Pet Age Staff //June 14, 2023
Press release: Zilla
Zilla, the leading supplier of reptile care products and a brand in the Central Garden & Pet portfolio, recently announced a partnership with multi-platinum recording artist 24kGoldn’s newly adopted bearded dragon Puff, who has been named the first official “Rep-Resentative” of the brand. Puff, an orange morph bearded dragon, will star in the brand’s “Rep Yourself” campaign that encourages reptile owners to express themselves and celebrate what sets them and their beloved pets apart from everyone else. The “Rep Yourself” campaign is part of a comprehensive brand refresh created to reflect the modern and unique ethos of its current customer base.
Reptile ownership has risen steadily over the past few years, with six million U.S. households now owning at least one reptile and Gen Z reptile owners increasing from 18 percent in 2018 to 29 percent in 2022, according to the American Pet Products Association’s latest National Pet Owners Survey. Becoming a first-time pet parent can be complex, and many new reptile owners need guidance. Together, 24kGoldn, Puff and Zilla will provide the growing reptile community with expert guidance and advice that will help new and existing pet parents thrive. Starting today, consumers can be a part of Puff’s journey by following 24kGoldn’s TikTok, 24kGoldn’s Instagram and Zilla’s social channels.
“Throughout my life and career, I’ve stayed true to myself and my individuality by playing by my own rules. I am unapologetically me, and that’s exactly what Zilla and the Rep Yourself campaign is all about,” said 24kGoldn. “Puff is the first pet I’ve ever owned, and I’ve wanted a Bearded Dragon for years. Getting a reptile can be intimidating – there’s lots to learn about how to care for these beautiful animals – but Zilla makes it simple. I can’t wait for my fans and other reptile parents to get to know Puff and all the creature comforts that make her feel at home and celebrate her uniqueness.”
Reptile owners are encouraged to share their caretaking tips and creative habitats by posting on social media, using the hashtag #RepYourself for a chance to be featured on Zilla’s Instagram channel and Rep Yourself series on the Zilla website.
Inspired by his new pet and dedicated to creating the best possible environment for her, 24kGoldn and the experts at Zilla co-created limited-edition, custom-designed terrarium background screens guaranteed to bring a unique flair to every terrarium. 24kGoldn’s eye-catching personal style comes to life in vibrant colors and designs, unlike any other terrarium screens on the market. This fall, reptile parents nationwide can purchase the first 24kGoldn design featuring a graffiti-inspired print at their favorite pet supply retailers, including Petco and Amazon. Another exclusive-to-Petco design featuring artistic reptile scales and jewel tones will also be available nationally at Petco pet care centers and petco.com this fall.
In celebration of the partnership with Puff and 24kGoldn, Zilla is thrilled to partner with Pets in the Classroom on an exciting Back to School initiative. Pets in the Classroom is an educational grant program that has served over 226,000 teachers, impacting over nine million students, with financial and educational support that helps teachers acquire and maintain small animals in the classroom. According to an annual Pets in the Classroom survey, 99 percent of respondents said that having a pet in the classroom has been a positive experience. Stay tuned for more information about how 24kGoldn and Puff will be giving back to deserving classrooms this fall
“Growing up, I wasn’t able to have a pet, so being able to work with an organization like Pets in the Classroom that helps teach responsibility while providing the love and fun of a reptile or small animal means a lot to me,” said 24kGoldn.
“Since 2018, 1.5 million new pet parents have entered the reptile category, and while the adoption of traditional pets has slowed, reptile ownership continues to rise. The recent popularity of reptiles has opened the door to a new audience and Zilla is dedicated to educating the next generation,” said Ernie Katris, head of marketing and innovation for Zilla. “Our passion for reptiles is why we got into this business, and we’re thrilled to be working with 24kGoldn and Puff to help us educate and inspire reptile parents everywhere.”
Zilla is committed to producing innovative products that enable pet parents to build and maintain a healthy reptile living space. From integrated habitats to complete, species-specific nutrition formulations, Zilla products are designed to give reptile pets the best of what they need to live healthy and happy lives. Zilla products are sold nationwide at Petco pet care centers and petco.com, Amazon and other pet stores.
San Francisco native Golden Landis Von Jones, aka 24kGoldn, broke into the scene in late 2019 via his Platinum debut single “Valentino” after signing to RECORDS/Columbia Records. He quickly demonstrated to the world that his sound was universal, appearing on over 40 Spotify Viral 50 lists internationally. 24kGoldn wrapped that year with the release of his genre-bending 8 track EP, Dropped Outta College, which had a multiple week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. The EP included his second Platinum single “City Of Angels,” which has over 630 million global streams to date. Fast forward to today, 24kGoldn boasts over 6.1 billion worldwide streams of his catalogue, with his debut album El Dorado achieving Gold certification following incredible performances on Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel, the AMAs, MTV EMA’s and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. The album’s success is bolstered, in part, by the breakout single “Mood” featuring Iann Dior, which captured the masses and became a cultural phenomenon. The song spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and on the Pop radio chart, where it set the record for most spun song in a seven-day period. The global hit has accumulated over 3.5 billion streams to date and has attained certifications in over 29 countries worldwide, including seven time platinum in the U.S., and landed on ‘Best Songs of the Year’ lists from XXL, Billboard, SPIN, Stereogum, NYLON, New York Times, Rolling Stone and more. 24kGoldn is continuously releasing new music, including 2022’s “Checkers” and 2023’s “Bite,” and has recently collaborated with Travis Barker, Lil Tecca, Arizona.
The Pet Care Trust is a non-profit, private foundation that promotes the public understanding of the joys and benefits of pets through education, support and interaction. In 2010, the Pets in the Classroom grant program was established by the Pet Care Trust with the knowledge that classroom pets can be a valuable teaching tool that many teachers do not have access to because of a lack of funding. The program provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom, providing children with an opportunity to interact with pets — an experience that can help to shape their lives for years to come. Since its inception in 2011 through February 2023, Pets in the Classroom has awarded over 226,000 grants to teachers, meaning an estimated nine million children have experienced the joys and benefits of pet care through the grant program