Premium Movement Emerging Trend Hitting Pet Franchise Industry
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.
- First shred your newspaper.
- Add three teaspoons of eco-friendly dish soap to sink. Use colander and newspaper to sink, then fill it.
- Once the water turns gray drain it.
- Fill the sink back up without soap and repeat process with warm water.
- Add small amount of baking soda to the mushy paper and knead water out. (Wear gloves to avoid ink stains on hands)
- 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.
