Pet Business

July 2010

An Exotic Challenge

If you ask most owners of exotic pet stores why they are in the business, they’ll tell you they were…

VERNON, Conn.—The manufacturer of the Bravo! family of fresh frozen raw diet products now offers a line of training treats. Bravo! Training Treats are 100 percent grain-free treats made from 100 percent muscle meat using antibiotic-free poultry and grass-fed red meats in Bravo!’s USDA facility. As with all Bravo! products, the…

MALVERNE, N.Y.—Ecological Laboratories, Inc. has opened a training center in Cape Coral, Fla., to increase understanding of MICROBE-LIFT biotechnology, applications of new products and to process feedback from customers, all of which will continue to improve sales and productivity. Customers from the United States, as well as overseas, have already…

GREENWICH, Conn.—The American Pet Products Association (APPA) the organization will begin accepting poems for the 3rd Annual APPA National Children’s Pet Poetry Contest through its Pets Add Life (PAL) public awareness campaign. Third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students are invited to write a unique poem about their pets, what they love…

PACOIMA, Calif.—Natural Balance Pet Foods has expanded its Healthy Bones line of dog treats with the addition of four new formulas, all of which have added vitamin e and zinc to help support optimum skin and coat health. The crunchy, oven-baked treats feature revamped packaging designs and are available in…

CHICAGO, Ill.—H.H. Backer Associates has rescheduled its 2011 Pet Industry Spring Trade Show for April 13-15, 2011, at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, N.J., based on buyer feedback in an Internet-based survey conducted by the company in May. Retail buyers responding to a survey indicated that location…

GRAPEVINE, Texas—Espree Animal Products is introducing a new line of high-performance styling products for professional groomers and handlers to achieve style and flair. The line includes:• Aloe Silk: shine and conditioning finishing serum. • Boost Volumizing Spray: adds volume. • Freeze Hair Hold: locks hair into place. • Freeze…

PACOIMA, Calif.—Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. has expanded its L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets collection. Two new canned formulas and three new treat formulas have been added to the company's line. Along with the expansion of the L.I.D. collection, Natural Balance is re-branding the complementary treat line with new packaging and…

BARTO, Pa.—Holmes Farm, Inc. is expanding its distribution facilities. The company's new offices will include an addition of 2500 sq. ft. and a new 500,000 gallon quarantine fish room. The company has also begun importing Japanese Koi, with 100,000 currently in stock from 10' and up. Also from Holmes Farms,…

CANADA—Weider Pet Health's new Advanced Canine Wellness Solutions is a line of all-natural nutritional supplements in powder form. Weider, a human fitness and health company, has partnered with pet wellness researcher, Franco Cavaleri, BSc., to develop this line of supplements specifically for dogs. The line includes six products: Vitamax, Omega…

SAINT LOUIS, Miss.—Boxador Bites, a new company started in 2009, has introduced four products for wholesale. Banana Chips are small, dehydrated bananas treats for smaller dogs and for use as a training reward. Sweet Potato Chews are a substitute for traditional rawhide chews; Sweet Potato Chews are an alternative that…

Exec. Director at America's Uptown Hounds Luxury Pet Resorts America's Uptown Hounds Luxury Pet Resorts has hired Christy Stucker as executive director. Stucker of Jazzercise Inc., specializes in business development and branding. She will be responsible for franchise sales, new product introductions, increasing national sales, as well as marketing and…

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Radio Systems Corporation has acquired Vet Ventures Inc., makers of the Drinkwell Pet Fountain. Radio Systems Corporation will keep the Drinkwell product name, due to its strong market recognition, but in the next few months the brand name the fountains are sold under will transition to the PetSafe brand.“I…

NEPTUNE CITY, N.J.—Nylabone now offers Healthy Living Dog Chews, a new line of edible chew products. The chews are made with real chicken, are natural and contain no added sugar, salt, artificial preservatives or artificial colors. Made in the USA, the chews are available in a single-serving trial pack, as…

BOISE, Idaho—Nutri-Vet has introduced a first-aid counter display designed to save space while making it easy for customers to see and choose products suited for their pets’ needs. The First Aid Center displays products forumulated to matain healthy eyes, clean ears and first aid products, including: Cool Skin for Dogs,…

GREEN BAY, Wis.—Green Bay Pet Food Co. has launched Vital Essentials, a line of 28 SKUs including 12 complete and balanced freeze-dried diets, for independent pet specialty stores. “Vital Essentials is truly unique in every way ... from our USDA Pet Food Certification to our packaging concepts to our ‘one…

Happytails Canine Spa LineHappytails Canine Spa Line products will now be available through Holistic Pet Source in Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky. Holistic Pet Source, based in Nashville, Tenn., focuses on all natural and holistic hard and soft goods. Harrisons’ Pet ProductsHarrisons’ Pet Products are now available to the pet…

NEW YORK—Pet Business’ editorial and sales departments have new phone numbers. Our email and mailing addresses remain unchanged. The new phone numbers are as follows: GENERAL INQUIRIES Erin McKiernan(646) 274-3615SALES DEPT.Craig Rexford, Vice President & Publisher(646) 274-3611Callie Hartzell, Associate Publisher(336) 644-7576Nisa Cirulnick, Account Executive(646) 274-3642Gina Dama, Account Executive(646)…

WENTZVILLE, Mo.—Tropiclean Pet Products has launched a new and improved website for consumers and pet professionals. The interactive site is filled with a wide range of information, including a “Where to Buy” section designed to help pet owners find local retailers who carry our products and drive business to those…

OGDEN, Utah—PetZen has launched a new website to tout the benefits and flexibility of dog treadmills. DogTread.com features a navigation bar that quickly links visitors to helpful information like side-by-side dog treadmill comparisons, product feature definitions and size guidelines. The site’s Training & Resource section also steps dog treadmill information…

NEPTUNE CITY, N.J.—TFH Publications, Inc. was recently honored with seven prestigious Benjamin Franklin Awards, the highest national honor in independent book publishing. Winning TFH titles and categories for 2010 included...Best Animal/Pet Book: Good Rabbitkeeping: A Comprehensive Guide to All Things Rabbit, by Sue Fox ($19.95; Softcover; ISBN: 978-0-7938-0663-8).Best Business Book:…

LIVINGSTON, Tenn.—ValuePetSupplies.com has introduced wholesale-priced bulk offerings to better serve retailers seeking quantity discounts and free shipping. This new wholesale section of the storefront features best selling ValuePad puppy dog training pads by the pallet, along with top-selling treats such as Greenies and Bully Sticks in bulk. “Our business model…

SAN FRANCISCO—Opie & Dixie, a manufacturer of all-natural, eco-friendly pet products, has launched a new line of organic, sustainable pet care products that consists of shampoos, scrubs, treatments and supplements. The new line includes: • Organic Ear Wash made with spring water, peppermint, and eucalyptus. • Oatmeal Almond Shampoo for silky coats…

CLEVELAND, Ohio—A new site (www.MyDogsNation.com) has launched to help dog owners find dog-related businesses and dog-friendly places in their local communities.All of the listings are posted for free to ensure that pet owners have the best information available on local vendors in their neighborhood. Visitors simply select one of the…

TAMPA, Fla.—Paws Aboard has created a new lifeguard display to help spark interest in water accessories. The freestanding display has a footprint of two feet by two feet and showcases Paws Aboard’s Doggy Boat Ladder, Doggy Life Jackets and Designer Life Jackets, PoolPup Steps, Ski Rope Dog Leash, floating dog…

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—DuckyWorld, makers of YEOWWW! catnip products, now offers a smaller display rack with a footprint of 2.5 square feet. The company has also redesigned its original rack to feature three customer-friendly tiered trays and ample space to hang additional items. Both racks sit at eye-level, with wild graphics and…

NEPTUNE CITY, N.J.—Nylabone Products has launched a new website (www.nylabone.com) that makes it easier for dog owners to obtain useful information about their pets, as well as the company's products.“Our new website has all of the latest and greatest dog products,” says Mark E. Johnson, executive vice president of Nylabone…

NEW YORK—Petra Pet, Inc. and Petra Vet, LLC (known in the marketplace as “Beefeaters”) have been acquired by a subsidiary of Imperial Capital Group Ltd., a Toronto, Canada-based private equity firm. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.Beefeaters is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of pet food products,…

Precision Pet Products HiresTim Taft has joined the Precision Pet Products team as vice president of major accounts. Taft has over 24 years of experience in the pet industry in a senior sales capacity at Kaytee, Doskocil Mfg., Dallas Mfg. and Old Mother Hubbard. He will be working out of…

While a retailer needs to keep existing customers in order to stay in the black, the best way to grow your business is to gain new ones. This means engaging in marketing activities that will help potential customers learn about your store. One way to create buzz around your store…

The other day, somebody submitted a post to our Facebook fan page about the bad experience they had in providing a foster home for a NYC rescue organization. Apparently, this foster pet parent put up with two years of false starts in having their canine charge placed in a permanent…

When I began working on our July cover story on exotic pets, I quickly discovered that I could fill an entire issue about the challenges facing retailers in this segment of the market right now—at least, if I was to write about the regulatory challenges facing the pet industry at…

In the course of writing this month's cover story on pet store redesigns, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lynn Rosenbaum, director of environments, and Jay Highland, director of brand communications, of Chute Gerdeman Retail, a Columbus, Ohio-based strategic retail design and branding firm. Both proved to be great sources…

We just got back from Global Pet Expo (held in Orlando, Fla., March 25-27), and if this year’s show held any clues about how the pet industry will fare for the rest of 2010, we’re in for a very good year indeed. The show floor was buzzing from the beginning…

JP Stoops, the director of licensing at Discovery Communications, LLC, talked to Pet Business about Animal Planets R.O.A.R. initiative and it’s impact for retailers. Animal Planet media is a multi-media business unit of Discovery CommunicationsPet Business: How does Discovery Communications' donation to these numerous animal organizations benefit retailers? JP Stoops:…

I first heard about the Pet Care Trust in 2003, not long after I began working on Pet Business magazine. An organization devoted to promoting pet ownership and proper pet care, the Pet Care Trust, under the direction of John Pitts, DVM, ran a great program called Animals in the…

Several major manufacturers have recently undergone brand redesigns. Some of these have been major – they’ve overhauled their logo, their packaging, and/or their formula, while releasing new lines and products – while others have been on a smaller scale, doing one or two of the above but not all, or…

I’m not in sales. Obviously. But, I seem to remember some maxim about not letting a customer leave the sales floor before the sale is closed, because once the customer says, “I’ll think about it and get back to you,” it’s over. That customer is not likely to come back.…

So, it’s the new year, and many people have made resolutions for 2010. I know this because the gym is now packed and it’s much harder to secure a treadmill. Most people make personal resolutions, to eat healthy foods, exercise, save money, etc. I made a few of those this…

My search for a new neighborhood pet store continues… As I wrote in my last blog (“Welcome to the Neighborhood”), my family recently moved to a new town, so we’re currently on the hunt for a new place to shop for our two dogs. My latest efforts found me surfing…

When my family and I recently moved into a new home, I was astounded by the number of promotional mailings I received from a variety of businesses in my new home town. It wasn’t a week after the deal closed when flyers began arriving from local drycleaners, take-out restaurants,…

In my new apartment, I’ve had a difficult time replacing the community-oriented businesses I enjoyed in my old apartment. Especially disappointing, considering that I work for Pet Business, has been the lack of a great pet store. Soon after moving, I canvassed my neighborhood, walking for 20 minutes in any…

This year the holiday season crept on me way before I had a chance to summon up any holiday cheer. I was dangerously on the verge of being the only one who shows up to a meticulously planned holiday gathering shamefully and completely empty handed because I just “wasn’t…

Time goes by too quickly. The little orange furball that I adopted when I graduated from college is now entering his senior years, and I’ve needed to make adjustments to accommodate him. This past year, Chewy has had some major urinary problems, resulting in bladder surgery and costing me over…

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	There should be less regulation
	There should be more regulation
	The regulations are fine as-is