Dog Rocks are doing great. Focusing on one item in a month has helped tremendously to get the word out. — Debbie Brookham, Furry Friends Inc., Colorado Springs, CO
Dog & Cat Products
- Our bestselling product was protein treats from Scout & Zoe’s. We have a self-serve treat bar with apothecary jars, and our clients love the look, the quality of the treat. And the dogs love the taste! — Krista Lofquist, Wagging Tails, Wolcott, CT
- Durable outdoor toys were good sellers for us. Jolly Pets, Jersey Dog and West Paw have all been good sellers. — Kaye Busse-Kleber, Bark On Mulford, Rockford, IL
- My bestselling product was the Ruffwear Front Range harness. People who love to hike with their dogs and explore nature love to have it on their dogs. It is durable and quite easy to size and fit. It is good for everyday wear also. It’s comfortable for dogs and has two leash attachments. — Jan A. Hopper, Living Pawsitively
- We’ve been selling Vet’s Best natural flea and tick products well. We offer it as an add-on for application with grooming and make it a consistent brand in our retail section because we believe in the products! — Adrienne Preuss, Animal Loving Care, Brooklyn, NY
- MyFamily Pet Tags. $8.99-$25.99. At Global Pet Expo we decided to take a leap and purchase a new tag machine. Our customers are loving all of the tag designs, and we love that they have taken ownership of making their own tag! It frees up our staff to help people with food consultations, toy recommendations, etc. — Kara Holland, Pittsboro Pet Supply, Pittsboro, NC
- Our bestselling product (category) was dog food. We carry brands of food that people in our area cannot buy at Petco, Petsmart, Chewy. Most brands are independent retail exclusive, which means we have repeat customers. To expand the growth of this category, we added Open Farm in April with a BOGO promotion throughout the month of May to entice customers to try the brand. — Amy Schiek, Lucky Dogs, Skaneateles, NY
- Fromm dog food. They had a coupon for free treats attached to their bags. — Paula Gorman, Pet Supplies ‘N’ More, Muskego, WI
- Northwest Naturals freeze dried treats. The whole line sells well, with salmon selling best; beef liver No. 2. There are a lot of pieces in a bag. Prices $ 9-12. — Nancy Okun, Cats n Dogs, Port Charlotte, FL
- Earth Animal No-Hides are a consistent hit for us since we don’t sell any rawhide, and we are excited about the new Peanut Butter flavor! — Jennifer Larson, Firehouse Pet Shop, Wenatchee, WA
- Answers Goat’s Milk. We start all of our customers with young animals and seniors on this to help fortify their health and constitutions. — Pennye Jones-Napier, The Big Bad Woof, Washington, DC
- Pet Releaf hemp products. Customers love it for its multiple remedy solutions. I sell it because it is helping pets with so many different ailments. — Kimberly Gatto, The Wagging Tail, Las Vegas, NV
- Still loving all the Fluff & Tuff toys. For some reason the llama was a hit this month. — Angela Pantalone, Wag Central, Stratford, CT
- Outside of our perpetual top item, bulk biscuits, it was Barkworthies 6-inch Gullet Sticks. At just $1.29 each, they are cost effective, work well for small dogs that are light chewers and are a meaty treat for bigger dogs. — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
- Wellness soft puppy bites. We sent up a new puppy display because of all the spring puppies that are born! The packaging is attractive and cute which makes it distinct from adult treats. The treats are soft and easy to break in small pieces. — Sandy House, The Store at Paws, Hamden, CT
- We did a Game of Bones promotion to tie into buzz behind the last season of GAME OF THRONES. Storewide discount on bones and chews. It was a good add-on for high-margin items. — Mark Vitt, Mutts & Co., Delaware, OH
- We have hand-dyed Hope Ropes made locally. The woman who makes them comes up with crazy custom color combinations, and they fly out of here. We did an Instagram post with them and I sold three times as many as I normally do in a single post. We love to sell them because they are made locally, retail for $29.99 and are all custom. Everyone buys them! — Jocelyn Turner, Woof Woof Pet Boutique and Biscuit Bar, Bristol, RI
- Baydog harnesses. Our customers loved the chest padding and the fact that it has three points of attachment. The fact that Baydog is a veteran-owned company also appeals to many of our clients, especially since we are located near several military bases. — Wendy Megyese, Muttigans, Emerald Isle, NC
- A local food called North Star Kibble. Customers buy this due to the price point, dogs love it, and do well on it. Cost per 35-pound bag is between $40.99 and 44.99. Customers that buy this product feed this with the intent to feed their pets a better food and the cost. Customers range from low to upper middle class. It’s a fantastic food. — Cecelia Michaels, Lickin’ Good Whole Pet Food, Park Rapids, MN
- Primal Pet Food (bone broth specifically). Our customers love how it has been helping theirs pets, especially with reducing itching. We have been selling it to any type of customer; it’s also a great way to introduce them to the raw freeze-dried. — Richie Powell, All American Pet Supplies & Grooming, Springfield, OR
- Our hot sellers are a self-serve bath in one of our fully-stocked tubs and Whimzees potato-based chews. Our customers like Whimzees because they are a fantastic alternative to rawhides. — Charlsye Lewis, Metro Animals, Fort Worth, TX
- Mobowl by Lowcountry Pet Specialties — a portable dog bowl that fits in your pocket, is made in USA and is under $5, plus, it’s a give back-company. So that hits all the bells and whistles for most of our customers! — Toni Shelaske, Healthy Pet Products, Pittsburgh PA
- The Honest Kitchen Cup, 99 cent sale. Always a great way to get folks to try a dehydrated food. We also sell them to folks looking for a healthy filling in Kongs, sterilized bones or horns. Just fill and freeze! — Jack Carey, Food for Pets, Manchester, NH
Other Products
- Pura Phosphate Pads. The pads remove phosphates from aquariums which decreases algae growth! They are a cut to fit product so can be used in any size or type of filtration system. — Nicole Olesen, Woofs & Waves, Sioux Falls, SD
- #248 Kings Cages toy Rainbow Rocket. It comes in three sizes, holds up well to birds and is fairly cheap. Our No. 1 toy at the moment. — Paul Lewis, Birds Unlimited, Webster, NY
Services
- Our Shed Less Service was our biggest seller. We purchased unique high-velocity hose nozzles several years ago that strip the loose undercoat out in the bathtub. It’s extremely satisfying to do on double coated breeds, and our clients are amazed at the results we achieve. — Danielle Wilson, Bath & Biscuits, Granville, OH
- It was the season for “Blowing Coat” and we sold the heck out of our Hair Hair Everywhere Package to our bath clients. Our professionally trained bathers complete a five-step process to remove excessive undercoat. Clients love that we are helping them solve the problem of dog hair all over their clothes, homes and cars. We charge $15 to $25, depending on the amount of time and product required to complete the service. — Teresa Hogge, Belly Rubs N Suds, Ashburn, VA
- Our Puppy Day School training program is always No. 1. It’s a complete day care and training program for puppies. — Katharine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI
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.