and have limited ingredients. The jerky is soft enough to tear into small pieces for training. — Nancy Okun, Cats n Dogs, Port Charlotte, FL
- WellPup peanut butter and pumpkin treats, made locally in New York, were No. 1. They are formulated by a registered dietician with all natural ingredients and are easy on a dog’s digestive system. — Laura Haupt, Bark & Meow, Tarrytown, NY
- By dollar value, it’s our locally smoked Junkyard Bones (233-plus pounds sold at $8.49/pound). The bones smell incredible — like really good barbecue — come in four sizes to meet the needs of any size dog, and don’t splinter or crack. Dogs go crazy for them, and they are good for lots and lots of chewing! — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
- K9 Granola Factory Simply Biscuits went like crazy this month! I think it is because there are over 100 biscuits in their bags, and the price is right. I have customers who come specifically to our store to purchase them. They come in four flavors. All flavors do well but the Cheese & Bacon biscuits are always the first to run out. We buy directly from the company, and they ship very quickly too, which is much appreciated! — Sandy House, The Store at Paws, Hamden, CT
- Outward Hound’s dog games by Nina Ottosson. The top two sellers are the Dog Worker and Hide N’ Slide. We don’t need to promote it — the trainers who know our store send their clients to us all the time to check out the mentally challenging games. — Sue Hepner, Cool Dog Gear, Roslyn, PA
- This summer has been one of the worst flea seasons we have seen, making Tropiclean’s extra-strength flea and tick spray a top seller in July. — Wendy Megyese, Muttigans, Emerald Isle, NC
- Blossom CBD oils. Clearly CBD is trending and many people come in ready to be converted rather than just seeking information. — Dani Edgerton, Paws on Main, Columbiana, OH
- We did very well with the Jones Natural Chews Woofers patties. The dogs love them, and people buy them by the case (with a 10 percent case discount). — Dian Marcin, Benny’s Pet Depot, Mechanicsburg, PA
- Pet Releaf CBD. A wide range of customers love it! It helps their dogs in a variety of ways, from pain management to anxiety. We love selling a product that works! — Leslie Stewart, Southern Barker, Lexington, KY
Services
- Being primarily a dog spa, our top selling add-on services were our “pawtection package” which is perfect for hot summers in the South with the antibacterial scrub and soothing balm, and our popular Pupgrade which uses Tropiclean’s scent of the month shampoo and blueberry facial. — Sarah Cordes, Knotty Paw, Chelsea, AL
- Our bestseller in July was a de-shedding brush-out service that yields buckets full of hair! We also sold out of flea and tick products from Vet’s Best. — Charlsye Lewis, Metro Animals, Fort Worth, TX
- More customers opted to use our conditioning package. We use Hydra Flash Thermo Active Mask by Pet Society. It has been a hit and makes our furry customers have soft, manageable hair! — Amanda Bowman, Fairy Tails Mobile Grooming, Cherry Hill, NJ
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.
