Pet owners are increasingly shopping at the “big box” stores for their pet supplies these days.  Part of the reason is convenience, but major discount retailers like K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Target are also part of the trend.  These major chain stores have begun devoting more space on their shelves to pet products and pet food because they’ve discovered how lucrative the pet industry can be.

Can you successfully compete with the chain stores?  Certainly!  If you take the time to really learn about your customers and find the right niche for your pet business.  You probably won’t be able to compete with the larger chains on price (volume buying discounts give them the price advantage), so you determine what you can offer that they can’t.

The strength of a small business catering to pets and their owners usually lies in tailoring your business to a particular market or offering service’s the chain stores don’t.  Take a look at your pet business model and look for some of these guaranteed success generators:

·        Outstanding Customer Service.  Is your staff thoroughly versed in the advantages of your product line? Can they answer customer questions intelligently and give pet owners suggestions on which product is best for their pet?  Do you answer every email quickly and always have someone available to cope with potential problems?  What about the ease of navigating your website and placing an order? 

·        Convenience.  If you have home delivery or pet food and other pet products or pick-up and drop-off for your pet grooming services, you’re giving customers convenience they won’t find at a chain store.  Find ways to make buying pet supplies from you preferable to driving to a big box store by making it easy, seamless and convenient.  Saving time is just as important to most customers as saving money.

·        Reliability.  Keep your shelves stocked with your customers’ favorite pet supplies at all times.  Many large retail chains are hit-or-miss in this area.  They restock shelves on a pre-set schedule, and if they run out of something early, the customer is out of luck.  Reliability also means keeping your promises and guaranteeing satisfaction. 

·        Unique Products and Services.  Pay attention to what your customers really want.  All chain stores tend to carry the same or very similar pet care products – they are appealing to the masses.  Make your pet business stand out by offering what they can’t.  If you have upscale customers, carry designer dog clothing, pet collars and other products that customers will have trouble finding elsewhere.  Is there a sizeable group of customers who are looking for eco-friendly pet toys and dog beds?  Make sure you’re the best possible source for green pet products!

By making your business the “go to” place for customers who have specific pet care needs, you can compete against the mega-stores and win.

It’s crucial to have a website that reflects your company’s product or service and that explains what you’re about, but that isn’t the primary purpose of your website.  Let’s face it, the primary goal of any website is to sell your product or service.  You want everyone who visits your site to become a customer!  Achieving success with your website means having content (the written portion of your site) that SELLS.

You obviously already believe in your product or service, but convincing others that they need what you’re offering requires writing that sells.  There are several elements to successful sales writing.  Understanding their importance will put you on the path to a website that generates outstanding profit.

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October 12th to 18th is the 5th Annual “Build Your Business with Business Cards” Week!

So, what does that mean for you?!  Well, for one, it means that from October 1st - October 18th we’re giving all of our clients a 20% discount on custom designed pet business cards!  It’s the perfect time for you to update your old, outdated pet business cards or to get brand spankin’ new pet business cards.  All you have to do is get in touch with us and let us know that you’d like the business card discount you read about in our blog.  That’s it!

Not sure if now is a good time to get your pet business cards in optimal condition?  THINK AGAIN! Chances are that you’re wasting seven very important marketing inches that could be bringing you tons of business.  Our good friend, Diana Ratliff, from Pet Business Central explains just how that often overlooked and neglected 7 little inches can make a huge difference.

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