As someone who has always had pets, it’s difficult to imagine life without them. It’s a mystery to me how a person can refrain from greeting a dog or cat as it strolls by with its owner.
Who doesn’t like pets?
I recently asked myself that question when I attended both Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp and NYC Re-Tails & Sales. Taking place in New York, each event featured a wide range of exhibitors who showcased products that improve the lives of pets and their owners. The pets that were in attendance were not only well behaved, but also didn’t hide their pleasure of being among food, treats and accessories designed just for them.
One person who I believe is a true “pet person” is Todd Shelton, CEO of Phillips Pet Food & Supplies. He was our Five Questions subject in the January issue of Pet Age. He acknowledged to me during his interview that he has a fondness for all pets, and he even noted in the profile that he had recently adopted a shelter dog that was rescued from one of the hurricanes that hit Florida and Texas in 2017.
I bring that up because Phillips Pet Food & Supplies is this year’s recipient of Pet Age’s Distributor of the Year Award. One of the leading service providers in the pet industry, Phillips has been making moves to stay on top of the ever-changing pet market. The company purchased online retailer PetFlow last year, then launched Endless Aisles, its online platform enabling retailers to access products that they might not be able to offer their customers due to in-store space limitations.
The retailer-distributor relationship is a vital piece of the success of the pet industry, and Dan Calabrese details that partnership in his June Management feature. Andy Black, another one of Pet Age’s Management columnists, ex-amines why retailers must be proactive when it comes to meeting their customers’ needs in order to remain profitable and avoid going out of business.
That’s just the beginning of this month’s informative content, as we explore everything from dog anxiety products and cat toys to bird seed and reptile substrate options.
You likely know that SuperZoo takes place in Las Vegas this month, and we encourage you to visit us at booth 3063. Until then, read on and enjoy this issue and the accompanying supplement, What’s New at SuperZoo!
Glenn A. Polyn
Editor-in-Chief
