Some of the nation’s top pet retailers shared ideas and strategies during NexPet's fourth annual meeting, themed “Skyline Sharing,” Aug. 3-4 in Weehawken, N.J.

Sponsored by NexPet Retailer Group (New York), an organization of independent retailers, the event included roundtable discussions on selling house-brand dog foods, opportunities in aquatics, single-store management, multi-store management, and profitability.

“We sat in on some very good discussion groups. It’s really good to hear about the trials and tribulations of other store owners, how they handle things,” said Allen Fefferman of Old Orchard Aquarium (Skokie, Ill.). He added, “There’s an open line of discussion—other owners with the same concerns and issues that we have.”

The roundtable discussions also proved worthwhile for Mary Trufant of B&B Pet Stop (Mobile, Ala.). “Being able to learn new ideas and solutions, new ways to do things ... really, it was about interacting with other people who are in the same situation,” she said.

Attendees also got the chance to hear presentations by 15 selected manufacturers and service providers.

NexPet’s next annual meeting, themed “Plains Talk,” will be held Oct. 5-6, 2005, in Rosemont, Ill., in conjunction with H.H. Backer's 2005 Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show. For more information, call NexPet at 888-653-8021, or visit www.nexpet.com. [October 2004 PET AGE]