Shanu Singh Guliani

How Pet Friendly is Your Store?
July 31, 2007

Given our demanding work schedules and generally busy lives, it’s tough to fulfill your doggie’s dreams each day. I feel guilty for having to work late and keeping my canine companion waiting for that much needed walk, but because I need that exercise and fresh air too I like to combine my pet walking with window shopping at my local outdoor strip malls where I might be able to buy something for my myself and my pet too.

MSNBC says, “Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets — more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that there’s money to be made in this environment.”

$41 billion dollars! How do small business owners get a piece of that if they do not cater to pets? What about adding pet collections to already running stores? You’ve heard of Hermes collars and leashes. And the mounds of genuine diamond, pearl, and colored stone dog collars too. Thanks to passionate consumers, manufacturer’s goal is to provide animals with products and services more closely modeled after the ones sold to humans.

Why not offer to cater to the owners’ pets thereby displaying your store as a pet friendly location and thus driving more traffic to your store. Some suggestions to make your small business more pet friendly:

1. Place some type of pole-fixture outside your store where your customers can tie up their pooches while shopping inside.
2. Place doggie bowls outside and in close proximity of the pole-fixture containing water for your customer’s fur creatures.
3. Offer treats on a silver platter for the owners to give to their pets.
4. Create products that are closely modeled after the ones sold to humans. For example, clothing for pets, jewelry, and other accessories.

How pet-friendly is your store?

Posted by Shanu Singh Guliani on July 31, 2007 | Comments (0)