INBOX: Love the Sample Box, Stop Ignoring Other Pets and Other Reader Thoughts

You Are Very Welcome

• Thank you for keeping us informed on new products and what is happening in the industry. — Jodi Miranda, Paw’d Pet Supplies, Coral Springs, FL
• The vendor analysis article [Ready. Set. Shop. Mar-Apr 2023] re-sent recently in an ebulletin was a superb tool for dealing with one’s vendor community. It’s a great roadmap with pertinent info and a list of questions for each individual supplier, freeing us up to just focus on their answers! Thank you. — Sherry Cassin, Meow Mini Mart, Weehawken, NJ
• I found the article about Google Local Ads very informative. [First Place. Jul-Aug 2023] Would love more marketing ideas like that to help me promote locally. Thank you! — Mary Hardin, Woof Gang Bakery Fleming Island, Fleming Island, FL
• I really enjoyed the lead story with promotional ideas [Watch Me! May-Jun 2023] and sent it to my retail managers and our marketing team to see if they would get inspired by anything! I appreciate everyone sharing their ideas! — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
• Thank you for continuing to provide a paper copy of the magazine. I love reading PETS+ in print! — Jennifer Larsen, Firehouse Pet Shop, Wenatchee, WA
• I am loving all the interesting ideas you have been calling out on FB recently. Most recently, sharing the store that supports a therapy dog in a classroom. I love that you see unique things and bring them up in the group as well as do stories about them. I recently did a nice balloon display in my windows after seeing other windows you had featured on social media. — Jennifer Thomas, Lucky Dog Pet Grocery & Bakery, Lawrence, KS
• Love y’all to the moon and appreciate your help and support and guidance and encouragement and enthusiasm! — Molly Lewis, Dog River Pet Supplies, Hood River, OR

Sample Box Love

• Love the introductions I get to products “new to me” with the PETS+ Sample Box. Great program! — Denise Strong, Pawz On Main, Cottonwood, AZ
• I am glad to see that the PETS+ Sample Box has turned into such a big deal. It’s a great idea, and a great service to both sides of the industry. — Rachael Creech, Adventure Pets, Mandeville, LA
• Love being part of the PETS+ Sample Box program! I’m a better informed purchaser, and it’s a great way to introduce products to market. — Frank Shaw, Three Dog Bakery, Las Vegas, NV
• Who’s ready for SuperZoo? We’re ready for superzoo! We had to skip last year after attending for the first time in 2021, and we’re excited to meet even more brands and fellow indie store owners! We’ve prepared a list of brands to follow up with and products to check out that are heavily influenced by PETS+ magazine and the products included in the Sample Boxes — even the boxes we didn’t receive. Keep up the great work! — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI

Editor’s note: It was great to see you and catch up in person! We love that program members look to see what was in boxes they didn’t even get. Thank you all for helping to make the PETS+ Sample Box such a success for retailers and brands alike! Not yet a member of the program? See the qualifications and apply at petsplusmag.com/samplebox. Brands wanting to get in the box can email Publisher Desiree Lynch at desiree@petsplusmag.com.

What About Other Pets?

• The entire pet industry is completely focused on dog and cat. From magazines, innovators, distributors … There’s a whole wide world of pets that are popular — fish, reptiles, rodents — but seemingly have no support. Nor is there support for stores that cater to these animals and to consumers who want products for them. We need industry-wide advertising for these products; surveys that include questions about these pets; samples, rep outreach and POP materials from brands for these products; and deals from manufacturers and distributors. — Amber Hudson, The Aquarium Pet Store, Weatherford, OK

Editor’s note: You’re absolutely right. Stay tuned for the PETS+ Annual Big Survey to see questions for store owners like you.