Pet Product News - May 2016

BY STACY N. HACKETT

Theclimateof Phoenixtends to discourage fleas and ticks—but the products needed to treat pest issues in the home still sit on the shelves of Noble Beast Natural Market for Pets.

“When infestations do occur,
our customers are not used to
dealing with them and are usual-
ly a bit panicked by the situation,”
said Marsha Vallee, co-owner.
“Our customers want products
that are nontoxic yet effective.”
Ingredients that protect pets
from harm yet eradicate stubborn
pest infestations appear in new
flea and tick products in all cate-
gories, including those formulated
to treat infestations in the home.

“Consumers are seeking safe but effective products,” said Joe Zuccarello, director of innovation and promotions for TropiClean in Wentzville, Mo.

Customers also seek products that deliver quality at a good price. Jameson Loves Danger in Chicago stocks products with more than one use to help customers effectively treat infestations while also saving a bit of money, said Jamie Kreines, manager.

“Many of our products pro-
vide treatment as well as preven-
tion,” Kreines said. “The natural
sprays and shampoos are often a
less-expensive option, which is
appealing to our customers.”
Natural options also appeal
to pet owners at Noble Beast
Natural Market for Pets—as the
store’s name implies.

“Our focus is on products that
work with herbs and other natu-
ral ingredients that are not toxic to
pets, birds, lizards and other ani-
mals that share our backyards and
homes,” Vallee said. “Many items
treat both the home and the pet,
which saves the customer money.”
Products that target all life cy-
cles of the pests also can lend cost
savings to customers by effectively
eradicating the problem all at once.

“The product needs to eliminate the entire life cycle of fleas and/or ticks, or you’ll be dealing with a recurring problem as eggs continue to hatch,” said Stephanie Boone, CEO of Austin, Texas-based Wondercide Natural Products.

Boone also noted that many pet owners are concerned about the aesthetic features of home treatment products, Boone added. When spraying a treatment on furniture and upholstery, they might wonder if the formula will leave unsightly marks.

“With any flea and tick home treatment product, you have to treat the entire home to be effective, so it’s really important to use a product that is safe enough to apply to all surfaces and does not stain,” she said.

And while retailers should consider this wide range of factors—from safety to cost and effectiveness to nonstaining qualities—ultimately, the store’s customer base will determine the best types of flea and tick home treatments to stock.

“We want to make sure we carry quality products at reasonable prices,” said Caitlin Sullivan, marketing manager for Cherrybrook Premium Pet Supplies, which has stores in New Jersey. “We look for flea and tick products that fill a customer need.”

Swift, Safe and Systematic
Flea and tick products formulated to treat the home keep
pets safe while quickly eradicating infestations.
TROPICLEAN
NEW FLEA AND TICK
TREATMENTS FOR THE HOME

With pet owners turning to natural formulas for everything from food to cat litter, it stands to reason that manufacturers now offer safe, effective natural flea and tick products in all categories, including those specifically meant to treat the home.

To that end, TropiClean introduced its Natural Flea & Tick Home Spray and Natural Flea & Tick Carpet Powder as part of the new Natural Flea & Tick line. The products feature cohesive packaging with simple instructions and eye-catching graphics to help pet owners quickly and easily identify the products as part of a full range of treatments, said Joe Zuccarello, director of innovation and promotions for the Wentzville, Mo., company.

“Providing a line that is easy to identify on the shelf, that is truly natural and, most of all, is safe and effective is something we take as a priority,” Zuccarello said.

Safety and efficacy remain top priorities at Wondercide Natural Products in Austin, Texas, said CEO Stephanie Boone. The company recently introduced a Cedar + Rosemary scent for its natural Flea & Tick Control for Pets + Home spray.

“Essential oils are the active ingredients that make our products so effective for pet
parents,” Boone said. “They also have wonderful aroma-therapeutic qualities.”
Manufacturers also hope to make flea and tick control simpler, easier and more suc-
cessful for pet owners. In June, Bayer HealthCare of Whippany, N.J., will introduce product
bundles that offer treatments for all aspects of flea and tick control, said Jeriel Chua,
senior brand manager for Bayer’s Advantage brand.

“Advantage from Bayer will be launching … a flea infestation bundle for cat owners and a similar bundle for dog owners. Both will include our best-selling home product, Advantage Carpet & Upholstery Spot Spray,” Chua said. “We want to make it easier for pet owners to leave the store with an option that can help them prevent and control flea infestations.”

SH UT TE R STO CK (

2)

While surveyed dog and cat owners’ purchase of flea and
tick products has remained about the same since 2010—
with 64 percent of dog owners and 40 percent of cat
owners reported as buying these products—their indoor
treatment purchase patterns keep changing.