INBOX: SuperZoo Excitement, Pride Praise and Other Reader Thoughts

Superzoo 2023

• I’m excited for SuperZoo. Hoping to attend, but if not, I’m sure you’ll do a great job covering the show for those of us who have to stay home. — Jennifer G., Bradenton, FL
• I’m excited for SuperZoo, and I hope y’all are too! — Katherine O., Providence, RI

Editor’s note: We are SO excited! PETS+ will be reporting live from the show at facebook.com/petsplusmag. We’ll have our booth at #3760. And the PETS+ and Pet Boss Nation teams will meet at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at the Beach Party entrance so we can head in together. See you in Vegas!

Other Thoughts

• There’s so much emphasis on sell sell sell, and we do have to make sales to stay in business. We also deal with living creatures and have a moral obligation to place animals in the best situations, not just push a living thing out the door to make a sale. We need to keep animals in the best environment to keep them healthy so the customer has the best experience. — Paul L., Webster, NY
• There’s definitely a trend happening with some of the older, major raw food players losing market share and the newer brands really coming on strong. The overall category is still growing, just the vendor mix is changing. Diversity in the category is going to continue to be the key for growth. — Jeffrey J., St. Louis, MO
• When will customers have to stop buying premium foods and supplies? I’ve seen some human items go down in price, but short of Prevue, I have not seen pet supplies go down. — Stacy D., Lancaster, PA

Love & Thanks

• I love Tip of the Day from the eblasts! I routinely send it to different staff and apply some to myself and my job. Keep up the good work! — Cassie N., Whiteford, MD

Editor’s note: Thanks! Not yet signed up for our daily ebulletin? Go to petsplusmag.com/bulletin. It’s chock full of news and good advice!

• Thank you. PETS+ is very helpful to find new products! — Kailee R., Carlsbad, CA
• I continue to learn so much from PETS+. You are my go-to for industry info. — Victoria P., Atlanta, GA
• Absolutely appreciate your efforts and hard work on putting together the surveys and the magazine. You all are the best in the industry for news! — April M., Crestview, FL
• Thank you for including me in the Brain Squad. Reading peer responses has been very beneficial. It is a wonderful brainstorming session. — Diane M., Wolfeboro, NH
• Love what you provide for our community. Such a fun resource with supportive and educational articles. Also love the input from fellow members in our industry. Thank you Pamela, Nancy, Chris and other contributors. — Alexis B., Salt Lake City, UT
• This magazine and the PETS+ Facebook group have been a constant source of good material and advice from my peers. I love all you do for the indie pet biz owners. — Br., Owego, NY

LGBTQIA+

• I love Global Pet Expo, but the location is now problematic for me as someone who identifies as a member of the LBGTQIA+ community, a group under a travel advisory for Florida. I encourage any other industry members from marginalized groups (or allies) to write to APPA and PIDA to encourage them to search for another state to host GPE in, so that all of those in our diverse industry feel welcome and wanted. — Shane S., Mill Creek, WA
• I liked reading what others had to say in the May-June Real Deal about the Pride display. — Mary S., Countryside, IL
• I want to thank PETS+ and the PETS+ community for making me feel seen and respected during Pride! I’ve had a blast going through all of the related pages. — Maisie F., Sherwood, OR

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

• I think that it would be great to do a segment on parent companies. I.E. who owns what brands. It would be a great highlight on the overall dynamics of the pet food industry and give a clear picture to help businesses that are newer. I think doing some focus on helping newer businesses would be great, because you provide so many great articles for established businesses and how they can improve! — Rebecca N., Milford, DE
• Keep up the good work! Janet C., Georgetown, TX
• I’m getting tired of franchises and multiple-location stores calling themselves independents. Those stores have buying power, offer customers discounts and specials the indies can’t. Perhaps someone can come up with another name? — Nancy O., Port Charlotte, FL
• Keep up the good work! — Diana F., San Antonio, TX
• Always a fan of y’all. — Samantha Y., Wilkinson, IN
• Keep up the great work! — Jenny D., Branson, MO
• Have you considered a content contributor (like dear Abby) who addresses specific issues that arise with customers’ cats and dogs, and how we shop owners have helped when traditional training or medication either could not, or was not yet warranted? — Angela V., Houston, TX
• Would love some tips on the etiquette of terminating an employee and also advice on hiring. How can you easily give someone a shot, but then not get stuck with them if they are not a good fit. — Jamie S., Branson, MO
• Are Indies being eaten up by larger chain stores? — Becci S., Scottsdale, AZ
• Great honest comments submitted to PETS+ from other retailers. — Chad M., Rehoboth Beach, DE
• Thanks for all you do for the indie community. — Carol W., St. Louis mo
• I am interested in reading others’ opinions on if the store owner should pay the vet bill for the Saint Bernard who swallowed the bully stick. Personally, I would probably not pay. — Susan N., Chester, NJ
• Keep up the great work! — Beth S., Downers Grove, IL
• I said it in 2017, and it still holds true today: Dogs are the new kids. Their intelligence, eagerness to learn and personality traits surprise and continue to create a passion in me everyday! — Angela P., Stratford, CT
• Thanks so much for all you do!! I am looking forward to seeing some freezer displays and would love to see great collar displays on slatwall. — Annabell B., Alexandria, VA
• Love the info that you provide. — George Beebe, Pawki’s, Eastsound, WA
• Still seeing more and more franchises pop up in my metropolitan area. — Cynthia M., Houston, TX