Thinking about opening a pet store....yes, seriously!

[Toffee's Mom]

Hey Barb
I have a few selections I shop, but I will not buy at a store that sells choke chains, any Cesar Milan products or anything else pain inducing... I look for what they have in their store.. so for example there is a place I used to buy some raw food, such as frozen tripe patties.. but their recommended trainers are into compulsion training... so I don't shop there anymore, EVER. Even tho I am not even in the market for a trainer, lol. But if I don't trust how they train and it isn't compatible then why bother giving them my money?

a little ways further is a Bark and Fitz (maybe that is one of the franchises u are looking into?) and I shop for everything there! Nice people, good selection, the owner has a Sheltie, and it's positive training all around! This and the Three Dog Bakery... don't go anywhere else.

But who knows, maybe I am just one of those sensitive people that are in the minority, lol
FOr what it is worth, I LOVE Bark and Fitz I think it suits a niche market and a lot of people even see it as a bit of a status symbol.. when they can say I got this custom collar at Bark and Fitz, etc... It's a tad more exclusive than trying to be too broad...

 

[Paeoniaa]

- large selection of dog food products - pre-fab or raw frozen. That is, would you choose your pet store by who sells the brand that you want or would you be open to other brands if the store offered other "attractions"

I do try to do a fair bit of research on my own and, once I decide on something, I'm usually willing to go to a fair bit of trouble (and distance) to get it.

- price - I'm asking here about buying at the grocery store vs. a pet store. Where do you buy your food currently.

I buy my food at Global Pet Food

- location - how far would you drive

Fortunately, I can find my dog food a 2 minutes' walk from home. For my other pet's food (chinchilla), I drive 45 minutes each way.

I rarely go to big box pet stores like Petsmart. My one exception is Ren's, which is a 40 minute drive. When I was preparing to bring Marlowe home, I shopped up a storm there. I still drive up once in a while but I don't go regularly.

- shopping experience - do you expect trained and knowledable staff to help you make a decision?

Not usually for food and treats but for other things (e.g. grooming equipment, harness, etc.)

- for unique product (e.g. leashes, collars, grooming supplies, speciality items) are you more likely to shop online or check your pet store first. How satisfied have you been shopping for these items at your pet store?

If it is anything that requires fitting, I prefer to buy in a store where I can try it on Marlowe. I buy CC grooming supplies online.

There are a number of premium pet boutiques in my area so I would check them out first if I was looking for cool and fun dog furniture (e.g. beds, bowls, etc.).

- how interested would you be in a store that offered pet supplies, as well as grooming and dog day care, or even a dog cafe?

I prefer to do my own grooming. As for store + daycare, I picked Marlowe's daycare for its daycare facilities and not for its store (although I sometimes do a little shopping there when I am picking him up).

- given the aging baby boomers with disposable income is there a market for "high end" pet experience?

I can't speak to boomers but singletons and DINKs (double income, no kids) in my area support a fair number of premium pet boutiques (e.g. Bark & Fitz, Timmie's, etc.). I think location and density of dog population will dictate the probability of success for this model.

 

[Silaria]

I took some time to think about this before posting an answer.

Personally, its food and treat selection that keeps me returning to a store. These are the items I need to replace regularly. Leashes, collars, crates, brushes, bowls, etc., those rarely get replaced.

So, with that in mind, I'd rather see a store with good selection of quality foods from something like Blue Buffalo up through RAW with a staff that is knowledgeable. A smaller selection of bowls, leashes, collars, etc. Crates, maybe a small selection and the ability to order other styles.

Toys - I'd rather see a smaller, well chosen, collection of toys than the little of everything and 10 of them are similar toys the big box stores carry.

I don't know if this helps any of if my explanation is even clear but there you have it.

 

[dawns2shelties]

Barb i put a call into my friend I am going to see if I can get some %'s of what sells for you and maybe a store layout if that will help.

 

[corbinam]

I took some time to think about this before posting an answer.

Personally, its food and treat selection that keeps me returning to a store. These are the items I need to replace regularly. Leashes, collars, crates, brushes, bowls, etc., those rarely get replaced.

So, with that in mind, I'd rather see a store with good selection of quality foods from something like Blue Buffalo up through RAW with a staff that is knowledgeable. A smaller selection of bowls, leashes, collars, etc. Crates, maybe a small selection and the ability to order other styles.

Toys - I'd rather see a smaller, well chosen, collection of toys than the little of everything and 10 of them are similar toys the big box stores carry.

I don't know if this helps any of if my explanation is even clear but there you have it.

Sherri, great post. I 100% agree with everything you said!

 

[Diana]

OK, I'm going to answer your initial questions first, and then I'll see if I have anything to add.

- large selection of dog food products - pre-fab or raw frozen. That is, would you choose your pet store by who sells the brand that you want or would you be open to other brands if the store offered other "attractions"

I like to see a large selection of stuff I haven't seen before. I'm a sucker for treats and chewies especially. I like treats that are all-natural and organic, and treats in which I know the ingredients on the label. (This is true of both my food and Buffy's food.)

I don't care about brands - I'm open to new brands. One of my favorites stores is Pet Supplies Plus, which has a lot of upper-end brands at low prices.

Not really looking for grooming or daycare, because I don't trust a pet store to groom Buffy. It's nice to have nail grinding, though, since I don't own a grinder and I don't like cutting her nails. Whenever we get Buffy's nails done, like every 3 weeks or so, we usually buy her a toy.

- price - I'm asking here about buying at the grocery store vs. a pet store. Where do you buy your food currently.

A pet store. I never have bought Buffy's food at a grocery store; they don't carry it. She has been on Fromm's since she was a puppy and her coat is thick and luxurious, so I think she has done well with it. It's actually kind of hard to find a pet store that carries it though, even holistic ones.

- location - how far would you drive

5–10 minutes. I'm lucky that I have 4 pet stores in that driving distance, including a holistic pet store a half block away that I stop in during walks. If I'm in a different part of the city and see a cool pet store I stop in though.

- shopping experience - do you expect trained and knowledgeable staff to help you make a decision?

It's a bonus, but that's actually kind of hard to find. Most of the people who work at the pet stores around me are either snappish or out of it. Ah well. With the notable exception of the older guy in the pet shop on the corner. He's great.

- for unique product (e.g. leashes, collars, grooming supplies, specialty items) are you more likely to shop online or check your pet store first. How satisfied have you been shopping for these items at your pet store?

I definitely prefer to get things from a pet store instead of online. It's the same thing with my other purchases, like clothes. I like to touch my purchases and see them. Unfortunately I can't buy most of my clothes in stores and similarly, I can't buy a lot of Buffy's "extra" stuff in pet stores, so I do order things online when needed. The pet store by me will also order things for you upon request, for example if they don't have the size you need.

- how interested would you be in a store that offered pet supplies, as well as grooming and dog day care, or even a dog cafe?

I think a dog cafe (with dog and people food, and maybe coffee too) would be great! I think with grooming and doggie day care, those are people-heavy professions so make sure you know what you are getting into first. I would love to have a good doggie daycare near me, but personally I wouldn't want to run one. Too much poop. And if you run a grooming facility, you need to pay a good groomer.

- given the aging baby boomers with disposable income is there a market for "high end" pet experience?

Yes. Not necessarily just for baby boomers either. People my age (mid 20s) spend $$ on their pets, especially if they don't have kids yet. My parents are aging baby boomers and they wouldn't dream of spending the money and time on Buffy that we do. But if there are other luxury market businesses in your area, it might work.

Good luck!

 

[Jaynie]

Good thread. I loved reading all the responses. Here are my thoughts on what the perfect pet supply would offer:

• High-end food would be an absolute requirement. By the time I reach the purchase stage, I have usually done all the research, and merely need a source.
• I love the idea of a dog/human coffee shop or cafe. I wish we had something like that near me - I'd spend a LOT of time there!
• Both free and pay lectures on various subjects at different expertise levels. For example, a "pass the puppy" socialization and question answering hour, socialization for older dogs, information on participating in dog events, choosing the right diet, and how to make your own agility/obedience equipment out of PVC pipe & fittings.
• Some of the products I haven't been able to find anywhere except on line or at show vendors: i.e. show leads, chalk, good quality scissors, a wide variety of collars, LEATHER leads of all lengths and sizes, show-quality crates, crate fans, grooming tables, cooler mats, and all kinds of semi-professional and professional problem solving products (like Thundershirts).
• BOOKS! Sometimes you need a book on a specific canine-related subject, and the information about certain books on Amazon just aren't enough.
• Training & informational video rental or purchase - all levels, including the more advanced ones.
• Agility, obedience, and flyball equipment.
• An expert available for consultation on behavior or training problems.
• A self-service dog grooming area which includes not just a raised tub, but grooming tables, clippers, and drying cages.
• A fenced play area for little & big dogs (like an indoor dog park).
• Meeting space for canine-oriented groups.
• A training area that outside trainers can rent by the hour to hold independent training classes.

Now, a lot of these are pie-in-the-sky pipe dreams, but I'd drive as much as 45 minutes to get to a place like that! (I already drive 30 minutes to get to a dog park.)

 

[BarbV]

OMG!

You guys are so amazing.....I only posted this yesterday and there is so much information to digest, I can't even respond to it yet.

All of it is excellent feedback...and I know I will have more questions as I sift through your responses. I think I have to print it all off and sift through it.

What I have determined from the response at the macro level is that there is definitely a growing market but that it will get saturated fast if I don't move soon. Already my city is filled with stores....location searches indicate that there are a few areas that are under-represented....hence my question about how far would you drive.

The main thing that sticks in my mind is differentiation....how to lure people from buying food at the grocery store into my shop to buy better quality food; and while they are there, buy higher margin premium products. That's all marketing and advertising.

I love the idea of selling "show dog" products.....unfortunately none of the franchises I'm looking at (Pet Value, Global Pet Food, Bark & Fitz) seem to highlight those. They seem to go after a purely domestic market. But perhaps that something I can pitch to them. Turn your companion pet into a show dog....yadda, yadda!

I'm getting more and more enticed with this idea. But my research into opening a new retail business makes it rather daunting.

Again, thanks so much! The support on this forum never ceases to amaze me! You guys are the best!

 

[Princetopher]

completed survey

As many of you know, I lost my senior VP job in April. I'm going to be 50 this year, and I'm loathe to try and start another corporate job elsewhere.

I'm seriously considering opening up a pet store. I've been doing tons of research and there are a three pet franchises I'm looking at - each offers a slightly different value proposition.

So I thought I would put it out to the forum as to what is important to you in a pet store - i.e. what would bring you back time and again....
To get you thinking here are a few differentiators to consider. When answering, consider what brings you to Petsmart, your local petstore or online shopping for unique items

- large selection of dog food products - pre-fab or raw frozen.

no one in my area offers this option

That is, would you choose your pet store by who sells the brand that you want or would you be open to other brands if the store offered other "attractions"

brand works but am open to other brands on most any item.

- price - I'm asking here about buying at the grocery store vs. a pet store. Where do you buy your food currently.

pet store for all items & food prince loves. willing to pay more for what works well.

- location - how far would you drive

currently drive 20 miles to local pet store. walmarts etc are close but rather drive to pet store

- shopping experience - do you expect trained and knowledable staff to help you make a decision?

i would have to say yes and at different levels of knowledge. if i need more specifics, calling for a more knowledgeable person is perfectly fine.

- for unique product (e.g. leashes, collars, grooming supplies, speciality items) are you more likely to shop online or check your pet store first.

i am an online shopper for certain life items but i have to say all of prince's items have been bought at pet store, vet or groomer.

How satisfied have you been shopping for these items at your pet store?
i prefer it.

- how interested would you be in a store that offered pet supplies, as well as grooming and dog day care, or even a dog cafe?

on one hand volume grooming creates experience but then personal groomers have done better for me. this idea of a dog cafe is very interesting. i have even thought about it in my area.

- given the aging baby boomers with disposable income is there a market for "high end" pet experience?

yes

I know these are very broad questions, but any input is appreciated. I'm looking at 3 very different business models and am trying to determine which one makes more sense.

barb, you've come from an executive experience and you know what it takes to know your clientele for your area.

Thanks so very much in advance!

Barb

p.s. Moderators....if I've posted in the wrong place, please move me as appropriate. Thx

hope this helps
tf

 

[Calliesmom]

There are three pet stores within a 30 min drive from my house.

One is a locally owned store- has a pet wash station- have never used that.
primarily bought food and treats there- though I've bought beds and carriers there too and my first sheltie book.

Pet Supplies Plus- used to have a sheltie owner working there so that was where we shopped the most.
I currently buy TOTW there but they do have a wide selection of 'good' foods, and treats. have also bought all the rolled leather collars worn by the shelties there.

Petsmart- went to puppy class and met a groomer who has shelties there.
the treat selection has improved so we do buy treats there. have bought crates, beds, raincoats, food bowls, etc there. the current harness and leashes came from Petsmart.

toys come from all the stores.
so each store does carry different items and when I needed the new raincoat for Callie- only Petsmart had any available.
I do appreciate taking the dogs in and trying on the harness, collars, coat etc.
sell quality stuff - that's the most important and if you can find toys that aren't made in China- we'll buy some