Pet Product News - March 2016

NEW TO THE CATEGORY

Caitec Corp. in Baltimore recently launched the Hero brand of dog toys. Hero Ice toys can be filled and frozen to make for a cool dog treat as days get hotter, said Rob Powers, vice president of sales.

As the weather gets warmer, keeping pets well hydrated also becomes increasingly important. Lixit Corp. in Napa, Calif., is coming out with new glass bottles for crates, pens, etc.

“Glass is very popular for watering all types of pets, as many people feel it is safer than plastic and easier to clean,” said Sonia Wertz, customer service manager for the company.

The Bear & The Rat, a Boulder, Colo., company that manufactures probiotic, frozen dog treats, recently introduced Fro-Yo To Go, a freeze-dried yogurt treat for dogs. The treats are very soft and dissolve easily, making them perfect for senior dogs as well, said Meg Hance-ford Meyer, co-owner.

SUMMER SAFETY
Summer is a fun and often carefree season, but it also brings about a
few new dangers for pets. Selling summer products means educating
customers about potential risks posed by summer activities, said
Michael Dagne, president and COO of Pet Palette LLC, a distributor in
Sykesville, Md. The below summer dangers can potentially be
mitigated with the following products:
Dehydration and heat stroke waterers, portable water bowls, ice toys
Drowning life jackets
Ticks, snakes, wild animals tick removal products, first aid kits

Excess fur/heat grooming products
Piquing the customer’s interest is important with
any seasonal product. You have a short window
of opportunity in which to make the sale, so you
need to make a strong push.

Caroline Gunther, owner of Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique in Hendersonville, N.C., said her summer seasonal products are front and center in the early spring and even can be seen from the outside of the store.

“Things like life jackets and backpacks
are big, bright items, so they’re easy to spot,”
Gunther said. “We like that people can see them
when walking on the historic main street where
we’re located. A fun display may even draw
them in.”
Howard Bearz, owner of The Cheshire Cat &
Dog, Too! in Cheshire, Conn., said that his store
has big windows, which he has painted for the
seasonal change.

“Last summer we had a water scene painted and placed a stuffed dog with a life vest in the window to gain attention,” Bearz said.

Any display that is highly visible is going to be ideal for promoting summer products, said Michael Dagne, president and COO of Pet Palette LLC, a distributor in Sykesville, Md.

“Retailers are well served to merchandise these products as a lifestyle solution in a window or on a feature table,” Dagne said. “Mannequins are important for the display in order to show the fit of backpacks or life vests.

Signage is also key—and the more clever, the better. Con-
sider featuring local places with outdoor activities that are
dog-friendly as a way to inform your customers of all there
is to do in the area.”
An endcap filled with summer must haves might give
consumers ideas they wouldn’t have thought of otherwise,
said Sonia Wertz, customer service manager for Lixit Corp. in
Napa, Calif.

“This can include items for home, the yard, traveling,
the park or even just a walk,” Wertz said. “If you have space
by the store door, put a dog water bowl or fountain that you
sell, so that customers can give their dog a drink. Even bet-
ter, if you have a faucet nearby, attach an automatic waterer
to it. This will draw them into the store to buy the item.” C A
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