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Gifts Can Bring In Added Revenue

Stacy Mantle//September 1, 2014//

Gifts Can Bring In Added Revenue

Stacy Mantle //September 1, 2014//

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Feline aficionados can be as finicky as the felines they love when it comes to receiving gifts. For many, cats are their passion, and retailers should keep this in mind when stocking and promoting store items.

Especially as the holidays approach, customers will start looking for items to get their friends, family and co-workers who have cats. Oftentimes, they will turn to their local pet store to find these items.

Do the Cat Walk

Feline fans have taken to the streets to show off their feline-inspired fashion. Cats inspire the messaging on Cat Is Good’s line of comfortable, fashionable clothing.

“Our products don’t speak to who they are, it speaks to what they are,” said Gila Kurtz, founder of Cat Is Good. “The role of the family pet has changed so much in the past 10 years; we now look to our pets for general companionship. We wanted to provide people with a way to express their love of cats in a way that is stylish.”

Another popular item sweeping the cat fancy world is the sophisticated, yet functional line of designer handbags and accessories from Triple T Studios.

Triple T Studios’ popular Hipster bag is a perfect example of feline finesse, featuring sleek black fabric and the hands-free practicality of a cross-body purse.

“My goal was to create uniquely designed handbags with a subtle cat pattern, more feline finesse than crazy cat pattern,” said Joanne McGonagle, founder of The Tiniest Tiger and owner of Triple T Studios. “Our line is for cat lovers that prefer a more sophisticated style. Triple T Studios creates fashion with a passion for global conservation, with a portion of our proceeds supporting big cat conservation. Our bags are made in the USA and are vegan friendly.”

Got a thing for bling? Cat lovers enjoy designer jewelry as much as the next person, and the Cat’s Meow Pendant from Wags & Tags is a perfect way to show style.

“Our pendant is made from the finest 925 sterling silver,” said Sandy Hirsch, owner of Wags & Tags. “Parents can choose a style from hand-set diamonds or cubic zirconia, this fine jewelry will display your feline fancy in the most stylish way.”

Technology Ticket

The popularity of cat videos and the technology boom in the pet industry means that “cat cams” are big ticket items these days. Wireless cameras such as the motion-activated Motorola Scout 1000 Digital Wireless Video or the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro 1080p Full-HD Wi-Fi Camera afford easy ways to monitor cats while their owners are away from home.

For those who want to be more interactive, the Social Pet Camera & Treat Dispenser System from PetSafe lets cat owners see, treat and share their cat’s best moments. The interactive installation tool is very intuitive, allowing owners to dispense treats remotely while watching on a live video feed. Owners can choose to share the video, allow others to treat their cat and share photos.

Luxury Lifestyle Products

Storing treats can be challenging, even more so if a customer has multiple pets. Now, owners can keep all the treats in one area with a Bella Treat Canister from Loving Pets.

“Cat lovers adore the Bella Treat Canister because it’s a perfect blend of fashion and function,” said Eric Abbey, founder of Loving Pets. “Each Bella Treat Canister combines a bacteria-resistant, veterinarian recommended stainless steel interior with a polyresin pawprint exterior in best-selling colors like Espresso, Merlot Red and Copper to fit any home’s decor.”

For the most finicky of felines, the Wetnoz Cat Food Dish offers a flat surface to help avoid whisker stress and encourage eating. Beautifully designed, the low sides and oval-shaped saucers are made from stainless steel and come in six stylish colors. “Petmate’s Wetnoz collection melds easily and stylishly into pet homes,” said Ann Hanson, director of marketing and innovation for Petmate. ‘Taking its inspiration from the home design trend of using bright, saturated hues, the Wetnoz Cat Food Dish and Cat Saucer are perfect options for cat parents looking to complement any home décor.”

From cat-themed aprons to customized cards, Pipsqueak Productions offers a wonderful way to tell the cat lover in your life you care.

“My cat cards and gifts also help raise funds for shelters and humane societies,” said Mary Badenhop, artist/owner of Pipsqueak Productions International.

“Our decorative dish towel makes a great gift item for any occasion; housewarming, thank you, hostess or a gift exchange,” she said.

Books

Cat lovers tend to be well-read. The bookstores are exploding with great reads for cat lovers. From mysteries to thrillers, inspiring stories to nonfiction, there is a book to please every cat fan.

Darlene Arden’s new book entitled, “Beautiful Cats” is the ultimate picture book for a coffee table. Combine that with a copy of “The Complete Cat’s Meow,” which is the owner’s manual to living with a cat.

New releases include “Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!)” from Jackson Galaxy. Galaxy joins Kate Benjamin of Hauspanther.com to help cat owners everywhere design a happy feline home that is both functional and chic.

Chicken Soup for the Soul released, “The Cat Did What?” with a foreword by Miranda Lambert.

“’The Cat Did What?’ just hit the shelves and we are proud that a portion of the proceeds go to the American Humane Association,” said Chris Mitchell, CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet. “At Chicken Soup for the Soul, we recognize the unique relationship between pets and people and we celebrate that relationship with our all natural pet food made here in the USA, our wonderful best-selling pet books, and our newest gift item – our book and frame sets.”

With so many gifts to choose from, for a variety of budgets, it’s easy to stock gifts that any feline aficionado will love