It’s no secret that people love their pets. For many, pets are considered as part of the family and in the US alone, according to the American Pet Products Association, the pet market has exploded over the last 20 years. This year alone, an estimated $62 billion has been spent on products and services in the pet care industry.
People tend to get that warm, fuzzy feeling when they think about their pets. If you’ve ever owned a pet, I’m sure that you can relate to the love and affection they can bring to your home. Dogs and cats for example, are known to help their owners deal with depression, stress and anxiety. I guess that’s a huge reason why people are willing to spend tens of billions of dollars every year on their pets – and frankly, pets deserve all the special treatment they can get.
Studies have shown that dog owners have lower blood pressure than people without pets, and that playing with a cat or dog can elevate levels of dopamine and serotonin, which helps with calming and relaxation.
If you’re looking for a business opportunity to sink your teeth into in this tech-driven world, you might want to capitalize on a growing niche in the pet care industry, by selling pet gadgets.
First of all, you need to create a business plan that you can use as a guide to determine the direction that you intend to take your business. Lack of planning and foresight can hamper your chances of success, and the pet gadget business is no exception. It is better to invest the time to figure out how exactly howyour business will make money.Are you going to open a store, sell via a website or both? Who are you targeting? Don’t take it too lightly and never underestimate or overestimate the market – it’s wise to do your research and come up with concrete information that can help you to make well-informed decisions and calculated risks.
When writing a business plan for your pet insurance business, you want to make sure that it’s solid and strong. Keep it simple and concise, and avoid filler language. You also want to be creative. Come up with new, innovative ideas to ensure your success in selling your products. Don’t forget to be realistic. Be honest with yourself and understand that while the pet gadget business sounds fun, cool and laid back, it does, just like every other business, come with its unique set of challenges, and you’ve got to prepare yourself to deal with them in the best way possible.
Most importantly, you need to know your products inside out, whether you decide to carry just a few or several different pet gadgets. Here are 5 of some of the best pet gadgets available on the market:
- Foldable bowl
These lightweight bowls fold or collapse, and they’re great for allowing your pet to get a quick drink of water whenever you take them for a long walk or out camping.
- bObsweep Pet Hair Floor Cleaner
No more pushing and dragging the vacuum cleaner all over the floor – this autonomous gadget has powerful suction to pick up pet hairs from your floor.
- GoDogGo
This fetch machine is sure to keep your dog busy and entertained, as it automatically shoots out tennis balls at timed intervals.
- Leuchtie Light Collar
With this gadget, you can have less worry when it’s late and you’re out with your dog. It makes your pooch more visible to you and anyone who’s driving their car at night.
- PawTrax Pet Tracker
This device combines GPS with mobile technology, to send updates of your pet’s whereabouts to your phone, so you can find your pet before they end up in trouble. All you have to do is click on the link in the text message to pinpoint your pet’s location on Google maps.
Now that you have an idea of what your inventory would comprise of, you need to take some action towards getting your product into your customers’ hands.
Here is where you can determine if you will target a specific niche. Try to come up with a relevant and memorable name for your business. Remember, you want your potential customers to know that you’re in the business of selling pet gadgets, so choose a name that conveys that message. It’s also a good idea to contact the Chamber of Commerce in your area to find out how to register your pet gadget business in your state or country.
Purchase all of the necessary tools and equipment that will help you to run your business smoothly, whether you’re operating from home or an office. You can afford to keep this simple – and make sure that at least half of your investment goes towards proper marketing of your products.
You can boost sales by attending trade shows to perform live demos of your products. The more people who see these gadgets work in real time, the better.
Establish a brand for your business by hiring a graphic designer to create a logo and business cards for you. Hire a web designer to create an attractive and informative website that speaks to your visitors and helps them to obtain your products easily. Don’t make it hard or complicated for them, because they’ll find another company that doesn’t. Use a lot of pictures and don’t be afraid to use a video presentation to pitch your message across clearly. Use social media like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get a buzz going and build an online following.
There are a number of ways for you to get the word out about your business, but before you set up shop, you must do your homework. Nonetheless, pet gadgets are awesome products and it’s a huge bonus to get to meet other animal lovers who’ll spare no expense in making sure that their pets are safe and happy.