Pets stay on top of wish lists
By Flickr user xriva
Right next to those rants is a four-page discussion of what everyone’s pet will find waiting under the tree.
Forget rawhide bones and 69-cent catnip mice – humans might have to make do with the dregs but privileged dogs, cats, rats, ferrets, birds, hamsters and fish will rake in more luxurious loot this season despite economic woes.
According to this annual survey by Pet Supplies Plus, owners polled plan to shell out an average of $44 on holiday gifts for their animals this year, with more than half saying they’ll boost spending over 2008.
There seems to be no limit to the ways consumer will spoil the millions of companion animals, birds and fish in their care. I came across a local ad the other day for Celebrity Pets Co., LLC – “Where you can make your pets feel like a star!” The mail-order retailer sells dishware, glitzy jewelry, toys, apparel and even a pet bed shaped like a giant slipper! And they aren’t alone – a quick Google search turns up many a retailer of luxe pet goods.
Other businesses to investigate: Pet portraiture, grooming salons, day care and kennels – which reportedly are booked solid through the end of the year by holiday travelers.
Pet health insurance is growing, according to this Wall Street Journal piece – as U.S. consumers spend about $12 billion a year on veterinary care. Some auto insurance companies are promising to cover pet as well as human injuries in the case of accident, and a few progressive employers offer pet health care as a perk.
Do-it-yourself dog wash stations are a popular franchise, and for those who prefer VIP treatment there are all-inclusive day spas like Dogtopia franchises that offer grooming, training and group socializing in addition to boarding and exercise.
And here’s a Philadelphia Inquirer piece from earlier this week about Camp Bow Wow, a $40-a-day doggy camp for those pooches who are fed up with the monotony of regular kennel care.
Here’s an earlier post, Pet biz stories fetch readers, with general resources about the pet care industry.
The American Pet Products Association, a trade group, is always at the ready with up-to-date statistics from its annual pet owners survey.
No doubt the members of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters can provide insight and local reaction, as can the Pet Care Services Association, a trade group for kennel operators and the like.
And this interactive map from the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) can help you find related suppliers in your … er … backyard.
