The American Pet Products Association has estimated that in 2013, pet owners spent $55 billion, which is a 58% increase from 2003. Pet owners are continually spending more especially as new and innovative products make their debut. To jump on the bandwagon of retail, here are a few tips to choose the right pet products for your business.

Carefully consider your audience when selecting the products you will sell. For example, you probably wouldn’t sell pet manicure/pedicure sets if you are a kennel in the middle of a mountain area. Why? Because customers who hike with their dogs are less likely to buy dog nail polish than customers who go to a pet grooming salon in an urban setting!

What types of pet products represent the aesthetic of your brand? Do your research and filter through the bestselling pet products to find items that are appropriate for your business. Then once you're ready you can use PawLoyalty kennel software's retail inventory feature to look up items in your store that your customers can purchase.

1. Ask Your Customers

Your customers are your most reliable source. If a customer seems to have time to chat before they are on their way, ask them:

1. What kinds of products would you like to see on our shelves?
2. What are your favorite pet brand names? 
3. What types of activities do your dogs partake in?

2. Create a Survey

Create a survey with the same questions as above. Leave survey cards in your living room, ask customers to fill out a survey when they have the chance, or send out your surveys via email and newsletter. 

3. Ask Your Wholesale Vendor

Ask your wholesale vendor to tell you what their current bestselling items are for your type of business. Depending on how much information they have at hand, your vendor could be your one-stop shop for intel on products.

4. Explore Trends

The American Pet Products Association estimates that consumers are spending the most on food and medicine for their pets.

A good source for finding bestselling products is Amazon.com. Go to Amazon and filter the Pet Supplies section so that only 4 Star & Up items are shown. These items are given stars and reviewed by your types of customers, so pay close attention to what is bestselling on these bigger platforms and then choose the ones that fit your brand.

Your kennel software will also come in handy when searching for patterns in your clients’ pet profiles. You will be able to find client needs such as the types of food and medications that you can add to your inventory. Monitor what playgroups and activity packages your customers are buying and determine whether your clients would be interested in agility toys, puppy related items, or products for older pets.

5. Monitor Competing Businesses

Have a staff member visit your competitor’s store. Find out what they are selling and have them investigate what your competitor’s bestsellers are. Also, when traveling, always try to visit a business similar to yours. You can pick up innovative ideas for merchandising or gain exposure to new products. You can stop in and act like a consumer; asking what is popular and what products they can’t keep on the shelves. Or you can directly contact a business owner in advance and set up a tour. The pet community is a friendly place and most people are happy to share their ideas.

6. Ask Other Pet Care Professionals

Your business partners may have different intel as to what sells and what doesn’t. Tradeshows like Superzoo, or even smaller and more local ones, are a great resource for pet industry insight! Chat with non-competitive business professionals about their opinions on retail products. (Check out our article: 6 Ways for Pet Businesses to Increase Their Referral Network)

7. Location, Location, Location

Your settings and weather will affect the dog apparel and special activities gear that customers are likely to buy from your retail section. Think about these factors as you choose products.

Here are a few examples:
Rural, Urban, Suburban
Dessert, Mountain, Forest, Beach
Rainy, Sunny, Snowy

Brainstorm words that would describe your local settings and weather. Based on that, what unique products would your clients buy to accommodate the special features of your location.

8. Narrow Down the Types of Dog Products

Each type of product can be broken down into smaller categories. From those subcategories, you will have a more detailed set of options to choose from.

Here is a list of types of pet product categories. Brainstorm how you can break them down into subcategories.

Dog Toys	Apparel, Leashes	Grooming Supplies	Furniture	Food	Medication	Training
Brain Development  Toys Chew Toys Exercise Toys	Sweaters Boots Costumes	Brushes Clippers Shampoos	Beds Blankets Stairs	Kibble Wet food Training treats	Allergy Calming Aids Antibiotics	Treats Books

Did we miss something? Write down other products or categories you can think of.

Consider the following:
Do I have products in each of these categories?
Should I add any products from categories where I have little or no current offering?

9. Designate a Price Range

Once you are finished, research the specific brands you would like to carry at your business. Your store may want high end brand names, you may prefer more affordable but still effective products, or you might try to do a mix of both. Either way, you need to designate a range of low to high priced items so that if you do choose to have a mix of both, you will have an even distribution.

10. Choose Items that Can Be Packaged Together

The products that you are selling can be packaged together in a group deal, which is also a great way to increase revenue. For example, you can create a package for “Grooming on the Go” which includes a nail grind, toothbrush, grooming scissors, and grooming brush—all items that are conveniently transportable. All the items in a package deal do not have to be the same brand either. For example, you can have the “Bestsellers” in one package that are rated by customers. (You can ask your vendor for recommendations.)

Let’s Review

What you have on your shelves is important and your retail section should reflect several factors: the area you are located, the type of pet business you have, the quality of your products, and the specific customers you are selling to. These activities are meant to make it easier for you to sift through several options and only take away products that will represent the quality associated with your brand name. Now what are you waiting for? Make a few calls and do your research!

Throw Us a Bone!

What is the bestselling product you currently stock? Any products surprise you because of how many or how quickly you sell out? What techniques did you use to create your inventory? Share your insight with other pet care professionals!