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Hot Sellers

Komodo Insect Food and Meowijuana Silvervine Sticks Among the Hot Sellers in July

Pet businesses also saw an uptick in CBD products, life jackets, and services such as puppy nursery school and self-wash baths.

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Kimodo jelly pots

KOMODO Jelly Pots Insect Food fruit flavors, something new I thought I would try. I bought a display to put on the counter and sold two boxes full in July alone. — Dorothy Stewart, Dorothy’s Pet Shop, Junction City, KS 

MEOWIJUANA King-Size Silvervine Sticks. We brought them in as an alternative/additional option for catnip, and people are buying them like crazy. — Jennifer Guevin, Holistic for Pets, Bradenton, FL

Products

  • BLUE RIDGE BEEF shank bones continue to be my number one seller. People love products that keep their dogs busy! — Jennifer Hall, All Things Pawssible, Charlottesville, VA
  • Yak cheese and bully yakkers from DURKHA were flying out the store so fast the team nicknamed it doggy crack! We carry all the available sizes including the puffs. — Wendy Megyese, Muttigans, Emerald Isle, NC
  • Everything that we brought in from the PETS+ Sample Box, from the new WEST PAW and TALL TAILS toys, to the DOGSWELL fresh breath jerky. Our clients love anything new! — Sheila Spitza, Wet Nose,Geneva, IL
  • All things aquatics! Our surprise was in the aquatic plants. We redid our 240-gallon display tank into a planted freshwater aquarium, and it really helped jump the live plant sales. — Nicole Olesen, Woofs & Waves, Sioux Falls, SD
  • The HONEY I’M HOME line is doing very well for us. One of the things that has helped grow that line for us is the Astro Offers. We always take advantage of them and make them part of our monthly email blast. Plus, they have a regular frequent-buyer program on Astro, which helps out our customers. Win-win! — Diane Marcin, Benny’s Pet Depot, Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Flea & Tick products. Specifically all-natural products with natural flea collars, flea shampoos, spot-ons and sprays. We carry EARTH ANIMAL, NOOTIE, VET’S BEST, KIN & KIND and SKOUT’S HONOR. Florida has been having a huge problem with fleas with all of the rain we have been experiencing. — April Meier, Pawsitively Scrumptious, Crestview, FL
  • ANDERSON’S NATURAL PET FOOD, (Colorado company) continues to sell very well. The raw meats and bones are great! And as usual, Suzie’s CBD (Colorado company) sells like wildfire! My private-label kibble continues to sell more and more each month! — Janet Huffor, Furry Friends Inc., Colorado Springs, CO
  • Life jackets, from anyone we could get them from! CANADA POOCH Pick Me Ponchos because it rained all month! — Penny Murano, Unleashed, New London, NH
  • GREEN ELEMENT CBD products. We feel comfortable recommending them to our customers, and more people are looking for an all-natural “cure” for their pets and themselves. Being family-owned was huge for us. Price point is great, and their products being organic is a huge hit. — Ruth Sturgis, Dog Daze, North Syracuse, NY
  • Frozen raw dog food. We are expanding our selection of brands and posting more on social media. Regular bestsellers include STEVE’S 5-pound nuggets & RAW DYNAMIC 3-pound & 6-pound bags. We push and carry brands that other retailers in the area do not. — Margo Tortorelis, My Natural Pet, Brooklyn, NY
  • HEALTH EXTENSION dry dog food. It’s a regular bestseller. It’s regional, made well and feeds well. Results speak for themselves. — Brett Foreman, Eupawria, Owego, NY
  • A&E CAGE COMPANY World’s Best Treat Bags were a big win for us this month. The product is easy to sell because of its clean look and inexpensive price tag. The birds love the product, so it becomes an easy resell. — Sal Salafia, Exotic Pet Birds Inc, Webster, NY
  • Lick pads continue to be very popular. I currently carry SODA PUP, MIGHTY PAW and POOCHIE BUTTER pads. Soda Pup is the only one made in the USA. Soda Pup has the biggest variety of mats. Mighty Paw has a mat with four different textures and suction cups. I thought people might balk at the price of $19.50, which is significantly higher than the other two brands, which retail from $11-$13, but customers do not seem to have any issue at all. Yak Chews continue to be extremely popular in my store, and I am constantly looking for larger/ heavier ones. I have some other yak chews on order that contain tumeric that I am eager to try. Currently mine range in price from $11 to $20, with the $15 size being the most popular. — Susan Nagel-Rees, Winky’s Pet Boutique, Chester, NJ
  • VIP Orcas. Visitors to our island love orcas, and VIP makes a great one. TALL TAIL toys — great toys. We made a separate spinner for them, and they sell well. — George Beebe, Pawki’s, Eastsound, WA
  • AUSTIN & KAT No More Wiggles. — Leslie Cook, Woof Life Inc., Crown Point, IN
  • Calming products: HERBSMITH July 3rd, CHARLOTTE’S WEB CBD, MRS BEASTER’S CBD treat. Fireworks and storms drove those sales, plus these products work with no side effects. We posted info on social media but ran no promotions. — Karen Conell, The Bark Market, Delavan, WI
  • Our top sellers were our collars, specifically the PUDDLE JUMPER PUPS brand. We ran a week-long sale on all of our collars leading up to the 4th of July holiday, to tie in reminding everyone to make sure their dogs were wearing collars and tags. Plus, everyone needs a new summer collar! — Jennifer Silverberg, Fetch Pet Supplies & Gifts, Springfield, MO
  • We’ve seen an increase in raw and gently cooked dog food in particular with A PUP ABOVE and OPEN FARM, and BONES & CO. and SMALLBATCH raw dog foods continue to be strong sellers, too. — Cynthia McKinney, Loyl’s Natural Pet, Houston, TX
  • We sold a lot of the HONEST KITCHEN treats — buy 2, get 1 free promo through Astro. People liked being able to mix and match flavors, and the promo was a nice incentive to try something new. — Kendra Conze, Health Mutt, Tampa, FL
  • ZIPPY PAWS plush toys (all of them under $10 retail). — Richie Powell, All American Pet, Springfield, OR
  • CHUCKIT! They are sold everywhere, but our customers love outdoor fetch products to keep their pup active during the summer. West Paw is also a top seller because they are a local Montana company. — Chase Pierce, Tailwaggers, Whitefish, MT
  • UP COUNTRY collars were a hit at our shop. Also, COOL PUP water toys. — Kaye Busse-Kleber, Bark On Mulford, Rockford, IL
  • Life jackets by BAYDOG (I am in a lake town). — Megan Meiran, Wagamuffins Dog Boutique, Mooresville, NC
  • Every month, one of our bestsellers is bulk slow-smoked beef marrow bones from local producer JUNKYARD BONES. The bones come in three sizes and are designed to be a long-lasting, splinter-free chew. At $10.99 a pound, they’re not the cheapest, but dogs go bananas for them and there’s a size for every dog! — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
  • Chilly penguins by PETSAFE. You can fill them with liquids, like goat milk or bone broth, and freeze them. Much more versatile than a kong. — Sherry Redwine , Odyssey Pets, Dallas, TX
  • Top-grossing was NUTRISOURCE Chicken and Rice 30-pound bags. — Stephanie Wright, Bend Pet Express, Bend, OR
  • ANSWERS goat milk quarts. It’s a regular best seller. — Gina Swansburg, Gone to the Dogs, Wakefield, MA
  • Lots of fetch type toys — KONG and CHUCKIT! were our main brands. — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
  • Calming treats for the fireworks and storms. Our best CBD treats were PET RELEAF Edibites trial sizes at $9.99 and non-CBD NOOTIE Progility Calming Aid trials at $2.99. We keep them at the checkout counter, and most people can’t help but buy one. Having those two products on Astro is very helpful, and once they see how good they work, they come back for the big bags and canisters. — Erika Siegel, My Best Friend’s Barkery, Banner Elk, NC
  • Trapeze toy, two sizes, great price point, by KINGS CAGES. — Paul Lewis, Birds Unlimited, Webster, NY
  • My cookie table sells so well along with the bulk cookies and donuts. Most of my cookies come from DOGGIE EXPRESS, K9 GRANOLA and PREPPY PUPPY. No promos needed for my cookie table. Customers love everything about our table! — Kelly Ross, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming The Woodlands, Tomball, TX
  • The lightly cooked category continues to grow. We recently added the entire SMALLBATCH line, and we promoted the lightly cooked in July at $2 off per 2-pound bag. This brand’s retail price is significantly higher than a local brand we carry, and it still sold exceptionally well. — Terri Nichols, CityDog Market, Atlanta, GA
  • STELLA & CHEWY was our product of the month, and it did very well. We specifically wanted to promote the raw-coated kibble and the blend with $5, $7 and $10 off. — Bonnie Bitondo, Maxwell & Molly’s Closet, Newton, NJ
  • Our custom birthday cakes! It was a big birthday month. — Anna Woodcock, Brown Dog Bakery, Ankeny, IA
  • GOOBY dog harnesses, specifically the Comfort X Step-In Harnesses. I just recently brought these in, and they’re selling very well. Nice adjustability for this style harness, and some super cute colors and color combinations! — Lisa Boegl, Eldorado Country Pet, Santa Fe, NM
  • NATURAL CRAVINGS Super Monster Bully Sticks. Even at the price point of $18.99, we have an avid following. Skout’s Honor Flea and Tick Shampoo. Partly seasonal, but boy does this smell good and do a great job. — Andrea Demmons, The TailGait Market, Asheville, NC
  • All of our CBD products sold like crazy. Especially Super Snouts! Lots of calming stuff for the fireworks all of our pet parents hate! After that I would say our frozen yogurt due to the heavy heat here in Nebraska. — Kendra Martin, Woof & Whiskers, Omaha, NE
  • JAC crumbles, meatballs and treats are really great sellers for us. They are made from superfoods, and pet parents really appreciate a healthy alternative to plain jerky and freeze dried proteins. PROGILITY Calming chews sold well last month, likely due to fireworks and thunderstorms. We also have had a huge upswing in the sale of NWN Tri-Krill capsules. We even have customers who want the human version. The combo of krill and astaxanthin has been in the news lately for it’s benefits for COVID. — Shawn Kombogiannis, Pet Wants, Lakeway, TX
  • NORTHWEST NATURALS frozen raw bones were a big seller. Probably because it’s been unusually hot in Oregon, and it’s what we suggest to keep dogs busy and cool during the summer. — Angie Scavone, Sniffany’s Pet Boutique, Albany, OR
  • Our top sellers are NORTHWEST NATURALS raw turkey and beef and NATURE’S LOGIC duck and salmon or turkey kibble. Lots of summer and new puppy activity toys as well from PLANET DOG and CYCLE DOG. — Cheryl Larson, Healthy Pet Market, Green Bay, WI
  • DR. MARTY’S freeze-dried treats. PRIMAL frozen, STELLA & CHEWY kibble. — Frank Frattini, The Hungry Puppy, Farmingdale, NJ
  • Toys are on the move! The RUFF DOG toys are a hot item now for outdoor and water play, and customers are loving the lifetime guarantee! — Corissa Bubenick, Hot Diggity, Mashpee, MA
  • Fish, fresh and salt. Our customers love us and wanted to support the move to our new location, so they ponied up and emptied out our tanks. — Liz Harris, Creatures Featured, Madison, FL.
  • STEVE’S REAL FOOD freeze dried. We partnered with Steve’s and offered a hefty discount on the freeze dried only. Very well received because people that are feeding raw don’t necessarily want to take raw with them while traveling, so the freeze dried was a great option. The biggest seller was the beef, but the sale did get people to purchase other brands of freeze-dried products, too. — Paula Gorman, Pet Supplies ‘N’ More, Muskego, WI
  • Live rabbits and birds were bestselling this month. Our OUTWARD HOUND dog collars have been really popular. — Stephanie Steelman, Wings Wags and Whiskers, Amarillo, TX
  • WEST PAW and PLANET DOG Enrichment toys. — Kim Sykes, K9 Manners & More, Broken Arrow, OK
  • COLORADO HEMP HONEY Raw Relief honey stick singles at $1.99, probably due to July 4th celebrations. — Jodi Etienne, Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique, Bradley, IL
  • PUPPY SCOOPS ice cream. — Roncy Roehm, Canyon Pet Lodge, Puyallup, WA
  • We sell custom ice cream cups, and this past month we couldn’t keep them in stock! We sold almost 100 units at $3.50 each. — Johnna Devereaux, Fetch RI, Richmond, RI
  • BIXBI Pocket Trainers did well last month. We think people are happy to get out and get some training done. At $7.49 a bag, they are a good buy . — Michael Dan, RedRidge Pet Market, Richmond, VA
  • Our cakes continue to be our bestseller. — Jennifer Baker, Grateful Dog Bakery, North Ridgeville, OH
  • WHIMZEES large Veggie Sausage Sticks! — Charlsye Lewis, Metro Animals, Fort Worth, TX
  • Lifejackets this year. We over-ordered and blew out of the BAYDOG ones. They retail between $44.99 and $52.99, and are a great price point for consumers. I love the new product. — Jocelyn Turner, Woof Woof Pet Boutique and Biscuit Bar, Bristol, RI
  • FLUFF & TUFF Tank the Shark. $14.99 — part of our Shark Week promotion — did an Instagram Reel and featured it in our newsletter, in-store and social media. NEW! FAB DOG Safari Collection, $11.99-$13.99. No promotions just featured as a new product in-store and on social media. — Jeff Jensen, Four Muddy Paws, St Louis, MO
  • PRIMAL goat milk continues to be a regular bestseller. Primal had a promotional price of $9.99 on quarts a few months ago, which encouraged many customers to try it, and now they are coming back for more. My staff tells every customer about the importance of hydration during the summer, so we get those add-on sales, and the pets get the health benefit. We sold out of it every week in July. — Victoria Park, Park Pet Supply, Atlanta, GA
  • Our birthday treats, no-hides and natural chew bar continue to generate a lot of revenue. Flea and tick shampoos and sprays are strong. New items doing well: EARTH ANIMAL Wisdom (air dried food). Of course, food sales holding steady at about 85 percent of gross sales. — Janet Cesarini, Pupology, Georgetown, TX
  • HAPPY HOWIE’S Jerky Strips were the best seller by quantity. A great line at a good price point. Beth Staley, Happy Dog Barkery, Downers Grove, IL
  • NULO soft dog treats did very well for us this month. They are soft and do not crumble if you break them for smaller dogs. They come in three flavors — hopefully they will come out with more! The price point is good as well. — Sandy House, Paws N Effect, Hamden, CT
  • Our top three product sales for July were crickets, pine shavings and ABADY dog food. No sales or promotions. According to our customers, Petco’s crickets have been either unavailable or poor quality, and they found us when searching for a new source. We experienced the wettest July in recorded history, which would explain the shavings. We have a large group of backyard chicken farmers, and wet weather necessitates dry bedding. The ABADY uptick is due to the closing of the only other store that sold it in the area. — Shelly Nicastro, Essex Bird & Pet Supply, Essex, MA
  • Our Hairy Pawter cupcakes flew out of the store. It also produced a huge social media buzz. — Nancy Guinn, Dog Krazy, Fredericksburg, VA
  • We saw an uptake in our raw sales in July. We were able to move some of our guests to a larger box of STEVE‘S to help them save money. — Lisa Kirschner, Sit, Stay, ‘N Play Inc., Stroudsburg, PA
  • Our Christmas in July Mystery Boxes that tied into our Summer BINGO event, natural chews and the new ETTA SAYS Poppers treats. — Michael Morris, Yarn and Bone Pet Supply, Camden, DE
  • Our WERUVA lines for both dog and cat really took off this summer, in part due to promos we partnered with our Weruva rep on. — Danny Offenbacher, City of Paws Petcare, Philadelphia, PA
  • STEVE’S REAL FOOD 13.5-pound beef topped our retail sales once again. No promos. We hold regular MSRP on this item. — Janelle Pitula, Wags to Whiskers, Plainfield, IL
  • Our private label treats and cookie bar. We did a brand refresh earlier this year, and as part of that we had our designer create new packaging for our treats. This has more than doubled the sales for our branded treats and brought more attention to the cookie bar. — Teresa Hogge, Belly Rubs Pet Care, Ashburn, VA
  • Our doggy ice cream was a big seller in July. — Colleen O’Fallon, Sweet Paws Bakery, Gainesville, FL
  • SUPER SNOUTS Chill Out CBD. Now that fireworks are legal, many folks are setting off fireworks many nights, scaring all the dogs in the neighborhood. We also had a lot of thunderstorms in July. — Sue Hepner, Cool Dog Gear, Warrington, PA
  • HEAVENLY HOUNDS relaxation treats continue to sell well due to thunderstorms, road trips, etc. — Barbara Clemmens, Aardvark Pet Supplies Inc., Thornwood, NY

Services

  • Phone consultations. — Laurie Coger, Healthy Dog Workshop, Albany, NY,
  • Training was our best seller, particularly our Nursery School for puppies! — Jennifer Frankavitz, Four Leggers Pet Supplies & Services, Beverly, MA
  • Weekends Away, 30-minute visits, and custom windows of arrival upgrades. — Amber Van Denzen Suarez , Atta Boy! Animal Care Pet Sitting + Dog Walking, Mulberry, FL
  • Last year, I realized I needed to add grooming as a service to my shop. I bit the bullet and went to grooming school, and started offering full grooming/cuts in March. My business has doubled since then. I am the only groomer, but I have an employee who does bathing, desheds. My sales are down from last year, so very thankful to have the grooming service to help out. — Karesa Prestage, Health Mutt, Seattle, WA
  • Vacationing families continue to travel, leaving their sweet pups in our care. Boarding had been booming, and our add on of cookies and goat milk before bed has been a wonderful plus too! — Angela Pantalone, Wag Central, Stratford, CT
  • Self-service dog wash. We added a monthly wash special. For July, it was The Filthy Beast. People loved the name. — Brianna Swanberg, Mutts + Meows Natural Pet Market, Mt Juliet, TN
  • Grooming is always booked. We don’t run specials on grooming. In fact, we just raised our prices. We don’t want to be priced anywhere near PetSmart. — Julie Breault, The Hairy Sofa, Wichita, KS
  • Overnight dog boarding. Everyone Wants to travel, even though the pandemic is not over. I’m turning away business every single day. — Terri Ellen, Salem Bed & Biscuit, Salem, OR
  • We’re starting to see a bounce back in day–care attendance. It seems that folks are planning ahead for in-person school to resume this fall and want to know that their dogs will have a fun place to go during the day! — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI
  • Boarding! Everyone is finally going on vacation and leaving their dogs with us. — Andy Wiltz, Woof’s Play & Stay, Merriam, KS
  • Our full-service baths and desheds. Our full-service bathing appointments went up due to COVID. Everyone in their homes with their dogs were realizing that they need baths! We also are not offering self-wash at this time to keep our employees safe, so the volume of baths went up because of that as well! — Gabrielle Flores, Brookside Barkery & Bath, Kansas City, MO
  • Grooming. Our services were a big hit because of the heat wave we got in our area. — Jessica Termuende, Far Fetched Grooming and Daycare, Courtenay, BC
  • 1-on-1 private lessons on separation anxiety. — Aaron Jones, AJ’S Waggin’ Train, Katy TX
  • Day care and boarding are crazy for us. The past three months, it seems as though the floodgates have lifted. We are running at 125 percent day care/boarding clients, and we have had to stop accepting new clients until at least the first of Oct. And we are not sure what we will do with our snow bird customers. Good but bad problem to have. We even raised our rates May 1, and new people are still calling everyday. — Paul Lewis, The Green K9, Mount Dora, FL

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