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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
