Pet Age

North American Veterinary Community Conference

Nearly 16,000 people from around the world attended the North American Veterinary Community Conference in Orlando, Fla., in January, including veterinarians, vet technicians, practice managers and more. Spread over two hotels and conferences centers, they gathered to learn about the latest products, procedures and techniques available to keep animals of all sizes healthy.

Olivia Miller, Nicole Backus, Michelle Mullins and Corey Fuller, of PetSafe.

Jerry Hoffman, Susan Stitzel and Terri Johnson, of American Animal Hospital Association.

Tabitha Cromer, Troy Simmons and Karen Faulkner, of Vetericyn.

Karen Wright, Liz Koutsos and Carrie Kuball, of Mazuri.

Tim Brightwell and William Chilian, of Barkworthies.

Andy Winkle and Lewis Sutton, of PetAg.

Jared Glatter, Ken Bowman, Joe Markham, Sharon Karr and Kristi Pray, of KONG Veterinary Products.

Dave Getz and Niki Leranian, of Neater Feeder.

Photos from Phillips National Sales Meeting

Phillips Feed & Pet Supply held their National Sales Meeting in January at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Account executives were able to learn more about, and meet one-on-one, with many of the distributor’s companies to hear about new products and offerings to better help retailers.

Matt McCorstin and Greg Mandel, of Blue Buffalo.

Marisa Baker, Jessica Lewinter, Ian Weiss, Lyndi Toxavidis and Erin Hannon, of Dogswell.

Scott Kohler and Loretta Noonan, of Red Sea.

Donacan Meyer and Scott Gorisack, of Precise.

flexi USA Becomes PAW

flexi USA Inc. is transitioning to the name PAW, Pet Adventures Worldwide Inc., and introducing two new brands, Alcott and Uncle Ulrick’s.

Alcott gear premiered at the Global Pet Expo offers a complete line of adventure dog products, ranging from travel beds and life jackets, to reflective collars and leashes. With five product categories, including Essentials, Explorer, Traveler, Mariner and Storybook, Alcott helps create opportunities for dogs and their people to bond together with products that make their adventures more convenient, more fun, safer and affordable.

Uncle Ulrick’s offers American made and sourced chicken and beef jerky, as well as sweet potato treats. Their entire line up of new products are all natural with no fillers, by-products, grains, soy, artificial colors or flavors.

flexi USA, the U.S. resource for Flexi retractable leashes, was purchased in 2005 by Ulrich Wuebker, current flexi USA president. Wuebker has worked with flexi retractable leashes for nearly 30 years, at both the manufacturing plant in Germany and flexi USA.

Recently, the flexi manufacturer in Germany decided to terminate its business relationship with flexi USA. It will now sell products directly, forcing the current flexi USA team to transition into different pet business opportunities under the new name PAW – Pet Adventures Worldwide Inc.

According to Wuebker and the PAW – Pet Adventures Worldwide Inc. team, this change will pave the way to success in several pet product categories

“Change is something positive,” Wuebker said. “I’m proud of all of our employees who have worked hard over the past several months to redefine our company. We are heading in the right direction.”

Wuebker said the change in structure isn’t slowing his team down.

“We had overwhelming success launching Uncle Ulrick’s and introducing many new Alcott adventure products at Global Pet Expo,” Wuebker said. “We were humbled by the extraordinary support of our reps, customers and friends in the pet industry.”

Piquing the Interest of Feline Gamers

Psst. The cat is out of the bag. Feline enrichment may have started out as a buzz phrase touted by a handful of innovative cat toy designers to describe toys that replicate a cat’s natural instincts and hone inherent hunting skills, but it has become a fullblown trend and one that is definitely dominating the feline toy marketplace.

And now, manufacturers have revved up the action by producing a large variety of electronic and battery-operated cat toys that allow cats to engage in such play on their own.

There’s no question that while these popular companion pets may enjoy a wonderful domestic lifestyle, they are not supposed to be couch potatoes, curled up and sleeping 24/7.

“Cats need both mental and physical stimulation for their general health and well-being,” Marilyn Krieger, owner of The Cat Coach, LLC, and certified cat behavior consultant, said. “Enriching their environment with toys that keep them engaged helps lessen stress and combats boredom and obesity.”

Manufacturers are further helping to get this important message in to the retail sector by going to great lengths to describe the benefits of such toys on their packaging.

“Our Complete Needs System, which categorizes our toys [and other products], focuses on a pet’s physical, emotional and instinctual needs, and our packaging communicates the product’s offerings accordingly,” Lisa Davis-David, Worldwise Inc.’s assistant product manager for the cat toy division, said. “Our customers appreciate that we recognize that there are many ways for a cat to play, such as for exercise, to let their independent streak thrive and also to meet their instinctual need to hunt. It’s helped us build brand loyalty.”

In particular, the electronic and battery-operated cat toy category has shown significant growth over the last several years. For example, two of Worldwise’s electronic toys are in the top five sellers in the company’s Petlinks line, which is designed for the pet specialty retail market.

“In all the research we’ve done, consumers continually tell us they are looking for motorized, moving toys, things that can be chased,” she said. “Consumers want durability and action. Both our Petlinks and SmartyKat brands are growing nicely in this category because we listened to consumer feedback.

“Further, cat owners are definitely willing to pay more for electronic or battery-operated toys. The sales show it. There is some price sensitivity but certainly not the same as with plush toys. When consumers purchase cat toys, they consider value, the cat’s entertainment, and specific product features to meet their cat’s preference. From their cat’s perspective, the most important considerations are specific to the product features, such as movement, catnip, and if it’s prey-like.”

Among the many new products Worldwise is launching at the Global Pet Expo this month is the Whip-it in the Petlinks line. Cats love attacking mysterious things that come out from tight spaces, and this electronic toy has a string that ts underneath a door that whips back and forth like a tail. The FeatherWhirl in the SmartyKat line is a spinning motion ball with a feather attachment. The feather wand swoops and whirls as it reacts to the erratic motion of the ball.

Automated Play

According to Mandie Sweetnam, product manager for Petsafe’s automated cat toy category, the FroliCat Bolt maintains the lead as their best-seller, with the Pounce and Flik steadily gaining on the Bolt in popularity.
Sweetnam attributes part of the success of their electronic toys to the fact that they are sleek and very stylish.

“The very modern, white shapes, make them look like sculptured ornaments, so it’s unnecessary to hide or put them away when guests stop by,” she said. “Pet parents are always in search of toys that provide both mental and physical stimulation for their pets, and further taking into account that many people have an on-the-go lifestyle. One of the most well-received features of the FroliCat toys has been the automated play and shut-off features. With one press of a button the toy entertains and exercises your cat, then will automatically power down after a 10-15 minute session.”

From the retailer standpoint, according to Chris Achord, owner of The Cat Shoppe and The Dog Store in Nashville, Tenn., customers understand the value in paying more for a toy that’s going to keep cats engaged and allow them to play on their own, or along with other cats in a multi-cat household.

“However, such toys need to be demonstrated or have their functionality explained to customers,” Achord said. “If it’s just sitting on the shelf, it becomes just another item. We have the Pounce on display so that customers can see how it works.”

One of the very first battery-operated toys to capture feline attention, the Mouse in the House, featuring a mouse on a track that rushes around a miniature living room, made its debut in 2008 and continues to pique both feline and consumer interest.

“It’s more than a toy; we consider it an electronic companion,” James Boelke, president and founder of Cat Dancer Products, said.

Either a human or a cat can activate the toy manually by pushing the red button. Or there’s a timer to activate the toy at set intervals. Upon activation, the toy emits small animal sounds to signal to the cat that the mouse is coming out. The mouse makes two revolutions of the track, and then announces he is done for now with a humorous cuckoo sound. This sequence can be set to occur at intervals from 1 minute to several hours.

“I believe its success is because the mouse can’t come off the track,” Boelke said. “So it will continue to frustrate and pique interest for feline gamers.”

Healthy Coat, Healthy Skin

It’s not often that pet owners have to deal with skin care problems in cats, but when they do, common conditions include hair loss, chin acne, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and itchy skin.

“Cats are very sensitive and feline skin conditions often present a diagnostic challenge,” Dr. Lori Coughlin, DVM, at The Cat Practice in Oak Park, Ill., said. “Cats lack a specific liver enzyme, known as glucuronyl transferases, that is required in order to expel toxins from their body. This makes cats very susceptible to external skin treatments, so care must be taken in selecting one, natural or synthetic, that will work.”

Skin conditions vary widely amongst felines and can often be resolved by a simple environmental change. For example, feline chin acne is a common problem in cats, but can be secondary to yeast, fungus,
such as ringworm, and bacterial infections.

“Oftentimes, a simple change from plastic bowls to ceramic, or steel feeding and water bowls can solve the problem,” she said. “But there may be underlying problems, such as stress, yeast, ringworm, bacterial infections or a hormonal imbalance.”

Prevention

A premium diet is the most important part of preventing skin problems in cats.

“Holistic diets that are low in starch and carbohydrates, and high in protein, are critical for maintaining healthy skin,” Mike Stansbury, chief operating officer at NZymes, said. “Our NZymes Healthy Skin program contains probiotics that rebuild bacteria. Yeast causes breakdown in natural protective flora, and NZymes helps restore balance. Our natural approach takes some time, but after 2-3 months, a healthy, shiny coat is restored. Our goal is to ensure the cat’s immune system is strong enough so that the animal can heal themselves.”

Effective flea and tick control is also important when it comes to preventing skin irritation. Since cats are so sensitive to flea control, all-natural solutions such as Flea Dust from DERMagic are excellent choices. But if you’re in a high-risk area, you may need something a little stronger. Bayer HealthCare recently introduced Seresto, an effective, easy-to-use collar, complete with a safety-release mechanism, that offers ongoing control up to 8 months.

Treatments

All-natural solutions must be selected with care. DERMagic recently introduced a new line of skin care products designed specifically for cats.

“Our Rosemary Feline Shampoo Bar is specially formulated with all-natural, sulfate-free ingredients designed to provide a gentle but effective grooming experience,” Dr. Adelia Ritchie, founder of DERMagic, said. “The shampoo bar makes grooming easier, allowing you to hold the cat with one hand while creating a thick, rich lather with the other.”

Dr. Emmo’s Pet First Aid offers an all-natural, non-toxic wound care spray wash and gel that keeps minor cuts and skin irritations clean by safely killing common germs and infection-causing bacteria. The two-step process includes a spray wash and spray gel that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria-causing germs.

Grooming

Regular grooming is important as well. According to FURMinator, “up to two thirds of the hair a cat sheds is ingested during self grooming, resulting in hairballs that are messy, stressful to the cat and the cause of potentially serious problems.”

“Treating your cat to frequent brushing with gentle deshedding tools will help prevent matting, decrease the amount of fur around the house, support a shiny and healthy coat, and reduce the challenges of hairballs,” Justin Crout, group marketing manager for Jarden Animal Solutions/Jarden Consumer Solutions, said. “The cat cologne spray extends the fresh scent of a clean cat and helps hide odor.”

Oster Animal Care and ShedMonster Professional De-Shedding Tools are available from Jarden Animal Solutions. Oster has shared a passion and enthusiasm for pet grooming for more than 85 years and offers an extensive line of products for grooming, including cat cologne spray to give your cat that final fresh scent.

Enrichment sprays can also help keep a cat’s coat in top condition.

“Our sprays offer relief from skin irritation while increasing moisture, reducing shedding and acting as an antiinflammatory for itchiness,” Dr. Michael Fleck, founder of Epi-Pet, said. All-natural cat wipes are another great way to keep cats clean, moisturize skin and coat, and reduce dander and dirt.

“Our Earthbath Cat Wipes are safe for daily use and utilize the healing properties of aloe vera and awapuhi extract to keep cats clean,” Yvonne Roth, director of marketing for Earthbath, said. For quick cleanups, Earthbath also offers a waterless, hypoallergenic grooming foam designed specifically for cats. This waterless hypo-allergenic grooming foam for cats allows you to groom your cat without the hassle of water.

“Our all-natural, human-grade formulas are ultra mild but highly effective,” she said. “Our ear and nose wipes are particularly useful for easy cleaning, and our shampoo foam is designed for cats that prefer to avoid water.”

Derma-IonX from VETiONX, is one such product that treats these conditions. Derma-IonX is a homeopathic, natural OTC medication in a purified ionized mineral water base that includes active homeopathic ingredients, including Agicus muscarius, Alumina and more.

Hanging Tough

When it comes to tough dog toys, most retailers would agree that they would all be multimillionaires if they received a dollar for every time a dog owner came in and said, “My dog chews through everything!”

Tough dog toys have indeed been a challenge for this industry and one that many manufacturers have taken head-on and are, in fact, causing a shake up in this category.

There’s a plethora of tough options out there, and with the introduction of new and long-lasting materials has come a variety of interesting shapes and ideas designed to pique canine interest and keep them engaged.

“The Dogzilla Strong Chewer Dumbbell and the JW Hol-ee Roller remain our most popular chew toys,” Emilye Schmale, corporate communications manager for Petmate, said. “They are made from natural rubber, which we consider the gold standard of dog toy material when it comes to durability and strength. Each of these toys holds up remarkably well with tough chewers. However, the way in which each is constructed to be a long lasting toy is quite different.

“The Strong Chewer Dumbbell has added carbon for strength. The carbon binds with the rubber to reinforce this toy, making it a truly durable choice for pets that need a little extra ‘tough’ built into their playthings. The Hol-ee Roller is covered in many octagon cuts outs.”

This web-like structure bends and flexes and actually gives as the dog tries to get his or her teeth into a small area to chew or tear it. This design prevents the dog from being able to chew through it.

“The Hol-ee Roller’s flexibility also allows you to stretch it open and place other toys or treats inside,” she added. “Both of these rubber toys are infused with flavor that dogs love; the Dogzilla line is infused with natural chicken flavoring, and the JW line is infused with vanilla.”

The JW Pet line was a recent addition to the Petmate family. And buying the competition is certainly proving to be a very successful way of staying ahead of the competition in the pet space.

Petmate also acquired Chuckit! Fetch Games. As a result, the company plans to launch more than 100 new dog toy SKUs in 2014. Included in this line-up are two durable rubber treat toys out this month. Sporting the JW Pet label is the Caterpillar toy and the Doughnut. Both are designed to engage a dog’s natural instinct and focus their drive to “work” for their food.

From a retail standpoint, the company has a variety of displays for store owners to be able to display products in different locations, such as two-sided floor displays, power panels, pallet stackers and spinner racks.

For Hyper Pet, their Hyper Chewz line of interactive toys made from ultra-durable EVA remains a firm favorite with dogs of all sizes.

“The line consists of various shapes,” Sarah Bell, communications manager for the company, said. “The stick is fun for retrieving and the ball is perfect for launching in any of our ball throwers, including the award-winning K-9 KANNON tennis ball launcher.”

Leading the Way

Kong, considered by many to be key innovators in the tough toy category, has extended their very popular lines, such as the Wubba Weaves, to include squeakers in the twisted knot toy.

Planet Dog also has new products in its Orbee-Tuff line, which will debut at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando this month. Last year, the Orbee-Tuff Snoop interactive puzzle toy won the H.H. Backer’s Total Pet Expo’s Gold Medal for Innovation. The product is made from Planet Dog’s patented tough compound and manufactured is the USA.

Another milestone for the company, and which Kristen Smith, executive director of the Planet Dog Foundation, believes helps keep them in the public spotlight is the fact that 2 percent of every product sold is donated to the Foundation. To date, it has raised over $1 million.

New Materials

“Many manufacturers are looking beyond the traditional rubber or latex materials to create even more durable products for dogs,” Emily Benson, marketing manager for Starmark, said.

“We are constantly researching and testing new material blends that hold up to the variety of chewing habits of different dogs. We have a unique benefit in that we are able to access hundreds of dogs in our kennels, as well as the thousands of rescue dogs we have worked with in the Starmark Academy for Professional Dog Trainers. So all product concepts are developed based on this hands-on experience.”

The company’s newest tough toy is the Treat Dispensing Jack. Shaped like the children’s game Jacks, it features legs that stick out for wobbly movement and also incorporates a 100 percent cotton rope to encourage fetch and tug play. The body of the Jack is made from Starmark’s proprietary custom-blended elastomer material that is made to be tougher than rubber, yet still soft and soothing for dogs to chew.

It’s also a completely safe material with no phthalates, latex, or vinyl. It holds small treats or kibble inside with small customizable “clover” openings to help regulate their dispersal.

What’s Next

“We’ve trademarked the term ‘tuff-web’ with regard to our plush toys that are made with a thick mesh liner with all seams generously folded and double stitched,” said Ellen Lawson, who with her husband, Chris, owns Fluff and Tuff Dog Toys.

The company is set to launch 10 new toys this month and has another five coming out in June. Further, the Lawsons have introduced two smaller toys to their size range so that it now goes from extra small all the way to extra large.

“Our main priority is to continue expanding our line and introducing our products to new markets,” Lawson said. “We look at our relationship with our retailers as a partnership and feel very responsible to support them so that they have condense in selling our products to their customers.”

So what in fact do retailers have to say about this category? The last word goes to Maggie Granquist, who together with her husband, John, owns The Grateful Hound in Savannah, Ga.

“When it comes to toys, the first question customers ask is, ‘how tough is it?’” Maggie Granquist said. “Generally speaking, dog owners are very skeptical because they’ve been burned before. And often it takes a lot of convincing. We are constantly handing out advice based on our firsthand knowledge of the toys we stock.”

Granquist added that often people will buy a toy and get their dog to try it before coming back to get a variety based on the toy’s performance. But very often, they believe what they’ve been told and will purchase several tough toys outright for their dog to “audition.”

“We always ask them for their feedback on how it withstood the ultimate tough dog toy challenge, as this helps manufacturers in their research and development,” she said.

Slow It Down There, Doggie

Customers frequently seek solutions to problems with some idea of what they need, and purchase products they know will solve their problem.

The slow feeder category is different though because, more often than not, customers don’t know that a slow feeder could be the solution to their problem.

Customers come into the store looking for a solution to specific health concerns like gas or bloat, and behavioral problems like destructive chewing. These customers are probably unfamiliar with slow or interactive feeders. In fact, many customers aren’t yet aware that such products exist, so directing them to these products will help them discover new solutions to an old problem.

Bill McQuade, who along with his wife, operate three pet stores in Arkansas, said that few of their customers specifically seek slow feeders. Rather, they’re looking for solutions to problems like vomiting or gas, and he recommends slow feeding bowls as the solution.

Problem Solving

Customers whose dogs gulp their food or who have body types prone to bloat, seek solutions to help prevent their dogs from bloating, which can be deadly.

“Bloat is the second leading health risk in canines,” Eric Abbey, president of Loving Pets, said. “Our goal was to create a solution that helps prevent bloat by slowing your dog down while eating, and easily attaches to the bowl customers already own.”

Loving Pets introduced the Gobble Stopper, which is an affordable option because it doesn’t require the customer to purchase a separate bowl. Instead, it works with their existing ceramic, stainless or plastic dish. The “canopy” bone design of the Gobble Stopper creates an obstacle during meals, effectively slowing the pace of consumption by up to five times, according to the company.

Another solution is the Flying Saucer from Advance Pet Products. The stainless steel bowl is designed with a raised element in the center, which creates a channel around the rim from which the dog eats. Ravi Singh, of Advance Pet Products, said this product was developed for puppies. However, these types of obstacles encourage dogs to eat slowly, minimizing the health risks associated with eating too quickly.

Jason Vap, founder of petprojekt, offers the Bloat Blocker, which works on his own dog.

“There’s a great selection of slow feeding products out there on the market,” he said. “Our product, the Bloat Blocker, helps prevent bloat by utilizing the patent pending suction cup that allows it to adhere to any type of dog bowl, whether it’s ceramic, stainless steel or even plastic.”

It forces the dog to eat around it, which causes the animal to slow down in either drinking or eating.

“Since the original prototype, it’s greatly helped my Doberman slow his eating down by more than half the time,” Vap said.

Vap is correct when he says there are many types of these products available.

The Company of Animals offers the Green Dog Slow Feeder, which turns a dog’s meal into a challenging game. All a customer has to do is scatter the desired amount of food across the Green and watch the dog work to push the food out between the many blades of grass.

Behavior Issues

Further, customers seek solutions to behavioral problems like destructive chewing and obsessive compulsive behaviors. McQuade says that in his stores, he suggests slow feeders to customers who are struggling with these issues. For instance, the Gobble Stopper is recommended for multiple pet households where food stealing or food aggression issues may arise as a result of varying paces of eating.

Aikiou developed their interactive feeding products to address behavioral issues. The company’s products are designed to capitalize on a dog’s natural instincts.

“Each and every bowl we make is applied directly to the natural behavior of the animal,” Alexandre Tremblay, president of Aikiou, said. “Most [customers] look at it because they have a behavioral problem or a dog that is just bored.”

The Aikiou bowl adds an activity to the dog’s day that helps keep their mind occupied.

Because this category is unfamiliar to many consumers, there is tremendous room for growth. According to Tremblay, this category is destined to grow as consumers gain that much-needed education.

“It’s hard to say where this category will go,” he said. “It’s a need. It’s our responsibility to get dogs the products they need in their life to survive mentally or physically. This category is going to grow, and it’s going to grow pretty fast when people start to realize that we need to supply animals with the products they need to express their natural instincts.”

What’s Next?

Additional or expanded product offerings will help drive that growth. Singh, of Advance Pet Products, says his company plans to adjust its line by making a heavier dish and offering more options than the current 26- and 58-ounce sizes. He says they want to accommodate larger dogs in their future slow feeder offerings.

Education is the key to successful slow feeder sales, meaning sales staff should be prepared to direct customers who are facing health or behavioral problems to this category.

“A few [customers] ask about them,but usually it is an educational sale,” McQuade said.

This is where correctly merchandising the product to grab the attention of a customer can play a critical part. Consider end caps with educational signage and unique product placement.

“I certainly suggest that these types of items really need to be located near bowls, feeders and feeding supplies,” Vap said. “Many retailers have a specialty section, which causes great confusion to the end customer, whereas they might not be aware that there are products out there to help with this issue.”

BOGO, PetBox Donate to Shelter Animals

PetBox, Inc., a monthly subscription service delivering a personalized box of premium toys, treats and accessories to dogs and cats each month, has teamed up with BOGO Bowl, a premium pet food brand that donates a bag of pet food for every bag purchased.

Through the new partnership, BOGO Bowl will supply and distribute dog and cat food to shelters and rescues selected via PetBox’s weekly social media campaign.

Each Friday, PetBox sends out a request for nominations and votes via social media to determine which animal shelter or rescue will receive the donation of dog and cat food. Through a variety of online platforms, users nominate and vote on a shelter or rescue using the #PetBoxFridays. On the following Monday, the donation of pet food is sent directly to the chosen organization.

With the new support of BOGO Bowl, a premium pet food brand, shipments of BOGO Bowl’s high-quality dog and cat food will be sent directly from its Iowa headquarters to the chosen animal shelter or rescue each week.

PetBox and BOGO Bowl share the costs of this partnership, with a concerted effort in this altruistic mission.

Pet Supplies Plus Plans Expansion

Pet Supplies Plus, a 25-year-old franchise with nearly 300 stores is looking to open both corporate and franchised stores in new and underserved markets this year.

In 2014, the retail chain will specifically target fast growing markets from Florida to Minnesota, including areas in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Texas for franchise development.

To prepare for the accelerated growth, executives invested in strengthening infrastructure, expanding the store support center team for both corporate and franchised stores, and introduced a new “neighborhood-centric” prototype. The pet retail chain also built a new 760,000 plus- square-foot distribution center.

Last year alone, Pet Supplies Plus opened 18 new franchise and corporate stores and will increase its unit count by 10 to 15 percent each year moving forward.

“One of the reasons for the continued heightened demand in the pet products industry is the humanization of pets,” Dave Bolen, president and CEO of Pet Supplies Plus, said. “We’ve responded to that trend by conveniently locating our stores in neighborhoods and making our stores friendly for the neighbors who want to bring their pets shopping. We’ve enhanced our shopping experience, emphasized made-in-the-USA pet consumables, natural and organic pet food and offered in-store pet services that drive traffic and customer loyalty. Now, we’re looking to find business savvy franchise partners who share a passion for pets who want to be an integral part of their community.”

Pet Supplies Plus is offering refreshed franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs. In addition to a new prototype boasting a layout emphasizing convenience, functionality and pet interaction, the pet retail franchise recently began offering a smaller prototype for rural markets for a lower rate of investment.

Founded on the idea that convenient, quality service for busy neighbors was lacking in the pet industry, retail veterans, Jack Berry and Harry Shallop, opened the first Pet Supplies Plus store in Redford, Mich. Since then, the neighborhood-style pet store has become a household name in 23 states. Pet Supplies Plus was acquired by private equity group Irving Place Capital in 2010.

KollerCraft to Manufacture API Aquariums

KollerCraft, a leader in designing and manufacturing desktop aquariums, announced a new partnership with Mars Fishcare to bring to market innovative aquarium kits and accessories under the API brand.

“We’re thrilled to be manufacturing aquariums under the API brand, as our beliefs in the fish keeping hobby and developing quality products are something both companies embrace and share,” Rand Kollman, vice president of sales and marketing at KollerCraft, said.

API has also developed a new product called Perfect Start™ that will enable beginners to be more successful as they enter the hobby. This new starter system will be included with API aquarium kits and is expected to reverse the current dropout rate that has remained high in the fish industry for the past ten years.

“These exciting new APIaquarium kits with Perfect Start will make fish keeping easier while keeping tank inhabitants healthier, and will bring about a renewed sense of enthusiasm to the hobby and industry,” Kollman said.

Both Kollercraft and Mars Fishcare research and development teams will work together to identify problem-solving products within the familiar market, such as better filtration in desktop aquariums. The partnership will focus on fish tanks, equipment, and accessories proudly made in the United States.

Together, Kollercraft and Mars Fishcare bring over 100 years of combined experience in the aquatics industry.

Recap Of Global Pet Expo

In case you missed it, here are some of our favorite social media posts from last week’s Global Pet Expo.

Post by PET AGE Magazine.

Halo-Backed Movie to Open Film Fest

Halo, Purely for Pets has teamed up with 2012 America’s Got Talent winners, the Olate Dogs, to create a 6-minute film, “La Sauvetage” (The Rescue), directed by Peter McEvilley (“The House Bunny”, “Last Vegas”, “Alias”) and starring the Olate Dogs.

The film will be opening the Sonoma Film Festival on April 2, but, the media and other invited guests were treated to a special screening of it during the Global Pet Expo.

McEvilley, inspired by the question of “who rescued whom?,” produced “La Sauvetage” at the request of Halo CEO Steve Marton.

In 2012, the Olate Dogs shot to stardom when they won the America’s Got Talent grand prize. These sweet, funny, talented dogs and their entertaining owners/handlers captured hearts across America. But, there’s more to their story.

Many of the Olate Dogs are rescue dogs. In fact, family patriarch, Richard Olate, developed his act on the streets of his native Chile when he was a poor boy of just 12. He began rescuing stray dogs from the street and training them to be part of his amateur show. He has worked hard for years to realize his dream of becoming a professional dog act.

Today, Richard and his son, Nicolas and wife, Rebecca, continue to save dogs from shelters and train them to become part of their professional troupe.

Those attending the screening were treated to a special live performance.