Connect with us

Retailer Wishlist

Retailers Share What They Want and Need in the Chews, Bones & Body Parts Category

Topping the list are availability, clarity of sourcing, and marketing and educational support.
mm

Published

1 year ago

on

  • I like when brands use two or more body parts. Like a bully wrapped with jerky, or a collagen stick wrapped with cheese. It spices up the same old chews. — Nikki Tongg, Faux Paws Pet Shop, Summit, NJ
  • Better packaging to avoid any bugs from developing. — Lawrence Seto, Whiskers Holistic Pet Care, New York City, NY
  • Labels we can print and use on our bulk display products to indicate proper usage and benefits. And they better look cute, too! — Caroline Gunther, Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, Hendersonville, NC
  • I’d love to have easier access to finding how they actually bake/dehydrate/cook the product. Some people want to know exactly how everything is made, and I have to go digging for the answer. — Kirsten Puhr, The NW Dog, Poulsbo, WA
  • People want local, or at least U.S.-made, healthy all-natural chews. — Janet Huffor, Furry Friends, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Most stores are making their own displays with bins to hold these chews/body parts, but I’d like to see the manufacturers providing these. I’d be more likely to buy the whole display and the boxes to fill it. It also gives us a wider selection to have. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had more of the reps coming in our stores to give us ideas and actually help us set up the display? I would love that! — Brittany Schlup, Premium Pets, Jefferson City, MO
  • Clear sourcing info. We have customers that will only buy parts from certain countries, and a lot of manufacturers list multiple countries of origin in their products. — Keith Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC
  • Consistent size and quality. I know it is a natural item, but you can sort by weight. — Beth Staley, Happy Dog Barkery, Downers Grove, IL
  • Ears — lamb and rabbit have been hard to source consistently, and my customers love them. — Kerrie Beck, Cody’s Creations, Medway, MA
  • A truly long lasting consumable (over an hour at least) that isn’t shaped like a stick, is digestible and affordable for a big dog … I know that’s a lot to ask! This is the most frequent request we get. — Julie Johannes, Happy Hounds Pet Supply, Bigfork, MT
  • Marketing materials — can’t stress that enough. Slides with info I can post on social media. The more I post there, the more interest we get in everything we carry. Within the info, tell people WHY it’s so great for pups to chew/eat the body parts/bones and that it’s SAFE. Because vets still want to tell all their clients that it isn’t. — Erin Paitrick, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Summerville, Summerville, SC
  • We need to know what kind of testing and safety is on the heated, treated products. We need to be able to tell customers that there is no chance of splintering and what the product quality is. — Stephanie Steelman, Wings Wags and Whiskers, Amarillo, TX
  • Right now I’d like supply consistency. A manufacturer will come out with something amazing … then not have it in stock to replenish. — Elaina Stanley, Three Happy Hounds, Fernley, NV
  • Need something that will last for big heavy chewers. Seems like the big dog category is lacking. — Paul Lewis, The Green K9, Mount Dora, FL
  • Availability in ordering, consistent size/smell/packaging and decent lead times. It would be great to see some non-beef chews! — Nicole Cummins, 3 Dogs and a Chick, Fort Walton Beach, FL
  • More expansion into bison and buffalo for the “power chewers.” Also, communication about sourcing issues is always appreciated. If you’re discontinuing a product because it’s difficult to source, let us know; don’t just pull it from the website! — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI
  • Goose! And more long-lasting items for dogs with missing teething or seniors. We are resorting to a lot of puppy options, and sometimes those work, but dogs get tired of gullets all day, and sometimes the puppy items are just too small. — Annabell Bivens, The Dog Store, Alexandria, VA
  • PLEASE remove claws/nails! We had customer complaints of the nails gouging the insides of their dogs’ mouths and making them bleed. — Jennifer Marshall, Northwoods Pets LLC, Rhinelander, WI
  • Proof that their product was sourced humanely and that none of it is from China. Samples for new products. Definitely support if we have any questions or if there are any shortages and why. — Katie Titterington, Arnie’s Pet Foods, Lincoln, NE
  • New product for nylon bones. People want ones that are chicken flavor-free for dogs with allergies. — Karen Komisar, Sea Dog Pet Boutique, Annapolis, MD
  • My walls are bare; they used to have banners and posters (they’d gotten old and had to be taken down). I need new ones. Would love to have T-shirts/sweatshirts for my employees to wear. The reps tell me there are none to give. What better way to get free advertising? — Errin Jolley, Purrz and Paws, St Helens, OR
  • More education about why to offer and why it’s safe. We get a lot of questions about why body parts are safe, and although I feel we do a good job at answering, it would be nice to have an actual answer with documentation. — Diedra Giles, Reeses Barkery and Pawtique, McHenry, IL
  • Support would be just great to have from chew and bone companies. You don’t see them coming around to stores and just chatting with us in regards to what’s going on with the prices and out-of-stock levels. It would be nice to see more manufacturers just in general! — Rob Johnson, Crystal Coast Pets Delivery, New Bern, NC
  • Better support to help consumers (and associates) differentiate between collagen/cheek/hide products, how they are processed, safety, etc. — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
  • It would be AWESOME if manufacturers of these types of products offered really cool displays, whether you paid for them or they were included after you spent a certain amount of money. — Natalie Bosch, Albany Pet Hotel, Albany, OR
  • I would like an honest evaluation of what the new “collagen” chews really are. They seem to be a politically correct rawhide without any real studies to back up claims of digestibility. Just a new marketing campaign. — Melissa Sturm, Agri Feed Pet Supply , Knoxville, TN
  • I feel like we have a solid selection of chew bar items that are shelf stable, but would love to find a new source for frozen full knuckle bones. They used to be a big seller for us many years ago until two manufacturers discontinued them. I haven’t been able to find a replacement since. — Sheila Spitza, Wet Nose, Geneva, IL
  • Raw mixed/variety bags or boxes. I would like to see continuation of products that are good sellers by region. Since Covid, we have seen a lot less support from any chew manufacturer. — Jennifer Flanagan, Nature’s Pet Market Sherwood, Sherwood, OR
  • Innovative and healthy options that are safe to chew and ethically sourced. Cost friendly is a plus, too! — Jennifer Larsen, Firehouse Pet Shop, Wenatchee, WA
  • Consistent supply from any brand would be nice. We have so many out-of-stocks that it is impossible to stay loyal to a particular brand. — Kat Forry, A1 Pet Emporium, Oklahoma City, OK
  • If you want to sell direct to the consumer, often with promos, auto-ship discounts or products only available through you online, then don’t expect me to put any effort into promoting your brand. — Laura Backus, Purrrfect Bark, Columbus, NC
  • Bare knuckles. — Kevin Brown, The Pet Place, Boone, NC
  • Samples to view, POP items. — Julie Hilt, Animart Pet, Beaver Dam, WI
  • We are always looking for more natural body parts that are raw, frozen! I’m really loving the pheasant heads from Pure Pheasant and the raw duck heads and feet from Savage Cat … body parts that provide excellent nutrients and additional value for oral health! — Johnna Devereaux, Fetch RI, Richmond, RI
  • Anything that is currently “trash” to make it economical friendly in the economy. — Robin Jerdee, Beast Buffet, Monroe, WI
  • More variety if possible. Seems like we’ve had pretty much the same options for quite a while. — Loree Shirazi, The Original Paw Pleasers, San Diego, CA
  • Longevity. We are always on the lookout for chews that last but are as natural as possible. — Gina Swansburg, Gone to the Dogs, Wakefield, MA
  • New, safe, U.S. made. Bar codes on all. — Lauren Gallagher, Everything But the Dog, Reading, MA
  • Consistent supply. — Pamela Modica, Lazy Creek Pet Food Center, Lexington, SC
  • New exciting body parts. — Michael Morris, Yarn and Bone Pet Supply, Camden, DE
  • Bar codes, wrapped, signage, online education. — Maureen Greenfield, Foothill Feed and Gift, Loomis, CA
  • There are never enough long-lasting flavorful chews at a reasonable price. — Barbara Clemmens, Aardvark Pet Supplies, Inc., Thornwood, NY
  • New body parts are always welcome. — Cindy McConnell, A Natural Pet Pantry, Osprey, FL
  • More diversity of animals. Also a way to effectively get rid of invasive beetles without having to put items in the freezer first. — Wendy Rivera Megyese, Muttigans, Emerald Isle, NC
  • It’s nice when marketing materials come with products, especially those two items that say specifically what age of dog would best benefit, whether it be a puppy or a sugar pup. — Angela Pantalone, Wag Central, Stratford, CT
  • I think innovative chew bones are always going to be in demand due to boredom (dogs get). I prefer items that are individually packaged versus items meant to sit in a pail or bucket. I have seen items go stale, and my dog wont eat them. — Angela Velasquez, The Kitty Bodega, Houston, TX
  • Ultimately, long-lasting products. That’s what everyone is after. — Dylan Giampaolo, Woof Woof Pet Boutique and Biscuit Bar, Bristol, RI
  • Single-ingredient chews are always a hit. We would like to see more “rare” body part chews, or some things we have not carried. Many of our customers come in looking for something new because their dog has tried everything. — Courtney Klitzke, Brookside, Kansas City, MO
  • Information/education, marketing blurbs. — Kristine Luke, Park Pets LLC, North Charleston, SC
  • Long-lasting natural chew, more raw or dehydrated body parts that are unique. — Dorothy Vetrovec Nature’s Feed, Spring Grove, IL
  • Ones that don’t smell as bad and don’t make a mess; more hardy chews for tiny dogs. — Adina Silberstein, Queenie’s Pets, Philadelphia, PA
  • More info about appropriate chew selection on tag so pet parents are triggered to choose carefully. — Tamie Waugh, Cobber’s Pet Pantry, Enumclaw, WA
  • I would like to see more novel protein body part chews. Bones, ears, skin, feet etc. Lately, sourcing has been an issue for rabbit ears, goat ears and even lamb ears (which are finally back in stock), so having more options from more distributors would be nice. — Margo Tortorelis, My Natural Pet, Brooklyn, NY
  • As an end user, it is disappointing that the bulk quantities and packaging are pretty much not available. I have to ask for my bully sticks to not be tagged. I would like to see more product/parts sourced in U.S. We are much tougher on how animals are raised and processed and veggies are cultivated. It was a trend for a while, but everyone seems to be getting lax again. — Janice Anderson, Anderson Acres, Bakersfield, CA
  • Sourced in the U.S. Chew strength rating. — Kaye Busse-Kleber, Bark On Mulford, Rockford, IL
  • As many body parts as possible! — Jill Allen, Bark 2 Basics, O’Fallon, MO
  • Unique proteins. And maybe zero supply interruptions. — Mike Dan, RedRidge Pet Market, Richmond, VA
  • Something durable yet digestible. — Jennifer Thomas, Lucky Dog Pet Grocery & Bakery, Lawrence, KS
  • Frozen parts in addition to the already freeze-dried out there. We carry a large assortment of freeze-dried body parts. I would love those same parts in a frozen option. — Julie Sterling, Julz Animal Houz, Marysville, WA
  • I’d like more simple in-store displays or signage that help educate customers on the benefit of one chew or another. — Amy Schiek, Lucky Dogs, Skaneateles, NY
  • Something new and long-lasting. — Kris Lamoreaux, Healthy Pets Mountain West, Cottonwood Heights, UT
  • Easy access and consistent inventory would be nice. Drop-ships make ordering far more difficult. — Stephanie Wright, Bend Pet Express, Bend, OR
  • Packaging. My bones and chews sell more when they are wrapped. — Jessica Cooke, Yuppy Puppy, O’Fallon, MO
  • We’d love display options for bulk displays … boxes, racks? Clients hate packaging and the cigar bands with a passion … we buy bulk whenever possible! — Karen Conell, The Bark Market, Delavan, WI
  • More non-beef durable chews, individual bar codes that actually stay on product. — Jamie Schuller, Dog Naturals, Branson, MO
  • Chews in bulk. I can find things like sweet potato chews in bulk, but no one local and not through any large distributor. I’d love to reduce packaging and make it a fun customer experience by increasing bulk. — Kendra Conze, Health Mutt, Tampa, FL
  • No bugs. — Molly Taylor, Molly’s Mutt House, Houston, TX
  • Bones are bones. Keep it simple and offer natural raw bones at affordable prices. — Michele Saharic, Barkley’s Marketplace, Flemington, NJ
  • At this point, I’d just like inventory to stay consistent. It’s been a constant guessing game since 2020, what will be in stock. — Brett Foreman, EuPAWria Holistic Pet Center, Owego, NY
  • We really need more exotic meats! — Gloria VonZech, The Principled Pet, Collingswood, NJ
  • AMERICAN MADE! — Stephanie Cox, Central Animal Inn, Herrin, IL
  • Long-lasting is the biggest request. — Kate Quirk, Clipper’s Canine Cafe, Ellicott City, MD
  • I’m not sure how they can do it with the supply chain, but making sure there aren’t bugs would be great. — Scott Tripp, Wagabōnz, Galveston, TX
  • More packaged products … instead of just selling single. — Jenny DuBrock, Don’t 4 Get About Me, Pingree, IL
  • Sourcing variety. Unique parts or proteins. Freeze-dried and frozen raw options. Samples or display. Safety. — Samantha Youngblood, Youngblood’s Natural Animal Care Center and Massage, Wilkinson, IN
  • More exotic body parts, particularly with hair (e.g. whole cow ears with hair). — Jeff Jensen, Four Muddy Paws, St. Louis, MO
  • Quick chew, long-lasting chew, and all easy digestible. — Pam Sine, Pet Silhouette, Hobe Sound, FL
  • Product benefits of these chew products. — Jill Hall, Grateful Paws, Leadville, CO
  • Something different! They all have the same products and then get upset when I don’t bring their products as replacements for the ones I already have that are selling well. Regarding synthetic chews, I would like to see some support for staff when talking to customers who are worried about their dogs eating the small pieces that break off or are worried about the residue on their carpets/floors. — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
  • Longer-lasting, safe chews for dogs that don’t turn into choking hazards. — Jennifer Frankavitz, Four Leggers Pet Supplies & Services, Beverly, MA
  • We are always looking for fun new products! — Anna Woodcock, Brown Dog Bakery, Ankeny, IA
  • It would be helpful to buy the bulk bags in smaller amounts. The prices have gone up so much, and it is hard for small stores to spend $200-plus on one type of product. — Sandy House, Paws N Effect, Hamden, CT
  • I just got back from attending a distributor show and brought in some kangaroo and venison bones, and added to my ostrich bone line. My answer would have been bones from unique protein sources. I found them at the show today! — Diane Marcin, Benny’s Pet Depot, Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Like many other people, I need a dog chew that will last an aggressive chewer more than 10 minutes. I love that some companies are doing Astro frequent buyer for their items. Customers love to be surprised that they’re getting a free item. — Theresa Moreno, For Healthy Pets, Montgomery, AL
  • Decreased wholesale prices — the prices of chew/bone/body parts have skyrocketed, and many clients do not want to pay those prices for a chew that doesn’t last their dog an hour. — Natasha Arritt, Shaggy to Chic Boutique, West Des Moines, IA
  • Having them individually packaged is key, along with having them in stock. — Lisa Kirschner Sit, Stay, ‘N Play, Inc., Stroudsburg, PA
  • My struggle is that we will bring in a product, and then have challenges sourcing after the initial purchase due to lack of product available. We have had to find multiple replacements for bully sticks and other chews/body part products, and that decreases the trust our customers have placed in us to provide products that they want. — Catherine Crews, Canine Crews, Chicago, IL
  • More U.S.-made products. — Robert Gerrity Petworks, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Honestly I’d love to see manufacturers concentrate on getting their full lines up and running before starting to bring in “new lines.” Our customers have been waiting oh so patiently for their favorite things to come back … and to see new stuff come in from companies yet still not have their long-standing, tried-and-true stuff that we KNOW people want, it is frustrating. Between the packaging changes, the price changes, new stuff and holes where we are waiting …Just get me the stuff everyone is asking for and have been waiting two years for. — Melisa Wynn, Paws & Fins Pet Shop, Bainbridge Island, WA
  • New body parts that are long-lasting. Customers are always wanting longer lasting. Signage to explain better what the body part is are always helpful. Maybe some other protein sources besides beef? — Kelly Hilzendager, Treat Play Love, Grand Forks, ND
  • Customers want long lasting chews — their definition of long lasting varies. Given bugs, I prefer that treats be wrapped or bagged. — Cynthia McKinney, Loyl’s Natural Pet, Houston, TX
  • Keep supply up and quality up. Seems like body parts are getting smaller and price is going up. — George Beebe, Pawki’s, Eastsound, WA
  • I would like more bone and body part manufacturers to offer nice displays for their products. — David Price, Fuzzy Buttz,Calera, AL
  • Reduction in price and minimums; they make it really hard on the small guys. — Jennifer Pastorini, Dusty’s Den, Sonora, CA
  • More detailed information available on the place of protein origin. Potentially more variety in sizes of product or different proteins (exotic or otherwise). — Corey Heenan, Boutique and Pet Spa, NY
  • More unique organs and parts. — Becci Scott, Fetching Dog, Scottsdale, AZ
  • For those who use the “tags with rubber band” type packaging … just don’t … the rubber breaks, and then we have to figure out our own kind of label. It’s a real pain. — Pattie Zeller, Animal Connection, Charlottesville, VA
  • Longer-lasting options, limited ingredients. — Janelle Muller, Wheaten Greetin’ Room & Groom, Oakland, NE
  • Transparent sourcing! Information on why that body part is a good choice. Samples are always good! — Jennifer Baker, Grateful Dog Bakery, North Ridgeville, OH
  • A chew that lasts more than 20 minutes. — Ron Keller, Captivating Canines, Westerville, OH
  • Size variations. We sell a ton of tendons because we have them in light, medium, large and jumbo. Great to start them on as puppies, then move to the big boy as they grow. — Andrea Demmons, The TailGait Market, Asheville, NC
  • Better ISOs or guarantee sells. — Rachel McGinnis, Leo&Lucky’s, Parrish, FL
  • More chews for tough chewers. We have so many dogs that go through the “long-lasting” chews in 10 to 15 minutes. — Jennifer Hall, All Things Pawssible, Charlottesville, VA
  • More “clean” chews. My customers want chews with less residue for inside chewing. We show our products by grease and goo levels. I have what I call “inside” and “outside” chews. — Cindy Samartino, Wiggle Butt & Whiskers, Leesburg, VA
  • More novel protein options. — Jennie Dudley, Hairy Winston, Mount Pleasant, SC
  • Long-lasting! Excluding smoked bone-type chews. — Comora Tolliver, Barkers Anonymous, Hendersonville, NC
  • Individually shrink wrapped. We get a lot of black beatles in the hot summer heat in Texas, and this helps. — Keith Zeiler, Paws on Chicon, Austin, TX
  • I would like larger yak chews, and I would like there to be more accuracy with sizing. I find what arrives in my store to be smaller than advertised on a regular basis. Susan Nagel-Rees, Winky’s Pet Boutique, Chester, NJ
  • We need parts from U.S.-raised livestock! More freeze-dried parts versus smoked/cooked. More transparency regarding sourcing and processing. Fewer rawhide alternatives that are really just rawhide disguised/marketed as non-hide. — Joanna Shaw, All Pet & Equine Supply, Mountain Home, AR
  • Long-lasting. — Jennifer Baird, Earthwise Pet, Corpus Christi, TX
  • Natural options that are minimally processed. We just brought in rabbit ears and couldn’t keep them in stock! — Carly Patryluk, House of Paws Pet Boutique, Regina, SK
  • I would like affordable multipacks. Customers want a bulk deal, and I want that bulk deal prepackaged. — Lori Anderson, A Dog’s Dream, Seattle, WA
  • Pig ear slices please! We prefer individually wrapped if at all possible, as it cuts down on the chances for bugs. We are not fans of facial treats like while heads or snouts. — Jamie Parent, A Place for Fido, Duluth, MN
  • I need consistency! I talked to a lot of manufacturers about this at Superzoo. I need good stock and good quality every time I buy. I’m small, so when I get a bad batch of chews (like really dark yak chews or bugs), I am losing a lot of money. — Kayla Swatzell, Barkville Bakery, Peculiar, MO
  • Where the animal was raised prior to manufacturing, information about processing plant, and innovation on products that are not the “regular” products like bully sticks, antlers, etc. — Alison Schwartz, All Pets Considered, Greensboro, NC
  • Natural and safe products. We realize that any chew, etc. can pose a potential hazard but prefer those that are digestible and/or difficult to split, splinter or break in small pieces. — Annette Jones, Paws & Purrs Barkery & Boutique, Rutherfordton, NC

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.

Related Topics:
mm

Since launching in 2017, PETS+ has won more than 20 major international journalism awards for its publication and website. Contact PETS+ editors at editor@petsplusmag.com.

click to Comment(Comment)
Advertisement

FEATURED VIDEO

Sponsored by Cogent Solutions Group

Reduce Your Pet’s Hip & Joint Discomfort with the Most Researched Hyaluronan on the Market

Nearly 60% of dogs and 90% of cats suffer from joint discomfort. Trixsyn joint supplement contains a patented and proven hyaluronic acid molecule for maximum efficacy to promote joint, bone, soft tissue, and cartilage health, keeping your pet feeling comfortable, for longer. Trixsyn is veterinarian recommended, safe and all-natural, and contains research-proven ingredients. Get your paws on the most-researched hyaluronic acid on the market. Learn more at Trixsyn.com.

Promoted Headlines

Most Popular