Will Rising Gas Prices Affect Pet Retailing-Again?
The last time gasoline hit $3 a gallon, the news was not good for PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) and Petco Animal Supplies Stores Inc. (San Diego), two of the largest pet retailers in the world. Same-store sales were weak, earnings dipped and stock prices slumped; both companies are still off their 52-week highs despite the ongoing bull market...

Pet Spending Hits All-Time High
Demonstrating U.S. consumers’ rising interest in companion animals, pet-related spending is expected to grow 5.7 percent in 2006 to bring total sales to $38.4 billion, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.)...

Retail Sales Rise in March
Retail industry sales for March rose a solid 7.2 percent over last year and increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over February despite consumers’ doubts about the economy, according to the National Retail Federation (Washington.)...

Backer’s Spring Trade Show Draws Record Number of Buying Firms
More than 8,100 qualified buyers from 2,623 firms attended H.H. Backer’s 18th Annual Pet Industry Spring Trade Show, held April 7-9 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, N.J.

These figures represent an increase of 44 buying firms (2 percent) from last year’s 2,579 buying firms, according to Colette Fairchild, CMP, trade show director for H.H. Backer Associates (Chicago)...

PET AGE Presents Ovations Philanthropy Award
Erin Fitzpatrick, owner of Tracks (Batesville, Ind.), in April was named the winner of the first PET AGE Ovations Award for her far-reaching efforts on behalf of homeless animals.

Fitzpatrick accepted the award, the grand prize in a yearlong program to recognize pet industry professionals exemplifying the spirit of philanthropy, in April during H.H. Backer’s Pet Industry Spring Trade Show in Atlantic City, N.J...

New Products Are Highlight of Global Pet Expo
Dog strollers, treat launchers and toilet-shaped cat boxes were just some of the hot new products unveiled at Global Pet Expo 2006.

The show, held March 23-25 in San Diego, was the second co-sponsored by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.)...

Marine Ornamentals 2006 Promotes Future of Aquaculture
Held Feb. 13-16 in Las Vegas in conjunction with Aquaculture America 2006 and in cooperation with the World Aquaculture Society (Baton Rouge, La.), Marine Ornamentals 2006 promoted the goal of fostering a worldwide marine ornamentals industry that is economically and environmentally viable. ..

California Considers New Pet Store Standards
Legislation mandating new animal care standards for California pet stores moved a step closer to passage in April after winning approval from the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

The version of Assembly Bill 2862 approved in April included several new amendments. However, a number of the bill’s provisions remain “objectionable” and could effectively put pet stores out of business, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington)...

Ferret Lovers Plan Another Legalization Effort
Ferret enthusiasts in March launched a new Web site in their latest bid to legalize the animals in California, one of only two states where ferrets remain illegal...

What Shoppers Want
The recent mergers of a handful of retailing giants—Sears and Kmart, and Federated and May department stores—have generated a lot of media attention, but little good will on the part of shoppers. Just ask Chicagoans how they feel about their beloved Marshall Field’s becoming just another Macy’s..

SuperZoo University
The World Wide Pet Industry Association (Arcadia, Calif.) will reach out to independent retailers by incorporating sessions by NexPet Retailer Group (New York) into the SuperZoo University program at SuperZoo, Sept. 20-22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas...