Discover the Three Wellness Trends Shaping the Pet Retail Industry
Bring customer foot traffic, revenue and retail trends all into alignment.
“Consumers are spending a lot on wellness, and there are plenty of products for them to choose from.”
Vitamins, supplements, nutrient-rich food, mental health tools, exercise equipment. Many Americans have most, if not all, of these things in their homes. But not just for themselves. People love their pets and want to give them the best of everything. And increasingly, “everything” is all about wellness.
According to Forbes, of the $157 billion projected to be spent on pets in 2026, up to $80 billion is earmarked for health-related purchases. Consumers are spending a lot on wellness, and there are plenty of products for them to choose from. Here’s a breakdown of three trending categories where retailers can stock up to meet the demand.
1. Preventive Care
Consumers who take care of their health and watch what they put in their bodies do the same for their pets. Instead of going to their veterinarian only for annual checkups or emergency visits, pet parents are scheduling proactive appointments for everything from dental hygiene to weight management.
And consumers’ daily choices are focused on preventive care, too. Pets wear trackers that analyze sleep and activity, alerting owners to any potential health issues, or get tested for food allergies or gut problems. And if they uncover a digestive issue? There are nutrient-rich treats, fresh food and meal toppers made from functional ingredients, like collagen or probiotics, for extra support.
Healthy Choice: Partner with a local veterinarian on a preventive pet care program. The vet can offer in-store wellness tips, and you can sell corresponding products in special health bundles.
2. Holistic Care
Anyone — and any pet — can use a wellness day. That’s where businesses like Youngblood Animal Massage Therapy thrive. As featured in Pets+, the holistic business offers massage therapy for cats and dogs, plus a raw food bar, supplements, animal neuro myofascial release, red light therapy, training and more.
At-home holistic treatments are also growing in popularity. They can include anything from chemical-free shampoos and essential oils to natural foods and homeopathic medicine. This type of holistic care goes hand-in-hand with preventive care. Put them together, and it’s a lifestyle choice that is purposeful and intentional.
Healthy Choice: Choose an area of holistic care you want to focus on at your store. You’ll find many options to choose from on the SUPERZOO show floor. You can also talk one-on-one with suppliers and get to know the products, so you can train your staff to become experts your customers can trust.
3. CBD and Supplements
Supplements offer promising avenues for revenue streams at your store. They provide a wide range of support for both overall wellness and specific issues: immunity, digestion, joint health, skin/coat care, nutrition, behavior and much more. Some supplements are also developed for different breeds, ages and activity levels.
And then there are CBD supplements, which contain the non-intoxicating component of cannabis. Pet parents typically use them to mitigate pain, anxiety, or inflammation. For instance, a long-term Arizona State University data study of almost 50,000 dogs found that regular CBD supplements helped reduce their aggressive tendencies. And ElleVet Sciences, a CBD pet product manufacturer, released a report that showed CBD improved areas of mobility — including gait, jumping, and play behavior — with no significant safety concerns.
Healthy Choice: Consider changing your assortment mix to offer a diverse selection of supplements. You can learn buying strategies for capitalizing on new trends and boosting your business with the SUPERZOO education sessions.
Your customers want healthy pets. You want healthy sales.
By stocking up on products tied to these top wellness trends at your store, everyone wins. Keep up with industry innovations at SUPERZOO and with World Pet Association resources.
