Thinking about opening a pet store....yes, seriously!

Ann said:
.The one thing I can't buy locally anywhere that is worth considering is show products. I always have to order those online, whether it's the good shampoos, show collars, leashes etc. There's a growing market for agility products and equipment. Maybe this is too broad for what you're considering, but we have a lot of dogs in my area who participate in performance sports and several facilities, but no place you can buy supplies! Something else to consider.

Hope this helps! I wish you much luck and do keep us posted as you go along.
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We have a pet store in the Twin Cities area that does cater to the "show" scene. They have chalk, high end shampoo(CC, Crown Royle, etc), sprays brushes, supplements, grooming tables, force air dryers,crates, crate pads plus obedience supplies like dumbbells, leather leashes, agility leads, article bags. toys, tracking lines etc.etc If you can get if from a show vendor it is there. They also sell the best treats-natural, no preservative things that Petco and petsmart don't carry. The upper end brands of food and pre packaged raw. They have obedience classes and conformation classes with good instructors(people who show and know what they are doing).

Everybody knows about this place and if your in need between shows it is great. Prices are very comparable to show vendors or online. It is 30-45 mins(on the interstate) from my house and I will willingly drive there if I need to. Rachel has sent me on missions. It is 1 of 2 places I go on a regular basis. Everything is high quality but practical and useful which is why I go. Dogs are welcome in the store obviously.

The other place is a local chain where I purchase my cat food. They carry high end dog and cat food and pre made raw. Same nice treat selection and great chews like bully sticks , antlers, Himalayan chews etc. They have higher end toys , kongs and cat stuff too. Not so much other supplies. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly no matter which store I go to. I can take my dogs in and they always get samples. They are very involved in the community and have lots of events at the stores with rescues, pet ownership workshop, humane society/charity events etc. The closest store to me is 20 mins(local streets) however there is one close to where I train so I can plan for shopping. Prices within a dollar or so of other places with similar brands and products. I never use other services like grooming or day care so if they have them I don't know. Oh and they have a frequent buyer program(buy 10 get 1 free) and rebate coupon each quarter(coupon back percentage for money spent during the quarter)

I went to a local store that was more of niche store with designer stuff and all but I wasn't really interested. I guess foo foo handbag dog isn't my style. I do spend a great deal of money on my dogs just not on things that are not practical. Of course, the new cool toy is a must.:smile2:
 
My friend Kim owns a store in Leesburg called The Reign of Cats and Dogs. She stocks very selectively -- leashes, treats, toys, shampoos, accessories, etc. Even through the recession, she's done very well!

Another idea: a doggy bakery.
 
My biggest draw to as store is food choices, treats/chews, and knowledge of the staff.

I go to several boutique type stores and all three sell high end holistic foods. One is a chain Woofgang, it is a bit further away but I like it alot for the treats and some times I get bully sticks there. She carries dog clothes, leashes, collars, unique shampoos. I love the treats she makes.
I had another store that I used to go to but lately I would rather not travel the extra miles. The owner is a very nice guy but I have noticed a huge lack of enthusiasum. I tried a few weeks ago to ask about different new foods and he was so noncommital, I left with nothing.
I have one store that I really like that is owned privately and I have learned so much from her on nutrition and foods. She has a bakery that makes healthy dog treats. She also carries all the supplments I like and if she does not have it she can get it for me. She carries foods too, but is limited to variety because of space. Plus it cost alot with the distributers to get what she wants.
I do have one that is close to my house but I don't care for the store or help. IT is real boutique type that I think caters to the handbag dogs. I have gone in there a couple of times and they staff is standing around talking and totally ignore me.
 
- large selection of dog food products - pre-fab or raw frozen. That is, would you choose your pet store by who sells the brand that you want or would you be open to other brands if the store offered other "attractions"

I shop where I can get the dog food I want. One thing that makes a big difference around here is the loyalty cards... buy ten bags, get the eleventh free. Another that can help is a store who may not normally carry the food, but will special order for customers. There is a place here in Shepherdsville that carries a limited number of brands, but if you have a special request, you can place an order and she'll get it for you when you need it. She has good prices otherwise, and the loyalty cards, so between those things, she has won a lot of people who would shop elsewhere otherwise.
- price - I'm asking here about buying at the grocery store vs. a pet store. Where do you buy your food currently.
Pet store. Grocery store food is crap.
- location - how far would you drive
15-20 minutes, but then I'm not too far from any place, living right outside a big city
- shopping experience - do you expect trained and knowledable staff to help you make a decision?
It would be appreciated.
- for unique product (e.g. leashes, collars, grooming supplies, speciality items) are you more likely to shop online or check your pet store first. How satisfied have you been shopping for these items at your pet store?
I'd shop the pet store first, but when it comes to grooming products, and leashes, they're usually lacking in what I want, but then I'm not strictly a pet person either.
- how interested would you be in a store that offered pet supplies, as well as grooming and dog day care, or even a dog cafe?
I wouldn't use the services.. Grooming most specifically. I find most groomers don't have the skills to groom a sheltie correctly. I have seen too many who have been given the lion cut, been close clipped, had the underside cut really short, or the feathers cut from the legs when the owner has asked for the dog to be tidied up. Also, with show dogs, you don't want someone who is going to take out the undercoat. IMO, a groomer has to have a real understanding of the breeds they are grooming, and what is appropriate for each breed. There are very few of those here.
- given the aging baby boomers with disposable income is there a market for "high end" pet experience?
Yes, I would say so. And it's not just aging baby boomers with disposable income. Those of us with lesser means are often still willing to pay for top quality products.
 
I think you really need to know what kind of clients are likely to be around. Is the store in question in good location for people who train, i.e several nice training facilities nearby where lots of dog people go? Since you can not compete with Petsmarts, what will be your niche?
Food and treats are always will be main attraction to the store as that what people will buy even if everything else gets tight. Petsmarts do not carry any decent selections of healthy treats so that might be a market, specially if you get connected with local crafts and artizan crowd, I just found terrific dog food made by local person/ raw premix my pups go nuts for/.
For leashes and collars, again you need to know breeds that people are most likely to have around, If the area is prevalent with large breeds there will be no sense stocking toy breed collars... once again I would look for crafts people who might benefit from giving you their art on commission? I would love to have good quality leather leashes as well as few braided fur etc funny ones avail locally.
Chewy treats and training treats are always in demand and what I look most for my pups to try.
Few toys specially interactive ones are good to have.
You might also put in fillers to become distributor for some raw food or high quality food made to order?
 
There are three high end stores within 10 minutes of me, plus Petco and Petsmart that are approx. 15 minutes away.

Two of the high end stores have self-service washing areas for the dogs; all three have frozen treats / RAW on hand; one of the stores also has Tuffwear types of toys, antlers, chews and gifts; the other store has a nice assortment of leashes and collars (but no martingales !!). One of the stores runs seminars and publishes a monthly newsletter. Whole Foods (grocery store) is also 10 minutes away and it now has one side of an aisle dedicated mostly to dogs and cats. It carries natural treats that are very competitively priced.

I go to one of the high end stores for kibble (unique supplier locally for Artemis), RAW meaty bones (turkey necks), and occasionally NUPRO and / or salmon oil. The owner will special order frozen things if they aren't on hand.

It seems to me that I used Petsmart initially to stock up on some items (stainless steel bowls), crate pad, a wire crate (which ended up being too small), pill pockets. I will say that I do like their cloth / chain martingale collars. They are inexpensive, narrow - 5/8", strong, and only now after two years of exposure to our salty air has the chain started "turn".

I order a lot on line (grooming supplies, training supplies, books and DVDs) and one frustration I have is that I have to go to so many different places for individual items. Madan brushes here, ice on ice there, dental chews a third place, training / educational things from Clean Run, J&J, or Dogwise.

Somehow I'd love to see whether your might incorporate grooming of shelties or a few double coated breeds into your model, if the demand were there.
 
BarbV said:
Ashley

Fantastic feedback! Thanks so much!

One of the franchises I am looking at is very niche.....speciality dog dishes, collars and food. Only carried about 10 brands (Now! and Go! prevalent) The store was actually arranged almost like a clothing store with goods arranged by colour (a slight exaggeration - the food was all in the back), but you had to walk by very artfully arranged doggie specialty products.

Interestingly enough, as much as I love to buy for my dogs, and as well done as it was, I was not motivated to buy. But maybe that was me just being frugal.

I tend to think that people tend to buy the novelty or luxory items online - impulse buying. But give them a good selection of staples....

I hear what you say about not trusting your dogs to any groomer but yourself. But what if you could actually find a groomer that specialized in your breed? Would that change your thinking?

Again, thanks for your feedback. I appreciated everyone's input as it will help me "define" the correct target and therefore the correct franchise - assuming I have the wherewithal to carry it through.
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Totally agree with the on line shopping!! I do a lot of it. I have done a fair amount of on line shopping at Dr. Foster & Smith. I bought this Bug off instant screen door and I absolutely love it!! Everyone should have one.:smile2: CET dental chews I can only find on line. Some people swear by them. I recently purchased peanut butter flavored blowing bubbles for dogs. I have not received them yet. I did a numerous amount of web searches for a dog couch bed but most were over $250. A little pricey for a dog bed.:lol:
(I did end up winning one at an auction for the humane society for $72) I eventually would like to buy dog cooling beds for the deck. I buy all my training books and DVDs on line. I would love to go into a store to buy these items instead of on line.
 
Justicemom said:
We have a pet store in the Twin Cities area that does cater to the "show" scene. They have chalk, high end shampoo(CC, Crown Royle, etc), sprays brushes, supplements, grooming tables, force air dryers,crates, crate pads plus obedience supplies like dumbbells, leather leashes, agility leads, article bags. toys, tracking lines etc.etc If you can get if from a show vendor it is there. They also sell the best treats-natural, no preservative things that Petco and petsmart don't carry. The upper end brands of food and pre packaged raw. They have obedience classes and conformation classes with good instructors(people who show and know what they are doing).
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That sounds amazing, I wish we had a store around here like that!

We have a really nice high end shop (actually they have 2 now) around here called Two Bostons. Things I enjoy about them:
- only high end dog/cat food in a wide variety (kibbles/raw/dehydrated)
- price is fairly competitive on the food
- the selection of toys...always getting new ones in and the staff is educated on how they work/what they're made of/what dogs would benefit. They suggested a new rope-circle-stuffy-noisy-tail-fox-toy last time, and they were right on the money, my dogs LOVE it.
- the loyalty program (B10,G1F)
- the fact that they support the local rescues. They're always having events for them at both locations.
- they're pretty close by. The Springbrook store is about 15 minutes away, and the downtown Naperville store is farther, but the Naperville store is right next to a gorgeous riverwalk you can take the dogs to afterwards.
- I touched on it before, but the knowledgeable staff. They're one of the few places I have gone to where everyone asked "Is that a Klee Kai?" :eek2: If you own the breed, you get used to being asked about your "husky puppy", and it was just one more way I felt like they had some good knowledge there. The staff knows everything about the food, and can answer my nerdy specific questions regarding calcium content, and ash, and blah blah. :smile2:
- I do like that they have a dog bakery, I like being able to try out new little treats for my crew.
- I love their birthday program. The month of your dog's birthday, they email you a coupon for a free mini birthday cake and a "buy 1 toy, get a 2nd free" offer. Even nicer is how they say on the coupon if you don't have a need for a second toy, they'll donate it to one of the rescues they support. Super cool.
- Things are also always clean, artfully arranged, and move together well. They've gotten me on multiple occasions, as I'll be looking for a specific toy, and all of a sudden there's another item close by that looks neat, and so on and so on.

Things that I would personally appreciate in a pet store that I haven't touched on:
- stocking conformation products (!)
- stocking performance products (dumbbells, lines, and maybe order-able agility equipment!)

Things that aren't really important to me:
- leashes/collars (I'm super boring, because of the double coats they all only wear rolled leather or not at all, and I used leather leads)
- grooming (I do it myself)
- day care (with four dogs and a breeder close by and all of our classes we take, the dogs do not lack for a good canine socialization experience)
**Remember that these things are just me, I know a lot of leash/collar fanatics that probably LOVE the incredibly diverse selection at Two Bostons!**

Hopefully some of this helps. I think it's great you're thinking about venturing out on your own like this!
 
I forgot to mention we also have the box stores Petco, Pestmart, Petsupermarket and another one that I don't go to because they sell puppys.
The ones I go to also sell raw.
Everyone has made some very good points and have given Barb ton's to think over. Barb is this an already established store or will it be a totally new store that we have to think of a name for? LOL
 
I travel to a wide variety of pet stores depending upon what I need.

1. Bully Sticks and Zukes mini naturals are hard to get at many of the stores (especially Zukes) and most are WAY overpriced. I drive 30 minutes to an Agway (a pet/garden store) when I need to stock up.

2. leashes/collars/etc: Typically online purchases or at our training club.

3. Petsmart/Petco: for toys mostly

For food, there are two different specialty pet stores that I like to go to.

One is a "pet boutique", and really caters to people with small dogs. There's lots of costumes and doggie clothes..... BUT they carry all of the high quality specialty foods as well as some raw. They have a room for just beds and crates, a room for training consultations, and separate walls/recessed spaces for natural chews, toys, cleaning products, and collars and leashes. The majority of products are pink (eewww!!) or themed. One really good idea is their "puppy section" geared for new pet parents who may get overwhelmed having to sort through all of the food, collars, toys, etc. The owner and trainer often foster dogs and will have adoption events for the 5-6 rescues that they have been fostering for a few weeks.

The other is my favorite store. They only carry holistic, natural foods and treats (dried venison or ostrich anyone?) as well as LOTS of raw food (one VERY large commercial walk in freezer that gets refilled 2-3x a week). They have meaty bones or premixed/frozen raw. They are about $1-2 more expensive than the boutique for bags of food, but they do have a frequent buyers program (every 10th bag is free) and carry more brands. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, feed their labs only raw (you'll see them eating in the store occasionally) AND the owner is very involved in canine (pet) nutrition. He does consultations, examines the dog's condition and activities, then helps develop a nutrition program for the dog. They also carry lots of natural supplements and herbal medicines. If they are out, they will personally call right then to get it in asap. Downside is they don't carry much in the way of toys, collars, leashes, etc. Their focus is on nutrition and natural supplements and are very knowledgeable.
 
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