Are you considering starting a pet shop? That’s terrific! Pets are a booming business, and there’s always room for another pet retailer. But before you start stocking your shelves and hiring staff, there are a few things you need to make sure you have in place first. Here are the three most essential needs of startup pet shops.
A Location in a High-Traffic Area
The first thing you need for your pet shop is a good location. Ideally, you want to be in a spot with a lot of foot traffic. That way, people can easily browse and pick up supplies on their way home from work or errands. If you’re not in a high-traffic area, you’ll need to do extra marketing to ensure people know about your store and make an effort to visit.
When choosing a location for your pet shop, it’s essential to consider a few things:
Type of pets
First, think about what type of pets you’ll be selling. If you’re focusing on fish and reptiles, you’ll need a different location than selling dogs and cats.
Fish and reptiles need plenty of light and space, so you’ll want to find a spot with many windows or large enough to accommodate them. You may also want to consider a location near a zoo or aquarium, as those places will likely have customers interested in buying pets. On the other hand, dogs and cats will need plenty of space to roam and play, so you’ll want a location with room for cages or walking areas.
Surrounding businesses
Second, think about the surrounding businesses. You want to be in an area with plenty of potential customers, not one surrounded by businesses that sell pet supplies too.
The businesses that will give you potential customers are those related to pets. For example, a pet store would be a good customer for a pet grooming business because people would likely need to groom their pets after buying them.
A pet food store would also be a good customer for a pet shop because people need to buy food for their new pets. But you wouldn’t want to be near another pet store because you would be competing for the same customers.
Budget
Finally, consider your budget. A high-traffic area is great, but it might also come with a high rent price tag. Make sure you can afford the location you choose.
A Diverse Inventory
Another important thing you’ll need for your pet shop is a diverse inventory. People should be able to come to your store and find everything they need for their pets all in one place. That means having food, toys, accessories, and everything else under one roof. If you don’t have what people are looking for, they’ll go elsewhere.
Pet food
When choosing the right pet foods to sell in your pet shop, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you want to offer various food options to cater to your customers’ needs.
You’ll also want to ensure that you’re stocking high-quality food brands people trust. And finally, it’s essential to price your pet food competitively to attract customers and compete with other retailers in your area.
Moreover, you should have budget-friendly dog food and cat food options and luxury pet foods for those willing to pay a little extra for their pets. With the right pet food and supplies selection, your shop will surely draw in customers from miles around.
Toys
To ensure your pet shop is successful, you should offer various toys to appeal to customers and pets. Some of the types of pet toys you could sell include:
- Dog toys, such as balls, chew toys, and Frisbees
- Cat toys, such as scratching posts, toy mice, and lasers
- Bird toys, such as swings, perches, and bells
- Small animal toys, such as tubes and tunnels for hamsters and gerbils and wicker balls for rabbits
Accessories
You can sell many different types of pet accessories in your shop. Some of the most popular items include:
- Beds and crates for dogs and cats
- Collars, leashes, and harnesses for dogs
- Cats’ litter and boxes
- Trees and perches for birds
- Food and water dishes for all types of pets
- Scratching posts for cats
- Dogs houses
Knowledgeable Staff
Lastly, it would be best if you had knowledgeable staff to help customers find what they’re looking for and answer their questions. This is especially important if you’re selling more than just pet supplies—like if you’re also selling pets themselves.
You’ll need staff who are experts on the animals you’re selling and can give prospective buyers all the information they need to make an informed decision about taking one home.
Starting a pet shop can be a great business venture—but only if you have the right things in place first. Make sure you have a high-traffic location, a diverse inventory, and knowledgeable staff, and you’ll be on your way to success!
