wpa-industry-insider-header-2019-update

Recent News

WPA23-0004_SM_Article_1_P1a_1200x630

How to Set Your Pet Retail Sales Floor to Sell!

By Georganne Bender & Rich Kizer, retail consultants and featured speakers at SuperZoo 2023. A version of this article originally…
WPA36521-0043_SM_Blog_12_1200x630_P1

5 Pet Product Trends for 2023

A version of this article originally appeared in Pet Product News. One of the greatest challenges for any pet retailer…
WPA36521-0042_SM_Blog_11_1200x630_P1

4 Steps to Equip Employees for Excellence

By Tammy J. Bond, business coach and speaker at SuperZoo 2022   Do you find yourself running behind your employees,…
WPA36521-0041_SM_1200x630_Blog_10_P1a (1)

The Social Media Your Pet Store Needs Most In 2022 Is Not What You Think

By Matt Aldrich, founder of Pet Engine Marketing and 2022 SuperZoo speaker   No, I’m not talking about TikTok! I’m…
WPA36521-0040_SM_1200x630_Blog_9_P1b

9 New Pet Products You'll Find at SuperZoo 2022

As a pet retailer, you know that new products drive sales. When customers can consistently come into your store and…
WPA36521-0038_SM_Blog_7_P1a

Increase Sales With Personalized Interactions: Conversational Commerce for Pet Retailers

The idea of a website chat widget might seem like something meant only for big box stores, but that’s just…
WPA36521-0039_SM_1200x630_Blog_8_P1a

Pet Store Employee Retention: 5 Steps to Finding and Keeping Quality Workers

This article was adapted from an episode of the Boss Your Business podcast by Candace D'Agnolo of Pet Boss Nation,…
WPA36521-0037_SM_Blog_6_V2.P1a

10 Tips to Maximize Your Time at Pet Industry Trade Shows

This article was adapted from an episode of the Boss Your Business podcast by Candace D'Agnolo of Pet Boss Nation,…
WPA36521-0035_SM_1200x630.Blog_4.P1b

Store Locators: When Brands Connect Shoppers With Local Pet Retailers, Everybody Wins

This article was written in collaboration with NextPaw, a WPA partner. You can learn more about their store locator tool…
WPA36521-0036_SM_Blog_5_P1a

Fast Track Reach and Engagement With This Simple Ad Campaign

By Maddie Goode, Crystal Media Picture this: You spend time, energy and creative juices trying to keep up with social…
SEO for Pet Stores

SEO for Pet Stores: Easy Tips for Beginners

For any pet retailer with a web presence, search engine optimization (SEO) is an important strategy to incorporate into your…
WPA36521-0033_SM_Blog-02_1200x630_P2

8 New Pet Products to Stock for Summer

It’s important for independent pet retailers to remain on the lookout for new pet products to shake up your retail…
WPA36521-0032_SM_Blog_1200x630_P1a

Pet Supply Shortage: 6 Ways to Mitigate Supply Chain Issues

Is your store facing a pet supply shortage? Few industries are immune from the supply chain disruptions that persist around…

Education- So Many Options, So Much Time

Groomers, and the Grooming Industry at large, are experiencing a renaissance when it comes to their viewpoints on education, certificates,…
senate-letter

Exclusion Process Senate Letter

Contact Your Senator Today. Senators Toomey and Jones are leading a bipartisan, Senate-wide letter to Ambassador Lighthizer requesting that USTR…

World Pet Association to Unveil Pet Grooming Credential

WPA Pet Grooming Credential to measure foundational skills with regards to knowledge applicable to the trade, safety and animal husbandry

MONROVIA, CA (September 16, 2020) – Calling all pet grooming professionals! The World Pet Association (WPA) is setting a new bar of excellence and commitment with the launch of the WPA Pet Grooming Credential. Beginning spring 2021, groomers across the country will have access to a united and independent credentialing program to assess knowledge and best practices applied by the nation’s top working pet professionals. The WPA Pet Grooming Credential was developed through extensive industry-wide collaboration and will be awarded to professionals who pass proctored, core competency exams.

“We appreciate the hard work and valuable service that pet groomers provide to pets and their owners, and the WPA Pet Grooming Credential has been developed to recognize their expertise, dedication, and professionalism,” said Khris Berry, Director of Grooming Services at WPA. “This credential—which resembles the core competencies measured for Cosmetologists – will allow pet stylists to signal to their commitment, knowledge, experience and dedication to education. Pet owners can rest easy knowing their furriest family members will be treated compassionately.

WPA has worked closely with the pet grooming industry to bring together a collective task force—

comprised of representatives from grooming salons, corporate salons, veterinarians, industry leaders, and leading educators—to develop a body of knowledge that will assist all groomers and pet owners in experiencing professional, complete, and safe grooming services. The program will include accredited education courses, not only offered by WPA, but from a wide variety of sources as well, and a defined Scope of Practice and Knowledge. Passing the exam will demonstrate to clients and to the industry at large the respected status of achievement, knowledge and commitment level of the newly credentialed pet grooming professional.

The exam will be available at computer-based testing sites across the United States. With an anticipated spring 2021 launch in nationwide testing centers, pet stylists can request applications for testing in early 2021. Pet groomers may apply to take the test based on experience, education, and knowledge of the pet grooming practice. The content of the exams will be weighed carefully for accuracy and relevancy to the working pet grooming professional.

“Bringing the pet industry together for the good of the pet has been the top priority of WPA,” added Berry. “We are proud to be working for the advancement of the entire grooming industry with coordinated efforts from all sectors, while also supporting the advancement of pet grooming professionals and their long-term success.”

For more information about the WPA Pet Grooming Credential, please contact Khris Berry, Director of Grooming Services at WPA.

###

About World Pet Association Founded in 1950, World Pet Association (WPA) is the pet industry’s oldest nonprofit organization. Based in Southern California, WPA coordinates industry-defining trade shows—SuperZoo, Atlanta Pet Fair & Conference and other popular annual events including: America’s Family Pet Expo, a consumer pet and pet product expo; and Aquatic Experience, which combines consumer events with a trade show. Through WPA’s Good Works program, proceeds from these events are funneled back into key industry organizations and nonprofits with the goal of making it easier for pet industry professionals to do business. WPA’s mission is to support the business needs of pet retailers and to promote responsible growth and development of the pet industry by providing thought leadership on consumer and legislative issues; lead efforts in the public sector to inform consumers and ensure safe, healthy lifestyles for all animals; and provide business resources, education, content and services to ensure pet product retailers have the support they need to be competitive. For more information about WPA, its industry events, or to become a member, visit www.worldpetassociation.org.

Show-Floor-resize

Recapping 2019 with the WPA & SuperZoo

A Roaring Succes Time really does fly when you’re having fun — we can hardly believe that SuperZoo 2019 is…
census-data-pet-industry

December 2019 Newsletter

Census Data Highlights A Booming Pet Industry It’s not surprising to hear that the pet industry is booming, given that…
wpa-pet-industry

November 2019 Newsletter

Consumers have access to more options and more information than ever before, which is why customer service is critical to…
Show-Floor-resize

October 2019 Newsletter

Make Your Pet Products Fly Off the (Virtual) Shelves It’s difficult to remember the days when entering your credit card…

Featured Partners

Home of:

About WPA

Seek. Share. Inspire: Everything we do is about uniting the pet community through knowledge, integrity, innovation, and leadership.

If you are a pet professional, join us by becoming a member here.

11801 Pierce Street Ste. 200, Riverside, CA 92505

+1 626.447.2222
info@wpamail.org

Copyright 2022 World Pet Association ©  All Rights Reserved