Pet Product News - February 2017

BRAVO PET FOODS’ Crazy Curly Chew is made from premium-quality beef pizzle and is all natural. The safe chew helps keep pets’ teeth clean and promotes healthy teeth and gums, the company states. It has no added preservatives, flavors or colors and is made in the USA. The chew is offered in a 5-in.-to-7-in. size.

bravopetfoods.com Pet Product News International February 2017

This spring, Earth Heart Inc. plans to release its Canine Calm aromatherapy mist in a 10-count convenience pack of wipes to help customers calm their dogs during storms, fireworks and other stressful or unsettling times.

“Earth Heart aromatherapy wipes contain the same high-quality pure essential oils as our other products,” said Vicki Rae Thorne, a certified aromatherapist and herbalist, and founder and owner of the Dundee, Ill., company. “They are made in the USA, and we don’t use synthetic fragrance oils, which have no therapeutic benefit.”

BEST-PRACTICE MERCHANDISING

Susan D. Weiss, founder and CEO of Ark Naturals Products for Pets in Naples, Fla., warns that retailers shouldn’t simply place products on a shelf with like items because “multiple packaging clutters the consumer’s brain and makes it hard for them to concentrate,” she said.

When deciding where and how to display natural health remedies, In Clover’s Rose recommends placing them in the remedy section by indication.

“Second is to put them with the food it makes sense for—such as senior food with digestive aid and joint remedies, because pairing with food is powerful,” she said.

Rose also suggests rotating them at the counter so staff can start conversations with and educate pet owners in a nonthreatening way.

“If retailers understand the product and why every
ingredient is in that product, they’ll be a resource for con-
sumers,” she said, adding that staying informed takes
effort. “[Retailers] need to commit to staff education and
placement of [remedies], so the consumer sees and asks
about them, and sees there’s a solution.”
Beyond traditional methods of education—books
and magazines—pet specialty retailers can use social
media and websites, and connect with holistic veteri-
narians, Weiss said.

“Education is the foundation to building relationships with our customers, so they are comfortable trusting our recommendations,” said Allison Raithel, an associate at Healthy Pet Products in Pittsburgh. “We invest in educating our staff so we are able to make the correct recommendations.

“We have in-store digital boards that feature promo-
tions and new products, and we offer monthly education-
al seminars that focus on a particular health issue,” she
added. “At the conclusion of the seminar’s educational
component, we review any products that could be imple-
mented as part of the animal’s routine.”
TropiClean introduced its Pet Professional Portal to
help retailers keep apprised of the latest product informa-
tion, Brandly said. The portal includes resources, images
and safety data on the company’s products.

“The pet industry is steadily growing with new, in-
novative, healthful solutions and products for pets and
their people; this makes it challenging for retailers to
know all about the products they offer,” he said. “We
want to be able to provide our retail associates with as
much information as they need on our products to better
educate their customers.”
Christine McCoy, owner of The Natural Pet Enrich-
ment Center in North Royalton, Ohio, expanded her
commitment to both natural products and customer ed-
ucation. Her store’s recent expansion from 1,000 square
feet to 5,000 square feet allowed McCoy to expand the
natural health remedies selection, as well as devote more
space to educating consumers.

“We added a 500-square-foot educational area as well as a Paws and Relax area so we could offer seminars for training our customers on the use of natural remedies,” McCoy said. “We will have local holistic veterinarians in to teach seminars, as well as representatives for the products.”

BAREITALL PETFOODS offers goBARE Nibblers, Crisps and Crunchers treats, which are packed with vitamin-rich ingredients, including sweet potatoes, cranberries, mango, flaxseed, chickpeas and buckwheat.