The Pet Industry is Inflation-Proof
If you chose pets as your niche, you were smart! Despite the challenges of severe inflation, causing consumers to cut back in spending on everything from food to clothing to car purchases, the pet industry remains inflation-resistant. So says Petco CEO Ron Coughlin, who noted that even as costs rise, pet parents will still need to provide food and care of their non-human family members.
Part of this strength comes from the perception shift from pet owners to “pet parents”, as many retailers now refer to them. Subsequently these pet parents have become more willing to invest in premium food, merchandise and care in every way. Many are willing to forgo their needs and wants to ensure their pets are pampered as much as possible.
Pet ownership soared during the pandemic. In 2021 consumers spent approximately $72 billion on food and pet related merchandise.
Pet parents choose to shop almost anywhere else than Amazon. In fact Petco’s revenues increased 18% year over year in 2021, while Chewy grew 24.1%. In addition to PetSmart, consumers also shop at big box stores, grocery stores, and local pet stores much more than they shop at Amazon (something to keep in mind when selecting merchants for your pet site!).
What does the future hold for this industry?
Two trends are emerging.
First, expect strategies such as loyalty programs to grow even more. Consumer loyalty to brands is growing weaker, but companies have learned that offering a loyalty program, complete with special perks and discounts, can strengthen the bond and keep shoppers faithful to a brand.
Second, companies are expanding their products and services to cover the entire pet lifespan. This includes not only food and toys, but veterinary care, grooming and insurance.
Pets are part of the family, now and forever. If your life revolves around that family member, perhaps a site about pets would be a good choice for you too.
Recent Comments
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hi I am going with the pet niche, mostly because I love pets and I was vet assistant for 2 years. also I was a dog groomer for 10 years. had to give it up because of arthritis in the hands and elbows. but I know everyone who owns pets loves them as a child and would do anything for them
Being a vet assistant as well as a groomer can give you some special insights and knowledge which you can share on your site. You know the most common questions and how to answer them. That will be a huge advantage with SEO. Good luck with your site!
And yes, I'd do anything for my pets as well. One of our dogs blew his ACL and we paid for the surgery - several thousand dollars - but his remaining 6 years were much better because he could walk as he always had instead of being lame. Yup, worth it!
My lab is my companion. She is always happy. It's impossible to feel bad or sad around her.
While I don't buy pet merchandise, she does eat great food, and receives an abundance of love.
Sounds like a great niche, but I'm in the only one I can be in because it's all I know.
That's for being a pet lover, Jeannine, and keep thriving!
Al
Labs are such a sweet breed! Sounds like she adores her Daddy too. You said you've getting great food - that's wonderful, and I'm guessing there are some pretty nice treats in there too. Give her a scratch behind her ears for me!
Great post, Jeannine...I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. And I can believe that the pet market would be an excellent niche to get involved with, as more people than ever are looking to animal companionship.
Susan
I've had Huskies for almost 30 years, and I couldn't imagine life without them. I would also make sure they had what they needed before taking care of my own needs. Never even a question.
Oh yeah, that's our boy Cody in the picture above.
Thanks! We have a second one, Hunter, who is a show dog as well. Together they also go dog sled racing. I think if there was a crisis, I'd make sure they were safe before my husband, my home or anything else!
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Hi Jeannine,
I accidentally chose a great niche! Mine is specifically dogs but dogs are probably the most popular pets in the US and maybe the world (except for some countries that don't like any pets).
What I really wanted to do was to thank you so much for giving me the link to that link builder tool. That works great! I now have the correct links for a bunch of products on Inspire Uplift!
Thanks again so much for your help!
Barbara
I'm so glad it all worked out for you! Deeplinks convert at a better rate than general links for sure!
I didn't know there were any other types of links other than the ones that go right to the product. I'm sure glad that you were here to help me with this! There is so much more to Awin than Amazon!
Thanks again so much for your help!
Barbara