Premium Movement Emerging Trend Hitting Pet Franchise Industry

/in , , /by

Important Trends Hitting the Pet Franchise Industry

Environmentally Conscientious Offerings Producing Sustainable Goods for Pet Franchise Industry

Trends in the American conscience translate into trends seen in the pet franchise industry and there have been huge shifts in the past few years. One of the biggest that Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique is recognizing is the want for sustainable and more eco-friendly products. Start-up companies are focusing on providing products that are renewable, recycled, or made with materials that are less wasteful. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),  America alone produced over 254 million tons of trash in 2013. Statistics like this are pushing the pet franchise to respond. This is evident in the inception of the Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition (PISC) which aims to progress the industry’s standards to for planet wellness. Environmentally responsible pet-supply manufacturers are using sustainable production methods and recycling materials to reduce waste and pollution, and urging others to do their part.

Repurposed Materials

Innovators within the pet franchise industry like the start-up Cycle Dog are taking initiatives to make products out of materials that would have been otherwise wasted. Cycle Dog uses old bike tire inner-tubes reused to make a backing for pet collars. The inner-tube rubber cannot be melted or injected into other forms so it is often sent to the landfill. Lynette Fidrych, Dog Cycle president, devised a way to make the material into the pet collar backing because it dries quickly and is resistant to bacteria growth. The cycle dog bar is reinforced with a safety bar that restricts the buckle from unintentionally releasing, offers four times the strength of average products, and is safe and sustainable for the planet. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique is keeping this product on it’s radar.

 

Sustainable Items

The first and most integral part of creating an eco-friendly pet franchise is to recycle, and offer products that are recyclable. A Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique product that follows this model is the Bionic Bone and other Bionic stuff-it toys. The Bionic Bone is eco-friendly, 100% recyclable, non-toxic, and dishwasher safe. It is made from FDA approved rubber and is–as the name suggests–indestructible. Meaning one purchase and your dog will have this toy forever which is good for your dog, your wallet, and the planet. Also in this vein is to the idea of implementing recycling options into your own business. Call your local county office and find out how to receive a recycling bin and the recycling pickup schedule. Customers will appreciate the gesture and good practice. Customers also have a tendency to have interests in hemp based dog toys over cotton. Hemp is fast growing, replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen, needs 50% less water than cotton, and can grow with little irrigation. In terms of eco-friendliness hemp is superior to cotton and more consumers are seeking dog toys made from this textile now than in past years.

 

Inform Customers on How to Recycle Unused Cat Litter

The versatility of cat litter is wide and there are a lot of options for cat owners who want to start recycling their unused cat litter. Note: All litters that your cat has used must be thrown away, and cannot be flushed down the toilet.

 

  • Clay based cat litters can be used to soak up oil leaks when working on your car or gardening equipment. Spread the litter out on the driveway or garage to help clean oil spills.
  • Wood and paper based litters make great soil retainment material for indoor and outdoor plants. Spread the unused litter around the perimeter of your plants roots to help soak water.
  • Wheat and corn based litters can be used in compost bins and piles.

 

You can also make your own cat litter by removing the ink from old newspaper. The process is very simple and takes only a few hours.

  1. First shred your newspaper.
  2. Add three teaspoons of eco-friendly dish soap to sink. Use colander and newspaper to sink, then fill it.
  3. Once the water turns gray drain it.
  4. Fill the sink back up without soap and repeat process with warm water.
  5. Add small amount of baking soda to the mushy paper and knead water out. (Wear gloves to avoid ink stains on hands)
  6. Dry the mixture out and use as necessary.

 

Outside the Grooming Industry

A trend to recognize that is not within the Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique realm, but is important to know as a marketing trend is the recyclability of small animal pet products. Pet-bedding for reptiles and birds are becoming more eco-friendly to meet the wants and needs of consumers. One notable company is  FiberCore, a distribution supply company that focuses on creating pet bedding that protects the environment. Since the need to replenish pet bedding is a constant it is imperative for the pet franchise to offer sustainable products to reduce waste and optimize pet health.

4 Signs the Pet Franchise Industry is Continuing to Grow

/in /by

There is great news for those vested in the Pet Franchise industry, to newcomers looking to expand their investments to new investors, the Pet Industry is on on the rise. Fields from Groomers to Veterinarians are all reporting strong growth in revenue, and surveys from the APPA,VPI Co., APOP, Purina Dog Chow, and Packaged Facts are all publicizing growth.This article outlines current market trends that is allowing for this economic growth.

The Pattern is Continuing and Projected Strong

2004 marked the beginning of the steady incline in generated revenue in the Pet Franchise Industry as a whole. From 2008 to 2014 there was a $14.9 billion dollar spike that has continued into this year. The American Pet Products Association estimated that the fiscal year will end in $62.75 billion, an almost 20 billion increase from 2014. As more data becomes available, by estimates for 2019 are projected at $91.72 billion. 97.3 households are reporting owning a cat or dog making up 75% of owned popular pets. Because cats and dogs take more care through food, grooming, and veterinary service, than fish and reptiles it is important to note the majority of marketing and product innovation is happening for these animals.
Rapidity Of Growth is Attracting Inventors
Last year was the year of opening pet start-ups. Dozens of companies parenting smaller start-ups like TurboPup was one of the most mediatized of these companies. The creator, Kristina Guerrero, won a $100,000 on ABC’s Shark Tank to create TurboPup all natural power bar for dogs. Another innovation in the industry is application and software based products and services. PetChatz, a conglomerate of Anser Innovation, is a webcam based software that allows owners to see their pets, dispense a treat, and sprays a soothing-scent for your pup. Another Phone App started in 2015 is Swifto, founded by Penina First. Swifto is the Uber for dog owners, and allows owners to connect with Dog Walkers and view the walk in real-time through the App. As technological advancements continues to open doorways for pet-owners the industry responds pushing new ways for franchise owners to innovate and capitalize.

Premiumization of Pet Foods

Market trends for human foods like local produce markets and Trader Joe’s expansion are also carrying its way over into the pet franchise Industry. Owners are more concerned now with the ingredients and health benefits of their pet’s diet because of national awareness to nutrition. Mass brand pet foods are still making majority of the money, but the innovation and more recent market trends suggest that owners will be purchasing more premium food alternatives. For example, the Honest Kitchen–a 2015 start-up aimed at providing human grade food for pets has generated over 21 million dollars in revenue. Honest Kitchen offers a dehydrated mix of free-range chicken, cage-free duck, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and cranberries as the marketable healthy ingredients in their companies food products.

Dog is Still Man’s Best Friend

The old adage “Dog is man’s best friend” still carries weight and can be seen in marketing trends. Advertorial and PR campaigns, marketing, hashtags, and even Hollywood is using the natural bond between human and pet. Products marketed for eco-friendliness are using images of puppy faces to show safety of the product like bug sprays and air fresheners. The visual of a dog has been shown to resonate with American audiences. MGM studios released Max, a story which pulls on the heart-strings when a Marine dog-trainer passes away. Max, his German Shepherd, bonds with the Marines younger brother Kyle unveiling the mystery of his soldier brother’s death. The movie focuses on the compassion formed during war-time between soldiers and their dog trainees. This year the Secret Life of Pets released with a similar narrative showing that the entertainment industry is correlating with the marketing industry. Everyone loves their pets, even outside of the pet franchise!
Gains are Across the Board
With 68% of households reporting to own at least one pet, and 4 in 6 households owning multiple pets, the pet franchise Industry is emerging as a safe bet for not only Veterinarians and Food distributors, but for investors as well. Surgical and routine vet visits account for $15.24 billion. Live animal purchases account for $2.11 billion. This leaves a margin of $44.71 billion for services, food, and product revenue which are all things owners of pet franchises can provide. The options with investment and entrepreneurship are vast with choices of grooming at home, buying a franchise storefront, or buying stock in one of dozens of successful start-ups. Services in pet grooming and doggy daycare are also expanding to meet the needs of modern consumers.The success the industry is receiving is on a holistic level. New innovative pet products, modern technology, entrepreneurs gaining success, and an already strong brand are paving the way for a rewarding and strong industry to be invested in.