Entering March, the retailer sentiment is slightly above average, with more than half of retailers (56 percent) predicting a 1 to 5 percent increase in customer spending in the next month. Another 20 percent predict an increase of more than 5 percent. Dog food, supplies and accessories continue to make up most of retailers’ earnings, a fact that store owners do not expect to change in the near future. As previous retailer reports have indicated, a vast majority of retailers (90 percent) are keeping their advertising spending low (under $2,000) and plan to continue to do so in the near future.
The data published in this edition of the Retailer Sentiment Index was collected in January 2017.
How much did the average customer spend at your facility per visit last month?
What is your forecast on the average customer spend next month?
How many visitors came to your store last month?
10, 799
How many visitors do you project will visit next month?
3, 811
What percentage of your sales last month came from:
Dog food, supplies & accessories
41.2 %
Cat food, supplies & accessories
9.4 %
Fish food, supplies & accessories
2.6 %
Pond supplies & accessories
0.3 %
Bird food, supplies & accessories
4.6 %
Small-animal food, supplies & accessories
1.3 %
Reptile food, supplies & accessories
1.2 %
Gift & novelty items
6.1 %
Companion animals, fish and other livestock
7.6 %
Ancillary services (boarding, grooming, etc.)
25.8 %
What percentage of your sales do you forecast for next month coming from:
Dog food, supplies & accessories
41.7 %
Cat food, supplies & accessories
9.8 %
Fish food, supplies & accessories
2.6 %
Pond supplies & accessories
0.2 %
Bird food, supplies & accessories
4.7 %
Small-animal food, supplies & accessories
1.5 %
Reptile food, supplies & accessories
1.2 %
Gift & novelty items
4.7 %
Companion animals, fish and other livestock
6.9 %
Ancillary services (boarding, grooming, etc.)
26.7 %
Did you offer any significant special sales, i.e. 20% store wide?
Will you offer any significant special sales next month, i.e. 20% store wide?
How much did you spend on advertising in the past month?
How much will you spend on advertising next month?
 predicting a 1 to 5 percent increase in customer spending in the next month. Another 20 percent predict an increase of more than 5 percent. Dog food, supplies and accessories continue to make up most of retailers’ earnings, […]){kind=link}