Pet Store Franchises

5 Ways to Make Your Local Pet Store, The Most Popular Spot in Town

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How to Distinguish Your Shop From Other Local Pet Stores

Today standing out is more important than ever. Not only are small businesses competing with the other local shops in the area but the ubiquity of e-commerce makes store uniqueness indispensable. Those in the pet grooming industry have a big advantage. The service portion of this business will naturally build a clientele list. But standing out from other local pet stores still has its challenges.

It all starts with location. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique owners premeditate location based on profitable key metrics. A local pet store’s location needs to have high visibility with tons of foot traffic. Neighboring businesses in the vicinity is also crucial to engage with prospective customers. Even with a phenomenal location, shop owners can make adjustments to strategize factors that lead to more customers and higher sales rates.

The trick is to against the grain. Whether you’re planning a local marketing campaign or decorating for the holidays it never pays to copy other local pet stores. Why be the same when you can be different and set the precedent? When you post on social media about new products don’t use language and media that mirror your competitors. Post things that represent what makes your shop special. Instead of organizing signage that emulates the competition—find new creative ways that you know your customers will resonate with.

This article offers some guidance on ways to make your local pet store the best one in town!

1. A Sight for Sore Eyes

It’s an old trick in an unwritten book but window displays are your first line of offense when it comes to getting foot traffic to come into your store. Bolstering your curb appeal.

  • Is your window display engaging?
  • Does it spark interest in potential customers?
  • Is it on brand and look inviting?
  • What makes a good window display?

The same effect that a mannequin has on shoppers is the methodology behind window displays. Customers visualize ownership. This is a part of influential merchandising. Themed window displays tell the story of what you sell inside and services your small businesses provide. For Splash and Dash shop locations it reads upscale, clean, and charming. Banners displaying the company name and brand also help distinguish local pet stores. Think about those famous golden arches and you can almost taste the french fries. This same evocation can happen by displaying your company banner.

Appealing to other senses is important too. Shops need to smell inviting—not like dirty dog water. Most local pet stores and grooming salons have that wet dog smell permeated into the walls. Not Splash and Dash!  Also make sure your store is always clean and well lit. Avant-garde merchandising isn’t effective unless the other elements of your store match the caliber of your displays.

A final thought is that when associates look busy, this image is psychologically welcoming for customers. When your employees looked bored, your store looks boring.

2. Unique Store Layout & Merchandising

The Splash and Dash brand carries a detailed and notable store layout and merchandising schematic. Everything from the color palette of the walls to the positioning of peg boards is all unique to the pet franchise. Display fixtures are made in-house and are complementary to the theme of the boutique.

Visual merchandising is the force that prompts people to pick up a product. The way shop owners purposefully organize product aisles to entice shoppers. For instance, think of holiday cards. Almost no one goes into a specialty shop to specifically buy a holiday card. But, when you get to the line to check out, and there’s the cutest card staring at you in the face, that you just have to get your friend—this is merchandising magic working.

The key to merchandising is having your store be in a constant flux of product positioning. You want items your repeat customers have never noticed to pop-up at them. You want items customers are readily looking for to be accessible and point them toward other items of interest. There is a lot of amazing literature out there for local pet stores. “Merchandising Theory Principles and Practice” by Grace Kunz is amazing. For those in the pet industry, “Quit Your Bitchin’ and Start Making Real Money” by Dan J. Barton gets straight to the point on more than just store design.

3. The Millennial Customer Experience

The buzz in all the local pet stores has been the recent announcement from the APPA, that Millennials have replaced the older generations as the primary pet owners in America.

Millennials have different shopping tactics than their generational predecessors. Millennials are much more experimental. The generation is less skeptical than their frugal parents but is also armed with mobile. Smartphone accessed consumer reviews and FAQs on products aren’t quite making old fashioned sales teams obsolete. A knowledgeable and friendly sales team is still vital.

Marketing to this consumer in your brick-and-mortar store will look different. This generation wants an experience. A personalized experience should be one that is easily shared on social media. Updating the tech in your shop may not be as difficult as you think. Simple low-tech things like selfie-boards and treat tastings are ways for your customers to interact with your brand.

4. Dazzle Them With Legendary Service

Mark Levy, shop owner in La Verne, California, describes his shop as a place “where a cold nose is treated with a warm heart and everyone is treated like royalty. ” Treating your customers like royalty is not as hyperbolic as you think. Thinking that customer service and building relationships are limited to the service industry is precarious thinking. According to BizReport, 75% of customers state that they consider customer service as a true test of a company’s competency. Why shouldn’t they? This is the segment of a company that interacts the most with customers.

Your employees need to be knowledgeable, honest, and fair with customers. Treating customers as fellow humans is simple and smiles go a long way. Remember, you are dealing with someone’s pet, and many pet parents are particular.

Splash and Dash help set a precedent for our customer service by setting a guarantee. The company guarantees full satisfaction with the quality of any product or service and Splash and Dash will do everything possible to set things right if complaints arise.

5. Embrace Corporate Social Responsibility

Local pet stores in your area have social responsibility just as much as the big guys in other industries like Microsoft. Arguably, a pet store is held even more accountable since the business is centered around animals. Focusing your business tactics on giving back to society not only betters the world but has massive consumer appeal.

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique do their part by hosting adoption events, providing meals for local charities, and shrinking the carbon pawprint.

We hope you found this article helpful to make for all the local pet stores out there!

 

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2017’s Newest Trends for Chic Dog Boutiques

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Dog Owner Mania is Pushing the Envelope for Cutesy and Extravagant Retail Options for Dogs

The world of glamor has invaded the welcoming pet industry and has been building huge momentum in 2017. Dog obsession is in! A chic dog boutique presents a real opportunity to push the boundaries of retail options for pet owners who love to spoil their dogs. From diamond encrusted tiaras to strollers, lavishness is a popular trend emerging alongside American-made and eco-friendly products.

In 2017, a dog can have its own armoire. We’ve seen these trends in the celebrity community. Kendall Jenner is a huge fan of showing off her dogs and their doggie costumes and jewelry. Lady Gaga, the queen of accessorizing, also frequents chic dog boutiques to dress her French Bull dog, Koji, in sailor uniforms. Or even Liam Hemsworth’s Labradoodle named Dora, and his Brown Pit Bull, Tara, see plenty of the time in the spotlight with hip doggie apparel.

What this means for pet retailers is taking a look at the inventory list. Having a balanced inventory that supplies the demands of your consumer is important as different trends emerge in the marketplace. A chic dog boutique aims to have a unique assortment of products that pet owners can’t find at the big-box pet stores.

This article explores five of the freshest trends to shake up the pet industry.

1. High-End Designer Dog Clothing

This is mostly for the toy breeds—Yorkies, Frenchies, Poms etc. Owners dressing their dogs up is more popular than ever. Many pet owners want to match their dog with the occasion. Representing sports teams, celebrating Halloween with costumes, or even adorning a classic CoCo Mohair Sweater to look decadent when it’s cold out are a few reasons to dress the dog up.

Recognized Dog Clothing Brands:

  • Chi WOW WOW
  • RUFF RUFF Couture
  • M. Isacc Mizrahi
  • Susan Lanci
  • Oscar Newman
  • Wooflink
  • Dogs of Glamour
  • Paul Frank
  • Jax & Bones

Even designers outside of the pet novelty realm are unveiling dog lines for chic dog boutiques. Women’s wear designer and pet couturier, Anthony Rubio, has designed dog wear that goes beyond cute and enters the exorbitant realm. Anthony Rubio’s hat designs have the same flair that human hats have at the Kentucky Derby. Gucci, G.G, Frida Firenze, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, and Barneys have all hopped on the dog clothing bandwagon.

2.  Fancy Strollers & Carriers

There are tons of options in this department. Dog stroller customization mirrors the market for human babies. Many of these dog strollers have removable carrier sections and are collapsible for easy traveling. Double dog strollers are available for families with more than one furr-baby. The designs are endless from geometric, stripes, and animal print. Designer strollers are priced even higher. Various features make a dog’s life even easier with a smooth ride like paw rests and plush bolster pads. Prices range from $100 to $700.

Popular small dog strollers include Pet Gear Happy Trails No Zip Stroller, Vivo 3 Wheel Pet Stroller, and Pet Gear No Zip NV Pet Stroller. The trendy large dog strollers are Pet Gear Expedition Pet Stroller and DoggRide Novel Dog Stroller which are both equipped to carry dogs up to 150 pounds.

Carriers are becoming just as prominent as purses. Carrier pattern options are even more diverse. If you’ve seen a pattern on a purse, chances are it’s replicated on a dog carrier. Carriers come in a few different styles. There are both front and back ‘backpacks,’ sling-style, pouch-style, bag-style, and the classic dog carriers. Part of the customizable-direction carriers is taking are the insertable pads that come in different color fabric swatches. Cooling pads which can be refrigerated to keep dogs from overheating on hot summer days are also available.

3. Aromatherapy & Supplements

If you haven’t already heard the news, Millenials are now the primary pet owners in the U.S. and are drastically affecting the market. As far as pet spending goes, Millenials are more experimental and attuned to holistic choices. Grain-free foods, organic ingredient lists, and artisan preparation are becoming normative.

One of the biggest products to emerge from this is—aromatherapy for dogs. The idea behind aromatherapy is conditioning. Many pet owners look for natural herbal supplements to help calm their dogs down or induce a desired mood enhancement. Botanicals and herbs are concentrated into an essential oil which is diluted to a safe ratio used in shampoos, conditioners, and spritzers. When a dog associates the aromas with calm feelings, using aromatherapy can help soothe your dog down.

Doggie vitamins and supplements are also getting more and more popular, especially in 2017. Once-a-day probiotics, fatty acids, flora supplements, joint health, antioxidants, and liver support are a few of the choices in the supplement aisle of pet stores and chic dog boutiques.  

4. Doggie Furniture

With all the clothes dog owners are buying for their dogs they’re going to need a place to hang the outfits up. What pampered pooch ensemble is complete without an armoire and steps to reach it. Dog-sized armoires used to be something you would need to commission a specialty artist. Now, many chic dog boutiques sell them for the sophisticated and demanding customer.

Dog steps and ramps have also been around for a while but now the designs are getting really creative. Steps are used for small or arthritic dogs to get onto the bed or into the car. Following eye-pleasing designs, animal prints, granite, and even candy compositions are showing up on steps.

High tech and elegant feeders are also gaining popularity. Dog feeders that have automated timers or involved problem-solving on the dog’s part are hot sellers.

5. Jewelry

Dog accessorizing has had bandanas and even satin bow ties before but now pearls and diamond encrusted tiaras are entering the game. Many chic pet boutiques have been selling out  charms attached to a locket that can be placed on a dog’s collar. The charms are made with semi-precious and faux gemstones.

Human jewelry that declares a pet owner’s pride for their dog is also a hot item in pet boutiques. Engraved with sayings like “I Heart my dog,” or “My little angel,” human charms are also popular alongside different breed emblems.

6. Other Noteworthy Items & The Miscellaneous

  • Wilderdog Climbing Rope and Carabiner Leashes
  • Bad Tags! Glow in the Dark Dog Tags
  • Beast + Babe’s Tropical Summertime Leash Collection
  • Puppy Riot Handmade Dog Bandanas
  • Prunkhund’s “Marble and Concrete” Accessories Collection
  • Planet Dog’s Link Interactive Toy
  • Bright Flowers Cushion
  • Peach Pet Provisions Hammock Pet Loungers

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