BY LINDSEY GETZ
Summer is just around the corner, and now is the time to begin gearing up your
merchandising plan to sell these
seasonal products. You can attract customers to these items
with creative display ideas or
arrangements, and then drive
home the sale by educating
them on why they need these
products.
As pet owners begin to make
summer plans, they are eager to
include their pets, which means
they’ll be looking for products to
help them to bring their dog or
cat along on their adventures.
“Summer is a time for travel,
vacations, hiking, boating and
the beach,” said Michael Dagne,
president and COO of Pet Palette
LLC, a distributor in Sykesville,
Md. “As summer approaches,
we see an increase in products
that consumers need for these
activities. Pet owners are now,
more than ever, more likely to
take their pets with them when
they leave home. We sell a lot
of life vests for boating and sun
guard shirts for the beach. We
also sell a lot of hiking items and
items that help keep pets cool.”
Brian Frazier Wright, vice
president of The Green Pet
Shop in Deerfield, Ill., said
that high-quality, portable and
eco-friendly products are key
trends. The company’s KatPak,
for example, is a disposable litter
house that is perfect for summer
travel with a cat. And though
cats do tend to prefer warmth,
on hot summer days, many are
using The Green Pet Shop’s Cool
Pet Pad, he said.
“With the high temperatures
of the summer and risk of heat
stroke, it is essential for cats to
have a cool place to relax,” Frazier Wright said.
Sherry Redwine, co-owner
of Odyssey Pets in Dallas, said
she sees sales of reflective collars pick up as the weather gets
warmer. She also ramps up sales
of floating toys.
“We love Planet Dog toys,”
she said. “They’re great year-
round, but because of the float-
ing factor, you can do a big push
for them in the summer.”
While certain products are
obvious as a summer sell, Car-
oline Gunther, owner of Wag!
A Unique Pet Boutique in
Hendersonville, N.C., said she
takes the opportunity to think
outside of the box. Life vests,
float toys and collars are given
front-and-center attention. But
Gunther said she also displays
and sells a lot of grooming sup-
plies in the summer—when pet
owners are washing their pets
outside. In addition, she sees an
increased interest in seasonal
allergy supplements and makes
sure those are easy for custom-
ers to find.
“When it’s a product that can
get a seasonal boost, you want
to take advantage of that opportunity,” Gunther said. “I’ve
learned that you never want
customers to spend a lot of time
searching for a product. Give
them ideas of products they
might need for the summer, and
it can be an easy sale.”
Make This Summer Sizzle
Creative displays and education will attract customers to products
that make it easy to have warm-weather fun with their pets.
PET PALETTE LLC
CYCLE DOG-EARTH FRIENDLY PET CO. presents the Trail Buddy Bowl foldable travel
bowl made from post-consumer recycled materials. Made with FDA-approved food-grade-safe lining material,
it is leak-proof and folds
flat for easy storage on
the go.
cycledog.com
EARTH HEART’S Travel Calm combines
pure essential oils for relaxation with
essential oil of ginger for stomach upset.
The spray is safely diluted for use with
puppies from 8 weeks old, and is made
in the USA, the manufacturer states.
Available in 2-oz. and 15-ml. sizes.
earthheartinc.com
WOODROW WEAR’S Power Paws
Reinforced Foot indoor/outdoor socks
for dogs offer a reinforced foot for
added durability needed for camping,
rock climbing, hiking, hunting, jogging
or at the beach.
woodrowwear.com
ROLF C. HAGEN’S All For Paws Floating
Bed is made of water-resistant fabric
and is able to hold dogs up to 66 lb. The
bed does not need to be inflated—it
floats due to the small Styrofoam structure inside. When it is not in the pool,
the item can be used as an outdoor bed.
hagen.com
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