Recent Articles from John Mack
Tips on Live Animal Care
Rewind your mind back to the ’90s for a moment. Two of the biggest fads were those Magic Eye posters, which held a three-dimensional image hidden within a seemingly random distorted pattern, and the Where’s Waldo series of books, wherein the titular red-and-white-clad traveler hid within vast landscapes of cartoonish ridiculousness. If nothing else, children […]
Demand for Herps Steadily Increasing
The boom in reptiles has been a great benefit for pretty much everyone involved in the pet trade. Breeders have benefited from the increased demand in reptiles, pet owners have been able to enjoy new breeds, colorations and morphs, and store owners have reaped the profits of both reptile sales and the sale of so […]
Benefits of Face-to-Face Trade Shows
With Global Pet Expo taking place this month, I thought it timely to discuss one aspect of the reptile business and the role of trade shows and conventions within the industry. While the digital revolution has modernized the way we communicate from supplier to wholesaler to store to customer, the importance of face-to-face events in […]
It Starts with a Pet from Quality Breeders
More than anything else, we all share one common passion within the pet industry: we love animals. Whether breeder or retailer, owner or seller, we’ve found ourselves in this industry because we treasure those relationships between a person and their pet. Legendary pet products manufacturer Rolf Hagen Inc. may have said it best on their […]
Looking Back at the Reptilian Winners of the Last Year
As the days grow longer and the nights grow colder, and we take some time to celebrate a year gone by with friends and family, we often take a moment for self-reflection and self-improvement. We take stock of our successes and failures, as we contemplate where to go as the New Year opens. And, of […]
Advancements in Reptile Breeding and Care Impact Industry
While I spend much of my time in these articles offering advice for pet retailers and pet store owners, it’s to everyone’s benefit to take a step outside of the store and examine where all these animals are coming from and what advancements have occurred within the realm of reptile breeding. As we’ve discussed in […]
First Impressions Matter: Have Your Store Looking its Best
One of the first things that I look for when visiting pet stores across the country is how a store goes about putting together its displays. As a first-time visitor to a given store, you immediately start forming that all-too-critical first impression that determines whether you’ll be returning to that store or whether it will […]
Frogs, Snakes and Lizards are Exciting Options
Color is an immensely powerful driver in so many of our lives. Setting aside the stereotypical examples of stoplights and paint swatches, color has an ability to alter our mood and shape our mindset in ways that modern neuroscience is still learning to process. According to Dr. Stephen Westland, chair of Color Science and Technology […]
Brands Break New Ground with Natural Reptile Enclosures
Last fall, I spent some time discussing the importance of reptile enclosures to your store and how carrying a given animal means offering all of the subsidiary materials necessary to care for that animal. This included consideration of the various factors necessary for optimal reptile health, such as humidity needs, sizing and the animals’ preferred […]
Health, Well-Being of Reptiles Must Remain Top Priority
When selling live animals, our singular focus must always be on one thing: the health and well-being of the pets we provide. While we in the reptile business tend to focus on new and interesting morphs, advancements in supply and food technology, and on finding ways to keep reptiles moving into the hands of our […]
Choosing the Right Substrate for Reptiles
A few months back, we took a deep look at substrates: the material placed in the bottom of a reptile’s enclosure, which serves as both flooring and bedding for your reptiles. And while we covered a number of the varieties of substrate, as well as the benefits and drawbacks thereof, we received a great deal […]
Retailers are Offering Feeder Insects Beyond the ‘Normal’ Mealworms or Crickets
In my article in the April issue of Pet Age, I discussed the merits of stocking live food as opposed to frozen or otherwise preserved packaged food. And while both options have their advantages and drawbacks, the fact remains that a pet store should absolutely be stocking some form of reptile food to not only […]