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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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Pawdicures, Tutus, and Kibble: Splash and Dash Pet Boutique

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Owning A Pet Boutique Harmonizes a Fun Lifestyle with Aspiring Entrepreneurship by Virtue of Building Something We Love

Owning a pet boutique is one of the most fun ways to combine your love for animals with your business experience. So many ex-corporate employees have told me how miserable their job was. Some people are simply working for the wrong company. Others are meant for something greater. Either way—you only get one life and it’s a short one, so don’t waste your time dreaming—wake up and seize the dream!

Pet boutique owners across the nations were able to stop putting off their dream of opening a pet boutique and built something they love. Of course, quitting your job and launching a small business is no easy task.

What Are the Options in Owning a Pet Boutique?

One option for aspiring entrepreneurs is opening a mom and pop shop, and build from the ground up. This takes an enormous amount of diligence. You will have to design a brand, establish suppliers, and find a POS system—just to name a few challenges at the tip of the iceberg.

The other option is buying a franchise. Many business savvy venturists will tell you this is the way to go. It is true, buying into a franchise will save you the time of establishing a brand and the scaffolding of your business is already in place, leaving you more time to focus on making your pet boutique successful.

The problem with investing mass capital into a large pet retail franchise is is you lose autonomy and control over your business. Isn’t this why you wanted to own your place, to build your vision? There are other options.

You could partner with Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique—own a pet boutique that treats customers like family, their pets like royalty, and opens the freedom to build your life around work, not the other way around.

Why Owning A Splash and Dash Can Change Your Life

Freedom

Americans rank as the 16th longest workweek, according to a poll by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The poll cited that the average U.S. citizen works 34.40 hours per week. For some, this is hard to believe, as workers from waiters to corporate executives are clocking in much longer than this. A career should forefront two things: work-life balance and passion. Without these two elements, it is very easy to disengage and become one of the many disgruntled workers employed in the caveat of corporate America.

Owning a pet boutique is a golden opportunity to break this cycle. Women and men can have the flexibility to raise their family balanced with a successful career.  I wish I could tell you once you become your own boss, you will never have to listen to anyone ever again. You will still have to work with vendors, government officials, and customers, but you will find that fidelity with yourself will structure your day-to-day. Your insight will be your guide, and if you partner with a credible franchisee, you will have the support and direction you need to be successful.

As your own boss, you can control your schedule and the flexibility of this schedule will be solely determined by you. You will have the autonomy to work hard to earn money on your terms.

Power to Help People

At Splash and Dash, we want people we like to put emphasis on helping people and their pets. We do this by educating pet owners. We act as guides to help them make informed and responsible decisions regarding their pets.

A pet boutique and grooming salon provides the opportunities to care for pets with holistic products. We help maintain our clients’ animal’s welfare. Preventative care is imparted from our loving groomers. Shop owners can lead their community by joining their chamber of commerce, host philanthropic events like adoption days, and treat a dog to the most relaxing spa experience a pooch can get.

Help Break the Glass Ceiling

Women can break the pattern of marginalization by owning their own business. We are proud of our female owners who joined the rising number of 9.1 million women-owned businesses operating in the U.S. The number of women-owned business has risen 68% since 1997, according to a state-owned business report.

Personally, we would like to see these figures continue to rise as equality spreads across enterprises. Whether you are interested in a pet boutique or want to be the next president, Splash and Dash loves doing our part to help close the gender gap.

Appeal of Splash and Dash Over Other Pet Boutiques

Store Design

Who wants to work in a gloomy office with fluorescent lighting?

The Splash and Dash color palette was handpicked to design a space that is open and warm. The hues of green, blue, and pink are vibrant and fun. Each Splash and Dash location combines the warmth of friendly service with an upscale inviting ambiance that smells more like a candle store than a pet salon. (No wet dog smell here).

The entire merchandising display of your pet boutique is a showcase of possibility for humans, and a playground of contentment for animals.

Awesome Work Environment

If you are a person who imagines themselves working in an upbeat and fun environment, with lots of smiles and lots of puppies, then you might’ve been born to own a pet boutique.

The company offers services like pawdicures, doggie facials, and aromatherapy. Groomers absolutely pamper dogs in the lap of luxury. Trust me when I say, it is the cutest thing to watch a little Yorkie enter their place of bliss and overindulgence at a pet spa. Not only are the animals around you happy but the people are too!

You control the company culture.

As a shop owner, you will be the one to hire your management team. Before a grand opening, corporate helps by scaling back the lists of resumes sure to pile up on your desk. They will then determine a handful of good fits for you to interview with. This helps you compose the chemistry and dynamic of your shop without wasting time on quality assurance. Gone are the days of working with people who don’t share your vision.

The Splash and Dash Brand

A brand is a mantra, a mission statement, and constitution all rolled into one.

The Splash and Dash brand is summarized in our slogan, Play Dirty. Live Clean. The philosophy behind this is that we want our clients and their dogs to live life to the fullest extent by playing dirty. We want our clients’ dogs to go for the romp in the mud, splash in the waves at the dog beach.

It’s OK, come on down to Splash and Dash for some sudsy pampering and you’re ready to do it over again. This is the segue into living clean. This extends into the convenience we offer at Splash and Dash and our pledge for a better and greener world. Living clean is living conscious—a platform for love.

 

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