Recent Articles from Andy Black
Examining the Exciting Changes that Have Shaped the Pet Industry
I first entered the pet industry workforce back in 1972 after serving in the Army. My first job in the industry was working in a pet supply warehouse for $1.35 an hour. Pet Supply distribution was fairly new back then having morphed from large animal businesses and just about all pet supply distributors were family […]
Even the Playing Field Between Virtual and Physical Retailers
As a consumer, I buy from Amazon because there are many times when I just can’t find what I’m looking for in local retail stores. As I’m sure you will admit, the Internet offers just about anything you could want, so long as you’re willing to wait a day or two to get it. According […]
Independent Stores Can Run Circles Around Big Box Chains
It’s true that big box retailers have a buying advantage over independently owned pet stores. What they don’t have is the ability to offer tailored services for a specific market area or to quickly respond to changing circumstances. They also don’t have the ability to make decisions based on their customers’ needs. When a company […]
Boost Holiday Sales Numbers by Strategizing
What are you doing to make the most of the coming holiday gift-giving season? No matter what type of store you own, if you do nothing but business as usual, you will probably see an uptick in sales because of the multiple holidays during the October to December period, simply because the U.S. consumer is […]
Social Media Reviews can Boost Consumer Confidence in your Store
Remember the Yellow Pages? That used to be a mainstay for independent retailers to reach the public with their message. Now, pet retailers rely on in-store events, word-of-mouth and social media to engage the public. The latter is a big one, as social media platforms offer a cost-neutral way to reach consumers. Word-of-mouth advertising relies […]
Aquatic, Reptile Sales Can Boost Bottom Line
Americans spend more on their pets than ever before. By 2020, the U.S. pet industry is expected to reach $96 billion in sales, according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm. The 2017-2018 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey notes that 68 percent of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to […]
Harnessing the Power of YouTube to Reach Potential Customers
Have you ever used YouTube to promote your business? According to YouTube Stats 2018, the site has over a trillion users, with almost 5 billion videos watched every single day. U.S. consumers are conditioned to look at a video over reading an article or advertisement, and if your business isn’t taking advantage of this fact, […]
Show Floor Game Plan
Do you attend our industry’s trade shows? If you do, you already know the value they return to our industry. If you haven’t been to one before, I make the case here that you should budget at least one trade show a year and if you do it right, attending a trade show can pay […]
Taking an Inward Look for More Profitable Strategies
I recently experienced quite a shock. After flying a new team member into Phoenix for training, we spent the first day on our vendors’ products and what we try to accomplish during a store visit. The second day we planned to visit stores in the Phoenix area to familiarize our new team member with what […]
Crunching Numbers: Compare Existing Customers to Potential Ones
Have you built and maintained a customer database of existing customers who have purchased from you in the past? If not, you should immediately consider doing so. Without existing customer information, you are throwing away good income potential. A customer’s contact information is worth its weight in gold, and if used properly, direct mail and […]
For Independent Retailers, it’s Survival of the Fittest
Amazon today offers more than 200 million products online in the United States. Many other major retailers are striving to emulate Amazon by offering expanded listing beyond what they stock in their brick and mortar facilities. Major pet retailers are also beginning to offer dropship products from their established vendors, expanding their online product capabilities. […]
Avoiding the Big Mistake of Poor Customer Relations
For the past 30 years I’ve been calling on independent pet retailers as part of my job. You might guess that I’ve seen customer service offered by independents at its best and worst. Most of the worst are no longer with us. Some retailers who have had exemplary customer relations have made an indelible impression. […]