Catchy

Trend: More meaningful pet-related blogs

Industry analyst Laura Bennett predicted in 2005 that among the Top Ten Trends in the Pet Industry in coming years would be a move towards more meaningful pet-related blogs.

Blogs, written by both corporate players and evangelists, will become more prevalent, more widely read, and will have a significant influence on driving traffic and sales to smaller niche players.

Some of the more meaningful blogs that I have found are:

ITCHMO.com

Named because the guy’s dog wanted to be “itch’d mo’”, this blog exploded during the pet food recall to receiving millions of hits per day.  It is still one of my favorite blogs.

Judy’s Health Cafe

The blog at Judy’s Health Cafe is pure passion about pets.  Follow Judy’s story about how she slept on the floor in the bathroom to keep her standard poodle, Joey, from injuring himself after surgery.  You laugh and you cry.  I love Judy’s blog.

Pet Connection

The  blog at Pet Connection rose to fame during the pet food recall because it offered owners a place to log the loss or illness of their pet.  The numbers collected at Pet Connection were often cited in news articles and, I believe, may have forced officials in the FDA and the pet food companies to own up to some very serious problems.

DogtorJ

While not exclusively a blog, the website hosted by holistic veterinarian John Syme was one of the few which speaks to the importance of feeding pets natural, holistic, corn and wheat and soy -free foods.   Note that my favorite pet food — I won’t tell you which one — is among the top foods on his recommended foods list.

It’s “Reigning” Cats and Dogs

American Pet Products Manufacturers Association reports that 63% of all U.S. households own a pet. That’s 69 million households.

According to the 375 page survey that tracks hundreds of pet ownership trends, Americans own approximately

• 73 million dogs
• 90 million cats
• 139 million freshwater fish
• 9 million saltwater fish
• 16 million birds
• 18 million small animals
• 11 million reptiles

“The steady increase in pet ownership confirms that a growing number of us are realizing pets truly enhance our lives,” said Bob Vetere, managing director and COO of APPMA. “Pets not only provide unconditional love and affection, research now shows they also provide significant health benefits.”

More interesting statistics:

• Three-quarters of dog owners consider their dog like a child or family member and more than half of cat owners say the same.
• Eight out of ten dog owners buying dog gifts and six out of ten of cat owners buy cat gifts.
• A majority of dogs and cats sleep indoors with most preferring to sleep in their owner’s bed, on a blanket or pet bed.
• 88 percent of dog owners, 65 percent of cat owners, 73 percent of bird owners and 75 percent of small animal owners giving treats. This is especially prevalent in households where the pet owner thinks of their pet as a child.
• The demographics indicate that the person most responsible for purchasing pet products is a 46 year old woman.

Pet Products Industry News Blog

The Health Benefits of Pets

The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association says that having pets is good for your health!

• Pets Help to Lower Blood Pressure A recent study at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that people with hypertension who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did those who did not own a pet. (Dr. Karen Allen, State University of New York at Buffalo)
• Pets Help to Reduce Stress Walking with a pet helps to sooth nerves and offers instant relaxation. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that the impact of a stressful situation is lesser on pet owners, especially males, than on those who do not own a pet. (Josephine M. Wills, Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, United Kingdom)
• Pets Help to Prevent Heart Disease Because pets provide people with faithful companionship, research shows they may also provide their owners with greater psychological stability, thus a measure of protection from heart disease. (National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets)
• Pets Help to Lower Health Care Costs People with pets actually make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions. (National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets)
• Pets Help to Fight Depression Pets help fight depression and loneliness, promoting an interest in life. When seniors face adversity or trauma, affection from pets takes on great meaning. Their bonding behavior can foster a sense of security. (Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship)

Pet Products Industry News Blog

What Makes Up the Pet Industry?

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers’ Association:

For 2007, it estimated that $40.8 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S.

Breakdown:

Food $16.1billion

Vet Care $9.8billion

Supplies/OTC Medicine $9.9 billion

Live animal purchases $2.1 billion

Pet Services: grooming & boarding $2.9 billion

This means that pet food represents approximately 40% of pet expenditures. Numbers for holistic, natural, or organic pet foods are hard to find but they have been estimated to be less than 1-2% of the total American pet food bill. While the pet food recall doubled and tripled the business of most holistic pet food companies, there is still ample room for expansion in this market.

Pet Products Industry News Blog

Business Week Reports Pets in U.S. are a $41 Billion Industry

Business Week reported on August 6, 2007, on the Pet Economy in the United States.

Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. That’s double the amount shelled out on pets a decade ago, with annual spending expected to hit $52 billion in the next two years, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer research company based in Rockville, Md.

That puts the yearly cost of buying, feeding, and caring for pets in excess of what Americans spend on the movies ($10.8 billion), playing video games ($11.6 billion), and listening to recorded music ($10.6 billion) combined.

“People are no longer satisfied to reward their pet in pet terms,” argues Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Assn. (APPMA). “They want to reward their pet in human terms.” That means hotels instead of kennels, braces to fix crooked teeth, and frilly canine ball gowns.

Pet owners are becoming increasingly demanding consumers who won’t put up with substandard products, unstimulating environments, or shoddy service for their animals.

Network marketers often cite Paul Zane Pilzer in supporting their businesses, saying that the next Trillion Dollar industry is in Health and Wellness. However,

Paul must not be a pet person, because he missed the Pet Industry. $52 Billion is not a Trillion… but the speed of growth and the intensity of the pet parents is staggering. For any people interested in the Pet Industry who are carving out their piece of the pie, it’s HUGE.

Pet Products Industry News Blog

$40 Billion Pet Biz

Have you seen this ad? It has appeared in USAToday and elsewhere. In 2007 in the

United States alone, pets really are a $40 Billion Pet Industry. What comprises that industry? Why is it growing? What are the latest trends? We’ll cover those questions and more in the Pet Products Industry News blog.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

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Pet Products Industry News Blog