product. Growing up in the industry, I’ve gained vast knowledge as to how it works and what
drives demand for our products.
And while I never went to art
school, I’ve had extensive training in different art techniques,
from sketching to watercolor
to oil painting. This education
helped open my creative side
and also gave me the skills to
translate my ideas onto paper,
and ultimately, in a toy.
PPN: You’ve expanded into categories
beyond toys over the years, now offering products such as leashes, poop
pick-up bags and more. Tell us about
that evolution.
JC: The plush toy business
will always be my priority
and innovation, but we have
branched into other categories
in pet products as well, such as
leashes, pick-up bags, outdoor
gear and some exciting new
categories in the near future. I
believe it’s important to push
myself to improve and modernize existing pet products for
modern dog owners. I’ve been
lucky to have manufacturing
resources that can bring my
ideas and visions to life.
PPN: What consumer trends do you
see really driving innovation and retail
sales these days?
JC: Technology is definitely
changing the landscape of the
pet industry today. GPS trackers, in-home cameras and dog
walking apps are just a few
examples of how companies
are making dog ownership
accessible for millennials. In
the plush toy category, consumers are gravitating toward
high-quality toys for their precious fur babies. Toys are no
longer luxuries, but necessities.
There is a constant growing demand for durable toys, which
we’re fulfilling with our tough
Z-Stitch collection. There is also
a demand for both larger and
smaller toys for a variety of
dogs. Following these trends,
ZippyPaws is committed to
creating toys that modern dog
owners can relate to.
PPN: How do you see your business
growing in the future? Are there other
product categories that you hope to
expand into?
JC: My vision for ZippyPaws
is for it to become the driving
innovator in the plush dog
toy market, creating products
that are eye-catching, trendy,
long-lasting, and, most of
all, bring joy into the lives of
dogs and their owners. We
really care about our products
and our team members, and
it shows in our products and
how we treat our customers. I
can see ZippyPaws becoming a
brand that people trust because
of what we do and what we
represent. We are expanding
into high-end leather collars
and leashes later in the year,
and we’re hoping to expand our
outdoor adventure gear in the
near future.
PPN: Is there a mission statement or vision
that guides the company and its actions?
JC: ZippyPaws’ mission is to
create beautifully designed,
high-quality pet products for
the modern dog and dog owner.
We stay true to what we do best:
hand-drawing awesome toys and
providing personalized service
for our customers. Our unwav-
ering commitment to our brand
means we’ll never compromise
on quality.
PPN: What do you foresee for the future
of the pet industry in general?
JC: I am very excited for the future
of the pet industry because I can
see the innovation and commit-
ment to treating dogs as family
in the companies that are driving
this industry. It’s a great indus-
try to be in because of the growth
in dog ownership. The in;ux in
new companies will create a
healthy market and variety of of-
ferings for consumers.
IT’S A REAL
GAME
CHANGER
The 2017-2018 APPA National Pet Owners Survey
• Learn about the current pet population, pet owner demographics and
their purchasing habits
• Pinpoint preferences on specific pet products and services
• Discover which retail outlets are the most favored and why
• Assess long-term and emerging trends, and identify market opportunities
• Study Internet usage and online shopping activity
• Determine new product launches and expand your current product lines
• Identify personality profiles of pet owners, including lifestyle, leisure
and media preferences that directly affect the purchase of pet products
• Learn about the emotional connection people have with their pets
• Develop your marketing strategy
APPA National Pet Owners Survey— Trusted. Objective. Actionable.
TRUSTED PET INDUSTRY DATA FOR SMART BUSINESS DECISIONS
“The APPA National Pet Owners Survey is
a priceless tool. It gives us the information
we need to tailor sales presentations, target
customers and develop new products.”
Mike Bachman, RPM/Drymate
Also available as an e-book
To order go to www.americanpetproducts.org/survey,
email memberservices@americanpetproducts.org for an order form
or phone 203.532.0000 x. 520.
All publication orders are non-refundable and payment in advance is required.
IS HERE