Pet Supplies

Mealworms are easy to raise and can net a pretty penny if you sell them to pet stores above your cost. Because mealworms are the softer, larvae version of a beetle, birds prefer to dine on themthey're quite succulent. Showing that you're a responsible, repeat seller who has a clean operation will go a long way toward convincing pet store owners that you're the mealworm provider they want to use. It can take three months to get a colony of mealworms started, but then you can produce larvae constantly by keeping things in a cycle.

Instructions

1 Take pictures of the environment and habitat you've grown your worms in. List the food you give them and how long you've been growing them. If you've sold to pet stores before, ask the owners if you can use them as a reference. Include all this information in a portfolio.
2 Call the pet store and ask when you can meet with the owner. Explain that you are a mealworm breeder and that you'd like to sell him some of your stock.
3 Attend the meeting with the pet store owner or manager. Explain your mealworm breeding operation, including the information in your portfolio. Give him a price slightly above what you actually want and ask if he thinks that's fair. If he'd rather negotiate, then haggle until you agree on a price.
4 Decide on delivery terms. When and where does he want the mealworms. You should also ask if he'd like to make the arrangement an ongoing one, pending the sale of your mealworms to his customers, and his happiness with the product.
5 Combine potato wedges and shredded lettuce under a cloth in a plastic bin. Drill holes in the lid. Add the mealworms to the bin for transport. Keep the cloth moist to prevent cannibalism. Deliver the mealworms on time, as scheduled.

The cost of operating a pet store differs from running any other kind of retail store. In many cases, there are living creatures within the store, and taking care of them requires more effort and expertise than simply stocking shelves with canned goods. There is no one figure that can accommodate answering the question of how much it costs to operate a pet store, since there are so many variables.

Monthly rent

The costs of running a pet store depend on the location of the store and the type of pet store that it is. If the pet store is on rented property, the store owner must pay monthly rent. In some cases, the landlord will take care of the utilities (electricity and water) but the store owner is usually responsible for telephone service. This is true of all stores but when it comes to pet stores that sell live animals, there might also be a requirement to pay a security deposit on the property. For example, if a pet store sells live fish, there is the chance that a tank can break, thereby causing water damage to the property. In addition, some landlords might require the pet store owner to pay a higher rent because the insurance requirements with animals usually raise the premiums.

Supplies

Supplies have to be a consideration. The monthly cost of supplies depends on the sort of supplies that are being sold and how often they need to be restocked. Some pet stores sell live animals for feeding purposes (mice and rats for snakes and feeder goldfish for larger fish, for example) and these usually have to be restocked every week or two. In addition, the monthly cost of providing dog and cat food has to be factored into the business budget.

Animals

If the pet store has live animals, this is another consideration that has to be factored into the cost of operating the business. Unlike a normal retail store which can purchase an item (a book, for example) and put it on the shelf without any additional expense, pet stores have a wider range of costs that need to be factored in. A pet store might get a puppy in for sale but unlike the book (which is just placed on the shelf), the puppy has food and water requirements, as well as housing needs. So, not only does the puppy have to be added into the budget, but the additional care it requires needs to be addressed. Failure to maintain healthy animals can result in fines and even imprisonment.

Employees

Pet stores tend to need employees. While it is possible for one person to operate a pet store, more often than not, there should be multiple employees working in the store at any given time. That way, one person can operate the checkout area, while another can answer questions about pets and products that the store opens. Employees are also needed for the days when the store is closed but when it's necessary to take care of the animals.

Medical

Pet stores that have animals also run the risk of having animals get sick. When that happens, the animals will have to have veterinary care, which is yet another expense that needs to be considered.

Proper diet is important to the survival of fish. Homemade fish food can provide the proper balance of nutrients if you know what vitamins and minerals to include for different species. After you make your fish food you can sell it to pet stores for a profit. Follow these steps to learn how.

Instructions

1 Make a quality homemade fish food. Include the proper vitamins and nutrients needed for specific fish types. Search online to learn the specific vitamins that different fish need for their diets.
2 Package your fish food in an attractive manner. You can use clear, plastic bags or clear, recyclable containers.
3 Label the fish food with the ingredients it contains and be sure to include your name or company name. Make sure to include your contact information.
4 Ask a local pet store to sell your fish food. Start by contacting independent businesses that don't work from a corporate office at first. They're able to decide independently if they want to sell your brand of fish food and what they will pay you for it.
5 Contact the corporate offices of chain stores. If your fish food is proving to be profitable than you may be able to get a chain company to consider carrying your product.
6 Keep track of how your fish food is selling and make adjustments as needed. You may need to increase or decrease the quantities you're making depending on demand. Make sure that you're bringing in a profit and not spending more than you make.

Several household cleaning products can be dangerous to pets. Most chemical cleaners are toxic if ingested, and the fumes of some are toxic to animals' respiratory systems. Read labeling carefully before using any cleaning product around a pet. Consider using common household items such as baking soda and vinegar as alternatives to harsh chemicals.

Instructions

1 Investigate chemical safety. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has deemed some cleaning chemicals safe for use around pets as long as the instructions on the label are strictly followed.
Chemicals listed as safe in the ASPCA report are: propylene glycol n-propyl ether and isopropyl alcohol (as less than 4 percent of a cleaning product).
2 Baking soda is a must-have for toxin-free cleaning. Use baking soda and hot water to clean and disinfect pet dishes. The Environmental Protection Agency is so confident in the safety of baking soda as a cleaning product that the EPA recommends using it to clean baby bottles.
Use the abrasive power of baking soda as an alternative to powders containing chlorine. Unfortunately, dogs often drink from toilets so clean toilet bowls with baking soda and vinegar. One the solution is flushed away, the toilet bowl will be clean and free from cleaning chemical residue that may harm pets.
3 Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean glass and floors. The ratio should be 1/4 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon hot water. For glass, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray liberally on windows and other glass surfaces. Wipe the area dry with newspaper or paper towel. Using newspaper is cheap, and it's a good way to recycle old papers into cleaning rags.
For floors simply fill a medium sized cleaning bucket with the solution and mop as usual.
4 Dilute chemicals properly. Use bleach for its cleaning and disinfecting power, but be certain it is diluted. Safe dilution consists of one part bleach to 32 parts water.

The homeless crisis in our nation is even further compounded by the pet population of the homeless. It is estimated by the National Coalition for the Homeless that 3.5 million people are homeless and between 5 percent to 10 percent of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. Pets of the homeless often lack the proper care and are not spayed or neutered, which, of course, will only serve to increase the problem.

Oftentimes, we see local homeless people with their pets and get a pang to help, but don't always know the best way to approach the person--and how exactly to help. In this article I will discuss some options for helping those in your community who are without homes--in order to help the pets that are at their side.

Instructions

1 Realize that there are different types of homeless people. Some are homeless, but live in their car, van or motorhome; others live in camping areas, and still others live literally in the streets. Some homeless people may have mild to serious emotional or mental issues, whereas others had a string of bad luck that turned into homelessness.
2 Stop and think about what you want to achieve. If you want to help the animal, feeding, providing comfort and tending to their health should be the goals.
3 Have pet food, bottled water and bowls to offer to the homeless person for his/her pet. If you want to help pets of the homeless on an ongoing basis, keep a supply of these provisions in your car along with a few clean towels, blankets or other soft items so the pet doesn't have to sit on a cold (or hot) hard surface such as a sidewalk or parking lot.
4 Say as you approach that you are involved with helping pets and would like to provide their pet with food and water. You can also offer something soft for the pet to sit on. When they see you are the "real deal" and there to provide good things for their pet, it will help build trust.
5 Offer to get a collar and I.D. tag for the pet. You can put the pet's name and your phone number on it or the phone number of your rescue organization if you have one. This way if the pet gets separated from his owner for whatever reason, and is found by an individual or ends up at a shelter, they will call you. It may also deter a police officer or citizen from calling animal control, which often happens with pets of the homeless.
6 If you want to go a step further and tend to the pet's overall health and well-being, your goals should be: spaying (for a female) or neutering (for a male), inoculations including rabies, a microchip, ear and teeth checkup and flea medication if needed. Bathing and grooming may also be necessary.
7 In Los Angeles, an animal rescuer named Daniel Guss started The STAND Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity to help stop the abuse and neglect of dogs, mainly dogs (and cats) of the homeless and guard dogs (see Resources below). You might have a similar organization, are considering starting one or simply want to help pets of the homeless as an individual. In any case, you should try to establish a rapport with a local, low-cost veterinary clinic and let them know what you are trying to do: help pets of local homeless people. Inquire about a discount for services.
8 Give out your business card, like Daniel Guss does, to local homeless people with pets. Tell them you have a partnership with a low-cost veterinary clinic and that you are willing to provide spaying/neutering and other medical services for free. Build the same relationship with the veterinary clinic and ask for a dozen of their business cards so that you can give those out to homeless people to arrange for care of their pets. Make THEM a partner too.
9 Establish a rapport with a few local veterinary providers, as well as with the local homeless population; by doing so you will be a bridge to the animals being healthy and well fed. After all, that could very likely be one of the things the homeless person wants most: to have their best friend and protector cared for and feeling well.
10 If the homeless person is mentally or physically handicapped, their dog may qualify as a service dog. After completing the certification process, a service dog will be able to wear a special vest and escort their owner everywhere, including on city buses, as well as be allowed in most homeless shelters. If there is a homeless person and dog that you think may qualify, contact your local humane society, city animal control or Department of Social Services for your county or state, for information on applying. Another good organization to contact is Paws With a Cause. They train service dogs and assist people throughout the country. If they can't help directly, they can probably guide you in the right direction (see Resources below).
11 Feeding Pets of the Homeless is a wonderful organization based in Carson City, Nevada that helps pets of the homeless throughout the United States and Canada with food and veterinary services. They collect pet food and work with food pantries and soup kitchens to distribute it. They also provide grants to veterinarians to administer medical services to pets of the homeless. Check their website if you need assistance for pets of the homeless in your community, if you would like to donate food and/or supplies or set up a collection site. Their website lists collection sites that are already established (including pet supply stores, food pantries and veterinary hospitals) in alphabetical order by state and then city (see Resources below).
12 Downtown Dog Rescue was founded in Los Angeles to assist the homeless community of dog owners. It is one of the only programs in the country that was specifically formed to assist homeless dog owners spay/neuter, vaccinate and license their dogs, as well as offer a variety of services including crisis care throughout the dog's life (see Resources below).

Just like humans can score at thrift shops--so can pets. These hand-me down havens can't be beat when it comes to one-stop pet shopping at bargain prices--and in these tough times--what are you waiting for? If you're a pet parent--read this article--then "hightail" it down to your local thrift store.

Instructions

1 If your pet is in need of a "home" upgrade or you've added a new pet to the family, you can often find cages for birds, hamsters and gerbils, fish tanks and aquarium supplies--as well as pet carriers for your baby's home away from home.
2 You can't get around it--pets need to eat and drink. If you have a new pet or just need to replace a bowl that's been thrashed--thrift stores are great sources for all shapes and sizes of pet bowls--as well as a plethora of human dishes that can be transformed into pet dishes.
3 Most dogs aren't behaved enough to stick by your side as you stroll down the street--no matter how loyal they may be-the first cute cat that comes along, forget about it. You're gonna need a leash and collar--and you're in luck because thrift stores often have a good assortment to choose from.
4 Another thing you won't be able to get around is a litter box for your cat. You may want to buy one new (for obvious reasons), unless it's one of the fancy ones that you can save money on by getting used. In any case, you may want to hide the thing and a thrift store is the place to find a small, inexpensive cabinet that should do the trick. You can put the litter box at the bottom and if there's an extra shelf at the top, you can store food and supplies like baking soda and litter bags/liners. Or another option is to look for a large, Rubbermaid-type container to hide the litter box in. Just be sure to cut out a hole that's big enough for your cat to get in and out of.
5 Rubbermaid or Tupperware-type containers also come in handy for storing and keeping pet food fresh. Find larger ones for food and smaller ones for treats.
6 The linen section may be where you hit the most home runs. First of all, you can never have enough towels for drying your pet after a bath or a walk in the rain or wiping up paw prints. And thrift stores are the perfect places to get them, since pets don't care if the towels are faded or have frayed edges--or whether the monograms match their own.
7 All pets need a comfortable place to sleep. You can look for a used pet bed and choose from an assortment of simple blankets and mats to keep your pet cozy.
8 You can also find blankets or throws to cover couches and chairs and protect other furniture. Tablecloths can also work for covering furniture, as well as disguise the rubber container you're using to hide the litter box.
9 Cotton throw rugs and bath mats are great for putting down in your pet's eating area to trap food and water, as well as provide traction against spills. They are also good to lay down in front of a litter box to trap litter and provide traction for your cat when going in and out.
10 Like kids, pets can never have enough toys. Tennis balls and rubber toys are ones that surface a lot at thrift stores. You might also look for kids' toys that can double as pet toys, but just be sure they're puncture resistant and sturdy enough for your pet to chew.

Animal shelters and rescue organizations are often in desperate need of supplies, both for the animals that are kept in their facilities, as well as to support people who are fostering adoptable pets. If you would like to collect supplies for these organizations, dog houses and dog crates are a good place to start, although their bulky size makes them a more unwieldy item to gather. There are many ways that you can find unwanted or unused pet supplies to donate to your local animal rescue organization or shelter.

Instructions

How to Solicit Donations

1 Use your computer to create an eye-catching poster asking for donations. Include your name, phone number and the name of the organization for which you are collecting supplies. Independent coffee shops and other stores often have community bulletin boards where you can post your flyer. You should also ask local pet stores if you can post your sign there, so that people who already care about animals will see it.
2 Go online and visit local Freecycle groups, where people post lists of things that they are discarding, for free or for trade. You can either wait until someone posts about giving away pet supplies, or create a post yourself asking for donations. Former pet owners will often have dog houses, beds, leftover food, and other supplies that they want to get rid of.
3 Visit a local pet store and ask if they would like to make a donation to your organization. Perhaps the organization would be willing to publicly thank the pet store, or recommend them to customers, in exchange. This way, the pet store will receive good publicity, and your rescue organization will be able to collect surplus dog houses and other supplies from the pet store.

According to a 2010 Associated Press poll, a person shopping for a dog is seven times more likely to get the dog from a shelter instead of a pet store. An educated public is increasingly refusing to do business with puppy mills, and the weakened economy has caused pet stores to close because consumers are spending less. Closing a retail pet store is a little more challenging than closing an ordinary retail store, where live animals are not a consideration.

Instructions

1
Determine how much of your inventory you must sell or donate at least three months prior to shutting down. By this time, you will have stopped ordering more inventory and will begin liquidating any remaining inventory by the last day that your store is open. Categorize your inventory as items you can sell, items for donation and live animals.
The inventory you will be selling should be further categorized into top-sellers that will be great bargains, old, outdated or boring products that won't move as quickly and merchandise that you may be able to return to the distributor for a refund.
2 Order clearance signs and banners announcing your store's closing from a local print shop or office supply store. Order enough clearance signs for all of the displays in your shop, because getting your inventory down as much as possible before closing is key. Hang your banners and signs as soon as you get them, as almost a quarter of your store traffic will come from shoppers who saw an eye-catching window sign or banner.
3 Write a press release to alert the media of your impending closing as soon as you have made the decision to close. Getting this information out to the public will help get you more customers for your clearance sales. Plan on making several price reductions throughout the sale, but don't start the reductions too high or too soon. In order to set your prices, consider hiring a professional store closer who will assist you with pricing.
4 Contact breed-specific rescue organizations in your area to see if you will be able to bring any dogs, cats or other companion animals to their shelter. Breed-specific rescue organizations are an especially good resource for purebred or crossbred dogs, as they most likely have a waiting list and are usually happy to take in a young dog of their breed. Disclose any health problems the pets may have.
Contact any local goldfish, parakeet, hamster or ferret clubs in the area that may take these pets into their adoption program.
5 Call other pet stores in the area to gauge interest in taking over your inventory of other animals such as lizards, rats, hamsters, turtles, fish and birds at a wholesale price. For more exotic species, contact your local wildlife rehabilitation organization or Fish and Game Commission and ask for a recommendation. Follow the advice of the wildlife rehabilitation specialist on how to safely place each of these species.
6 Consider donating any pet supplies, pet equipment, food or other items that cannot be returned to the warehouse. Local rescue organizations and Humane Societies welcome food, equipment and supplies donations. However, be sure that the organization you select is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to ensure your donation is tax-deductible.

Animal cruelty can exist at pet stores when workers are misinformed and not adequately trained in animal care. Cruelty can include things as simple as malnutrition or as outright as a worker physically abusing a pet store animal or allowing a customer to do so. If you see anything at a pet store that is or could be animal abuse or cruelty, you should collect all possible evidence and report it right away to multiple government departments and organizations to stop the abuse.

Instructions

1 Take notes of the details and get proof, if possible. Write down the store name and location, the date and time, names and physical descriptions of employees or customers involved, and the type of abuse witnessed. Take pictures and video, using your cell phone if necessary.
2 Contact the animal control department in your state. Check your state's website for the contact information or call your local government office.
3 Call the police if your area does not have a specific animal control department, such as a rural area, or if you're traveling.
4 Explain the abuse you witnessed at the pet store to the authority figure you contact. Let them know that you know animal cruelty is illegal in every state and that you are willing to cooperate with the investigation. Tell them all the details you noted and let them know if you have any evidence, such as pictures and video.
5 Go to a local animal welfare agency if your local police department refuses to investigate and you do not have an animal control department. An animal welfare agency can help start the investigation of the pet store when authorities are uncooperative.

On December 15, 2009, an estimated 27,000 animals including mammals, reptiles, arachnids and amphibians were seized from U.S. Global Exotics, Inc., a Texas company that supplied exotic pets to pet stores including Petco and Petsmart. In a case that the watchdog group Pet-Abuse.com called the largest exotic animal cruelty case in history, many animals died because of lack of oversight and care. There is a controversy surrounding pet stores in America, and cases like this prove that where there is exploitation of animals, the potential for abuse runs high.

Convenience and Choice

Two of the biggest advantages to pet stores are convenience and choice. The large-scale retailers such as Petsmart, Petco and Pet Supermarket have the resources to purchase products in bulk, and, therefore, are in a position to offer their customers pet supplies and foods in a wide variety of brands and prices. It offers one-stop shopping for those who need to begin from the ground up to outfit their new companion animal. With everything from dog biscuits to fish food, these large retailers not only have a bigger variety of products, but competitive pricing, as well. The ability to use your credit card to make purchases is also a big advantage.

Savings

Another advantage to pet stores is pricing and memberships. Many pet store chains offer a membership number, usually associated with your phone number, that keeps track of your purchases and offers incentives to those loyal customers who bring them their repeat business. Some of these incentives originate from the pet-food company itself, as in the example of Nutro-Natural Choice, which sends a coupon for free food for every 10 units you purchase, while others originate from the pet store retailer, such as Pet Supermarket which offers coupons and incentives for each dollar spent.

Poor Quality

Those who are thinking of purchasing a puppy from a pet store should think twice. As the U.S. Global Exotics case shows, animals that are bred and transported in large-scale breeding operations have become commodities that represent profit to the wholesalers and nothing more. As of 2011, there are five cities in the United States that have initiated an outright ban against pet stores that sell puppies and kittens. The public outcry over the conditions under which breeding pairs of dogs and their puppies must live in large-scale breeding operations called "puppy mills" has increased as celebrities such as Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Ben Stein, Charlize Theron and others have become outspoken advocates on behalf of these animals. Other pets, such as exotics and so-called "pocket pets," hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, are also either raised in substandard conditions, transported in less-than-ideal circumstances or wild caught.

Conclusion

By patronizing pet supply stores that only sell supplies, consumers send a message to the retailers who offer live animals for sale that the public has become savvy to deceptive business practices, such as lack of full disclosure to consumers. Getting a pet from a breed-specific rescue organization such as The House Rabbit Society, poodle rescue groups, greyhound adoption organizations, ferret rescue and others has its own advantages as the buyer is not only rescuing an animal in need, but has the benefit of the expertise of those who have spent a lifetime learning about the specific animal with which they are involved and are happy to share that knowledge. So you are getting not only the best animal for your situation, but a mentor and expert who will ensure your new companion animal is a good fit for you and your partnership is a success.

Starting a business is a complex, but manageable issue. Running a home-based business takes many of the start-up requirements out of the equation, such as location and travel. Selling pet products from home is a good idea for someone who loves pets and wants to operate a small business. There are a few steps to work on, which, while applicable to almost any retail home business, can also work when you want to sell pet products from home.

Instructions

1 Think about what products your pet likes, uses, and what you would like to work with.
Think about what areas you feel are neglected; this will become your niche, or corner of the market. Brainstorm with someone for ideas of good products. Write down every idea you think of.
2 Think how you want to sell your pet products from home.
Selling from home allows you a range of methods, including online, direct marketing, home parties and retail. Depending on your zoning regulations and your living situation, you can decide which is the best method for your success.
3 Locate your suppliers.
You can find them through a range of both online sources, such as eBay or Amazon, or by searching Google for pet product suppliers. You will have to weed through the lists because many will be from China. A way around this is to create your own product.
4 Calculate your costs.
You will need to calculate both start-up and ongoing costs. You should have a business plan in place, even though you are not working out of a storefront or office. Calculating your costs will help set your "break even costs" and help set up your profit margin. Then you will want to calculate what income you can realistically expect from your home business. Look at the IRS web site to get an idea of what to expect in both taxes and paperwork. They have a section on home-based business operation.
5 Set up your sales venue.
If you are selling on Craigslist, you can most often sell for free or low cost depending on how much you list with them. Ebay is a good auction site to work with.
Another option is to open up your own online retail store. You can do this by purchasing a domain name, hosting account, and then using a web site builder template or having someone design a site for you.
Another option is to sell via mail order. You can do this by placing advertising in local and national publications for your products. You use either your home address or a phone number to receive orders.
Home parties are another option. You can assume the role of personal shopper to many people in this manner. This can be a fun method if you love being around people.

Let's face it pets are dependents without the tax benefits but we want to ensure they are happy. We spoil our dogs with bones and toys, but it was quite pricy paying retail. So we found ways to buy products wholesale.

Instructions

1 Until I started my own dog walking company, I never got catalogs for pet products. However, they started pouring in. There was Doctors Fosters and Smith, but they are very pricy! My shopping habits changed forever when a catalog called Pet Edge came to my door. Toys and bones were unimaginably cheaper, shipping rates were reasonable, and I could even buy the pet medications from them (cheaper than Pet Edge and the vet!). So if you haven't heard of Pet Edge, visit them online today. We buy dog toys from 99 cents and up now, which is a lot less heartbreaking when my dog tears the toy into pieces in a matter of minutes (versus watching a $6 toy shredded in the same amount of time)!
2 Find a pet expo around you. In our area it's called Super Pet Expo and it travels to four unique cities throughout the country. I didn't find out about this until years after I had moved to Virginia, but this is great. Not only can you take your dogs (and cats if you desire) to this event, but you can buy the toys and bones they love at wholesale. We buy a big mammoth bone (retail $20) for $6 at the pet expo so end up buying 9 at a time to last us the year versus only being able to get 3 (we have 3 dogs).
3 Finally check out Ebay and Craigslist. This is especially great on dog attire and bedding because people make their own or have their own shop to where they can discount the price. Just be careful before you bid on Ebay to check shipping prices as some sellers can put a really high shipping cost on the item, which would not make it a good deal. I have also seen leashes, collars and dog toys on Craigslist that are advertised as new, so just keep your eyes peeled for good deals.

Running a pet store can be competitive. Getting people into your store to purchase a pet is step one. Step two is to keep them coming back for supplies. Bringing customers in and keeping them coming back can be an important key to the success of your business. One successful way of doing this is to hold pet-related promotions designed to bring in new customers and keep them coming back for all their pet-care needs.

Engraved Pet Treats

Offer custom-engraved pet treats free of charge to returning customers. Engrave the name of the customer's pet on the pet's favorite treat. A small bag of these treats with each purchase is a good way to keep pet owners returning to your pet store for pet supplies.

Free Pet Grooming

Pet grooming is often a moneymaker in pet stores, but giving a free complete groom for every three or four purchased grooms can help keep them coming on a regular basis. Offering a free groom day can bring new customers into the store, which can result in a sales boost while the customers wait for their pets to be groomed.

Doggie Bags and Gift Baskets

Offer free brown paper bags stuffed with take-home goodies. Offer the doggie bags to customers as a thank-you or use them to bring new customers in. Other ideas include cat baskets filled with cat treats, a fish bowl full of pet fish supplies, and other types of pet-specific gift bags.

Pet Recognition Day

Hold a pet recognition day and offer free pet-owner registration or documentation for pet owners. You can also offer paw printing (with frames) and pet photographs. Offering free personalized pet collars or other ornaments can add a special touch to the day and is a great way to show customer appreciation.

Advertising

Good old-fashioned advertising (especially with some of the mentioned marketing promotions) can be effective. Newspapers, pet magazines and even fliers at the grocery store or veterinary stores can be effective. You may be able to work out a deal with a veterinarian where you recommend them and they recommend your business.

Branded Pet Foods

Contract to have a pet-food distributor brand pet foods with your store logo. This not only allows you to get a better bottom line on product, it's an excellent way to keep the name of your store in the public eye.

Most pet stores currently refuse to sell dogs or puppies as merchandise in their stores. They further advocate dog rescue by allowing local rescue groups to use them as adoption centers once a week. Nevertheless, almost 3,500 pet stores around the country are still offering live dogs and puppies for sale to their customers.

Types, varieties and breeds sold

Pet stores do not limit themselves to only selling one or two specific breeds of dogs, and will usually sell any breed, even hybrid breeds, as long as the breed is available at the time and the puppies are of a marketable breed. Although pet stores fail to use discretion when it comes to where they actually purchase their puppies, they are much more particular about the size of dogs or puppies they sell. The vast majority of puppies you will find for sale at typical pet stores are of smaller breeds. Small breed puppies take up much less space so a store can fill their shelves with more valuable "merchandise."

Where do the puppies come from?

Research shows that 90 to 98 percent of puppies sold in pet stores across the country are obtained directly from puppy mills and that the remaining puppies, which are not bought from puppy mills, are either purchased through corrupt dog brokers, naive backyard breeders, or greedy puppy wholesalers. When all of the facts regarding the association between pet stores and puppy mills are thoroughly studied, it is indisputable that not one dog or puppy available for purchase at any pet store came from a reputable breeder.

What are puppy mills?

A puppy mill is precisely what its name suggests, a mill or farm that produces live puppies in substantial quantities for profit. These mass-breeders demonstrate heartless, inhumane practices where dogs are kept in extremely close quarters and experience severe neglect. In some of the larger and more callous mills, up to five or six adult small breed dogs are stockpiled into one rabbit pen. Puppy mill owners not only neglect to offer their animals adequate space--they also keep their dogs in filthy conditions, which are normally hidden behind the walls of the large barns and are rarely seen by the public eye. These dogs are rarely offered even the most standard, basic veterinary care. If a mill dog becomes sick, the puppy mill owner will simply exterminate the ailing dog, generally by shooting the dog in an execution style.
Female dogs, unlucky enough to be born into a puppy mill and kept as breeding stock, are expected to successfully bear a litter every six months, condemning them to either being pregnant or nursing almost year-round. This tragic cycle starts from the time that the dogs are very young and does not end until they are no longer physically able to reproduce. The puppy mill industry is too violent and disgusting to even refer to as a business, however the puppy mill owners and brokers, as well as the pet store owners, do genuinely consider their puppy trade partnership as purely business. These living, breathing dogs and puppies have become standard merchandise to puppy mill and pet storeowners.

Puppy Mill Owners

People are generally surprised by the fact that many of the puppy mills in the southern United States are actually owned by Amish farmers. We think of the Amish as moral, clean-living kind of people, but the truth is that many Amish farmers see dogs as products to be profited from, just as pet stores do. These Amish puppy millers often believe that there is no difference between breeding hundreds of puppies and selling them to pet stores, and growing a crop of wheat or corn and then generating money off of it. Even so, Amish-owned puppy mills account for only 12 percent of the total puppy mills in the entire country. The overall number of puppy mills across the nation, according to Animal World USA, is estimated to be as many as 5,000 total.

How Can You Help

After hearing the truth behind pet stores and what kinds of dogs they really sell, most people are angry and want to do something to change these conditions. Thankfully there are various ways to help the cause. The first, and easiest, method is for people to only support pet stores that do not sell live puppies. PetSmart and Petco are two great examples of quality pet store chains that not only discourage the sale of live dogs and puppies, but they also advocate and support dog rescue and adoption. You can not only buy your pet products from them but you can rescue a dog through them as well. The next way to protest against pet stores, who sell puppies, is by refusing to buy puppies from them. This can be much harder to do than it is to say, but it's best for the entire cause for all of us to control our primary emotions and to never buy a puppy from a pet store. Instead go through a rescue group to get a dog or buy a quality, healthy puppy from a reputable breeder who will not only produce well loved and cared for puppies, but also who will not mark their puppies' price up three times their actual worth, like pet stores do.

If you are a person that has a great deal of concern for animals and are dissatisfied with the quality of ingredients offered in commercial pet foods, starting a pet food store could be a business venture that you'll find rewarding. Pet food stores are gaining popularity as pet owners seek foods that are natural, organic, raw, hypoallergenic, or made from whole foods. As a pet food store owner, you can peace of mind knowing you are offering products made out of high-quality ingredients for those seeking healthier solutions for their animal companions to consume.

Instructions

1 Make a business model. In this model, detail your goals for the business, create a mission statement, outline your overhead and operating costs, and your plans to make a profit. Creating a business model will help you have a good idea about what it will take to get your pet food store started financially.
2 Attain a business loan. Starting a pet food store business will be expensive. Talk to a financial institution about banking and loan options most appropriate for your business needs.
3 Select a location for your store. Ideally, find a place you know people with pets will frequent. A store by an apartment complex that doesn't allow pets, for example, may not appropriately reach your target audience. An area that has other frequently visited pet stores, or a busy strip mall, could yield the customers you seek.
4 Attain all the licenses and permits needed. Pet food stores owners need to apply with a county's public health department in order to receive the permits needed to operate as a food retailer for animals. Business licenses will also need to be filed with the city, county and/or state in which the pet food store will be located. As licensing requirements differ from state to state, contact your local government business administration offices to find out which specific forms will need to be filled out, and with whom to file them, in order for you to get a business license.
5 Find pet food suppliers. Do some research into the pet foods, supplements and treats that are most in demand; establish a relationship with those suppliers. A good supplier will guide you through what you might need to get your pet food store up and running, will provide referrals to other suppliers if they aren't able to meet your needs, and will let you special-order products.
6 Stock the shelves. Once you get the pet food you've ordered, arrange your store in a way that makes sense, is attractive and not too overwhelming. Keep in mind that you might need a refrigerated section for raw pet foods if you decide to sell this in your store.
7 Market your store. Make promotional fliers to hang on community bulletin boards and pass out at other pet-serving businesses. Make friends with all the veterinary offices in your area and do a survey of what types of foods and supplements would be helpful for their clients. Let these pet businesses know when you'll be open for business, and see if they'd be willing to display your business cards if you displayed theirs in your store.
8 Market your store. Make promotional fliers to hang on community bulletin boards and pass out at other pet-serving businesses. Make friends with all the veterinary offices in your area and do a survey of what types of foods and supplements would be helpful for their clients. Let these pet businesses know when you'll be open for business, and see if they'd be willing to display your business cards if you displayed theirs in your store.

Animals can be born sick or handicapped, or become so, just like humans. If you have a handicapped pet, then you can help make its life more comfortable and fulfilling. Often, pets are put to sleep once they become handicapped, as many people believe there is little that can be done to help them. This is not always the case, although not all pets can be helped. The majority of products on the market are designed for dogs, with some available for cats.

Wheechairs

If a pet has problems walking, then a pet wheelchair might be able to help. Most are designed for dogs, but some cat wheelchairs are available too. Most pet wheelchairs work using set of wheels attached to a harness. The pet uses whatever mobility it has to pull the wheels, which support its body and legs. The wheelchairs work best for pets that lack mobility in their hind legs, although specialty wheelchairs are available for pets with mobility loss in their front or all their legs.

Braces and Prosthetics

If a pet has a long-term injury to a leg, or has had a partial amputation, then a brace or prosthetic can help. Braces are designed to provide support to an injured leg, helping to promote healing (if possible) and allowing the pet to continue to walk. Different types of braces are available for different types of injury, and different parts of the leg. If a pet has had part of its leg amputated, then it can wear prosthetic limbs that strap on to the remaining part of the leg.

Ramps and Steps

For dogs and cats with difficulty walking because of age, injury or disability, ramps and steps can be very useful. They are especially useful for pets that use wheelchairs, braces or prosthetics. Ramps can allow them to get in and out of cars or negotiate steps more easily. Pet steps can be used with the car or in the home to help dogs and cats with limited mobility climb independently onto furniture.

Harnesses and Slings

Harnesses and slings are available to help both dogs and cats walk and to help their owners maneuver them. Harnesses can be used with dogs as a replacement leash, but one that supports a particular part of the dog's body, generally either the front or back legs. They can sometimes be used in conjunction with a wheelchair. Slings are designed for owners to move, lift or support handicapped pets that cannot move themselves effectively. They help prevent injury to both pet and owner.

The pet and pet product industry continues to grow every year, with sales numbering in the billions of dollars. If you love animals and want to manage a pet store, consider all the available options. You can manage a specialty store like a dog and cat clothing store, or helm a large pet supply store.

Instructions

1 Cultivate a great love and knowledge of animals. If you have a pet or pets that you love and care for, you're already on you way to being a successful pet store manager. If you manage a big box store, you'll have a whole list of corporate rules to follow, but animal (and customer) care will be your first priority.
2 Keep abreast of trends in pet products. Attend trade shows like the Global Pet Expo, which ranks as one of the fastest growing trade shows in the United States. You'll find out about the latest pet trends and products there, and get tips from other pet store managers about how to grow your business.
3 Hire friendly employees who love animals. A knowledge of and love for animals should be the number one criteria when interviewing potential workers. Other skills, like cashiering and stock work, can be taught later if the potential employee doesn't have experience in those areas.
4 Give great customer service. Answer questions promptly. Consult product literature or make phone calls if you don't know the answer offhand. As the manager, you'll need to take over if an employee can't help a customer.
5 Provide a clean, safe environment for animals on premise. Whether you keep only fish and hamsters and other small creatures or sell cats and dogs, always keep cages clean and make sure the animals remain happy and healthy. After all, customers will want to buy pets from a clean, organized store, and they'll come back to buy food and other items if they're impressed by your service.

For pet stores, new and old, finding suitable pet food distributors is always a challenge. To uncover hidden jewels, utilize your network and do a little digging.

Instructions

Finding Pet Food Distributors

1 Search wholesale directories online. Some pet food distributors post their businesses on directories like wholesaledistributorsnet.com, petwholesaler.com or frontierdistributing.com. These lists are a good place to start your search.
2 Subscribe to trade publications and Web sites like petage.com and "Pet Business" magazine. These publications often have important contacts for stores.
3 Talk to other pet shop owners in your community or elsewhere. While some may be weary of the competition, others will happily share tips to help you get started.
4 Visit large pet chains like PetSmart or general stores like Target to see what brands they carry. Write down the names of these brands and search the Internet for contact information. Send an email inquiring how to get those brands in your store.

Working with animals can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Working at a pet store combines working with animals and working in customer service to benefit both the customer and the pet. While pet stores are a joy to many, pets and customers can also be the cause of sickness and distress if mishandled. In fact, there are several tips that people who work at pets stores should consider.

Keep Clean

Often, working at a pet store brings employees into contact with feces, medications, saliva, vomit and other obviously unsavory and potentially hazardous materials. These are all reasons to keep clean while working at a pet store; however, there are several hidden dangers such as fleas, ticks and mites from pets as well as viral infections from customers and children that make keeping clean a must. Treat cleanliness while working in a pet store as a surgeon would. Clean the hands all the way up the arms thoroughly before and after work and frequently wash hands throughout the day if the job has brought you into frequent contact with customers, pets or their remnants. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you if frequent trips to the restroom are not possible.

Steel Yourself

While most customers are looking to purchase supplies for their pets or for a new pet to love, customers are also looking to buy rats to feed to a snake, looking for breeding pairs to stud and often are looking to return a dead animal that did not stay alive during the warranty period. Different individuals have different points of view on what a pet is and how it should be regarded. If you dislike seeing dead pets or hearing others talk about pets as if they are products instead of little individuals, be prepared, because just as much as customers who lavish affection on their pets, these owners (or former owners) must be given the best customer service possible.

Knowledge is Power

While working at a pet store is primarily a customer service position, having a comprehensive knowledge of the animals in your care will help with their well being, your ability to handle them when required and at sale time. Many pet owners are new to the experience and will require guidance on what type of pet is good for their home situation. These potential owners will appreciate help from someone confident in his knowledge.

Owning a pet shop is fun and challenging. Helping people find that perfect pet or supplying them with the food and supplies they need is fulfilling work. The challenge is finding quality pets and caring for them until they find their homes.

Instructions

Opening a Pet Shop

1 Decide what type of animal and pet supplies you would like to sell. This decision will affect your location. For example, a pet shop that sells dogs needs more space than one that sells only fish. But a pet shop that sells fish needs excellent plumbing, heating and cooling.
Choose a niche for the pet shop and focus on that animal or even breed for a specialty feel. This is the best option for a small shop. Focus on the best pet food and treats for that animal. Offer the best bedding and kennel options. Choosing a niche market will also allow you to get to know your customers better. Take this information and write a business plan.
2 Find a good location for a pet shop in a residential community. It's easier to sell pets from an independent building rather than a mall, because there may be noise or odor involved. Find a location near good traffic flow, but not on an extremely busy street if animals are to be carried in and out.
3 Hire professionals to go over all of the paperwork. Apply for all necessary sales tax licenses, and make sure the zoning in the building you want to use allows a pet store. Check the livestock and pet laws in your area and draw up a pet adoption agreement accordingly. Draw up any return policies at this time. Contact the department of agriculture in your state to set up an inspection for licensing to sell and kennel animals. Purchase business insurance.
4 Hire adequate help for the amount of livestock you will offer as pets. Offering pets for sale is an excellent customer draw but requires a lot of cleaning and handling. Make sure to hire staff old enough to understand the responsibilities of working with animals. Look for assistants with expertise in the type of pet they are hired to care for and have the ability to answer customer questions.
5 Find dry stock vendors for pet supplies and food. Look online as well as locally. Some online distributors offer deep discounts and free shipping on large orders, so consider this for initial orders. Find local dealers for all fresh food needs, or visit farmers markets.
Find local artists or crafts people willing to sell their goods through your shop to show support for the community and unique pet supplies.

Finding Animals

6 Help a rescue in need of store space and adoption help. This is the most community-oriented way to stock a pet shop with livestock. You can either lease part of the shop to the rescue at a discount or write it off as a tax donation. The shelter provides veterinary work and pet guarantees to adopting families. The benefit of this is the release of liability for the pet shop owner. No covering of expensive vet bills or dealing with pet returns.
7 Find reputable local breeders. Look online and talk to other pet owners about where they got their pets and if they would recommend the breeders. Tour any breeder before making any commitments to purchase animals. Personally inspect all areas where animals are kept. If a breeder refuses to let you see an area or tour at all, choose a different breeder.
Check with the top breeders clubs in your area. Generally speaking, the smaller the breeder the better. Smaller breeders have more time to handle animals, a big plus for pet livestock.
8 Find pet distributors for livestock delivery of exotic pets or large fish orders. There are some larger pet distributors that have excellent customer service and livestock guarantees. These are for the hard-to-find small animal, reptile or fish. Keep in mind these animals will likely not be well handled when arriving at the shop. Daily handling will be required to ease the pet's anxieties. Check off-site customer reviews of any major pet distributorship before ordering livestock.

If you love animals and are dissatisfied with the quality of most commercial pet foods, consider starting your own premium pet food supply business. Operating a pet supply store is both a challenging and rewarding endeavor. Starting your own business can give you the satisfaction that you're providing pet owners healthier options for their animals.

Instructions

1 Draft a business plan. Having a written plan assists you in building a model of how you'll financially establish your pet store. In your plan discuss how your premium dog food is superior to the competition. Detail your goals, mission statement, operating expenses and how you plan to make a profit.
2 Apply for a business loan from a bank or lender. Starting a new business is expensive. Consult with a financial expert about options most appropriate to your needs. Take a copy of your business plan with you.
3 Determine a location for your pet food supply business. Locate a place where you know pet owners frequent. For example, consider opening a store next to a grocery store or in a strip mall. Don't open your premium pet food business next to an apartment complex that doesn't allow pets because this limits your ability to reach your targeted audience.
4 Obtain all the business licenses and permits you need from your state and local agencies. Pet food businesses need to contact the county's public health department to register permits and operate as an animal food retailer. Contact your local business administration offices about specific forms you need to fill out to get the proper license.
5 Register your business and business name with the Secretary of State. Consider hiring an attorney, if necessary. Apply for an EIN or Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Business that have employees or register as partnerships or corporations need an EIN.
6 File a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) if you develop your own brand of premium pet food. Trademark applications can be submitted through the mail or electronically. You must include a sample of your design or mark that represents your pet food. As of 2010, filing fees for an initial trademark application costs $375 (paper filing) and $325 (electronic filing).
7 Locate pet food suppliers. Do research into supplements, treats and foods that are in most demand. Establish relationships with suppliers.
8 Stock the shelves of your pet food store. Keep in mind you may need a refrigerated section for organic raw pet foods if you decided to sell these in your store.
9 Hire staff to manage the store, stock inventory and run the cash register.
10 Advertise your premium pet food business. Make fliers to hang around community buildings, in vet offices, groomers and pet daycare centers. Leave your business card with friends and family. Develop a website that highlights your best products. Register on social networking sites to tell your customers about special deals and coupons.

Opening a natural pet food store, online or in your neighborhood, can be both profitable and fun. You can sell a variety of products for common household pets like dogs and cats to more exotic pets like lizards and fish. In addition to selling natural pet food, you can also sell pet treats, pet supplies, books and animal training supplies. Creating customer loyalty is important in order to run a long-term, successful business, as there are many websites and stores devoted to pet food and supplies.

Instructions

1 Lease retail space in a pet friendly neighborhood. Neighborhoods with dog parks, veterinary clinics or hospitals and neighborhoods that sponsor pet-friendly events provide an easier way to build customer loyalty than neighborhoods without many pet lovers. Neighborhoods with one or more pet supply stores increase competition and may make it difficult for you to establish a profitable natural pet food business.
2 Sell natural pet food products online by creating a website and opening a merchant account that allows you to accept credit card payments. Many web hosting companies offer website packages that include merchant account options. Create an online store to supplement sales of your retail location or sell products solely online.
3 Register your natural pet food store with the IRS to obtain an EIN (Employee Identification Number) for tax filing purposes. Contact your local chamber of commerce or small business office to learn about business licensing for retail stores. Ask if you also need a business license to run an online store.
4 Research natural pet food companies and contact those that supply the types of natural food (cat food, dog food, exotic pet food) you want to sell. If setting up an online store with limited space in your home or office to store inventory, ask pet food companies to participate in drop-shipping (sending products directly to customers after you forward the order and collect payment).
5 Create a business plan that outlines how you plan to organize your business and how much you expect to earn for the year. Include expenses for inventory, employees, website costs, insurance, marketing costs and overhead (electricity, maintenance and rent). Overall costs will be lower if opening a store online. If planning to apply for a small business loan, a solid business plan increases your chances for obtaining the loan.

Opening a business demands time, money and plenty of patience. According to smallbiztrends.com, the pet industry tends to be recession-proof, though pet owners spend more thoughtfully during these times. If operated wisely, a pet supply business can be lucrative. To successfully run a pet supply business, ask several questions.

Who Are My Suppliers?

Because dog leashes and cat bowls will not be made by hand, you must find a reliable supplier of these products. Ideally, use one reliable supplier to get bulk discounts. Streamlining your supply chain by using fewer suppliers could save thousands of dollars. However, choose your supplier carefully by researching them beforehand and asking questions. Assess how long the company has been in business and if their prices are fair relative to other newer competitors. While other new companies might seem appealing, risking price for unknown caliber might not be a worthy tradeoff. Choose someone established, and then try leveraging with the company once your purchasing power is firm.

What Ancillary Services Will I Provide?

Besides offering tangible products, evaluate what services will be supplied. For example, if you offer horse feed, horse owners with a small vehicle who live out in the country might want a delivery service. If so, you need additional capital like trucks and delivery people.
Some pet suppliers, like PetCo, offer veterinary services to dog and cat owners. While this service may be too great to provide, as it requires hiring a vet and buying numerous other supplies like vaccinations, understand that failing to provide this service might cause customers to go elsewhere.
One service that might prove beneficial is a grooming station. Regardless of the additional services provided, preempt the additional labor and capital necessary ahead of time to avoid accruing unexpected costs.

Who Are My Competitors?

Along with the online competitors, analyze stores that offer the same products in the near vicinity. Consider chain stores, like Target and Wal Mart: these are two very real competitors. As such, be sure to offer products or services that differentiate your business from them. If providing products for a number of different animals is difficult, consider specializing in just one or two animals. For example, dogs and cats can have more than just leashes---different clothing, jewelry collars or even massages are luxury items not seen in chain stores.
While offering these pet supplies might seem superfluous, business is big: National Public Radio reports a rise in pet spending, even during the worst economic recession since the great depression. The report indicates a 200 percent increase in one business specializing in dog walking and pet sitting. Thus, offering luxury items and services will differentiate your business from competitors.

What Advertising Methods Will I Use?

Choose smart advertising techniques, including web-based sources. Advertising can include radio, television, print or even the web. Viral videos are a great way to advertise: devise a humorous short video involving a pet and a product, put it on YouTube, and perhaps business can grow as a result of inexpensive, creative advertising. Other inexpensive forms are fliers with coupons: distribute them on campuses or in the stores of other local businesses.

What Is My Projected Revenue?

Have realistic expectations of revenue during the first year: it is not uncommon for new businesses to bleed in the red. Allow a few years and ample funds to cover this expectation. Only consider growth once sales are established and firm over a couple of years. Projected revenue is a vital figure needed for other investors and for determining the success of your business. Hire a business-savvy person to help you compute figures, as this will be one of the most important questions you will have to answer for your growing business.

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The pet supply industry grows by about $2 billion each year in the United States, making it a reliable earner for entrepreneurs. Pet owners from the Atlantic to the Pacific show love to their companions with treats, toys and other accessories. While Internet stores have accounted for some of this growth, the neighborhood pet store remains a fixture in many American cities. Major cities have independent and chain pet stores that serve several purposes for pet owners.

Significance

For dog, cat and bird owners, the local pet store is significant for several reasons. A reliable pet store serves as a free resource for information on pet products that can be customized to an owner's needs. The employees at the typical pet store take store clerk and grooming positions because they love animals. This commitment to working with animals means that pet owners can trust neighborhood stores with their dogs and cats while they return to work. Pet owners can also save hundreds of dollars on vet fees by asking basic health and product information from store clerks instead of making appointments.

Function

The essential functions of a pet store include grooming, pet training courses and an extensive inventory of pet products. Pet groomers work in special sections of a store to shave, shampoo and clip nails on dogs and cats. Store managers may conduct basic obedience training while outside experts enter the store occasionally to help difficult pets. The typical pet store carries pet treats, food, toys, carriers and novelties to help pet owners keep their companions healthy and happy. Some stores also carry small animals like fish, reptiles and rodents for adoption by first-time pet owners.

Types

The two types of pet stores in the United States are chain stores and independently operated shops. National chains like Petco and Petsmart have hundreds of outlets nationwide with similar inventories to help owners find their favorite products despite their location. These chains have hurt independent pet stores run by local entrepreneurs and families who have helped their neighbors take care of pets for decades. Independent pet stores typically sell food and treats at higher prices than national chains but can order custom products for regular customers.

Features

Aside from aisles of pet food and toys, pet stores also have sections for oversized products, newborn animals and aquatic animals. The oversized product section of a pet store contains dog beds, cat furniture and travel carriers that cannot be properly displayed in regular aisles. Pet stores display puppies and kittens in special glass cases to attract pet owners looking for young companions. Larger stores will have entire sections devoted to goldfish, betas and angelfish along with fish supplies like tanks, filters and foods needed for healthy aquatic pets.

Considerations

Pet store owners need to think about store cleanliness along with the trend toward natural pet food as they open their businesses. Every pet store needs to be swept, disinfected and kept free of debris as pets walk through for grooming and obedience classes. The grooming area and play area needs to be cleaned frequently to maintain sanitary standards set by state agencies. Store owners can show their commitment to pet health by stocking shelves with green and natural products. Companies like Companion Natural Pet Food and Greenies carry products in multiple flavors to aid digestion without using unhealthy ingredients.

The United States leads the world in the number of pet dogs. As the American population grows, it is reasonable to expect that the numbers of pet dogs will grow too. Americans have a good reputation for caring for their pets. Even when the economy fluctuates, the demand for pet supplies continues. While most pet shops carry supplies for many different pets, specialty pet shops can also succeed. A pet shop owner specializing in dog supplies will need to find creative ways to establish his business but it can be done.

Instructions

1 Register for a basic business course at a local community college or through an online course. Some of the subjects that a new dog supply business owner should learn before starting a business are: information about accounting systems; an overview of federal and state tax laws; how to market the dog supply business successfully; and how to develop relationships with wholesalers to obtain quality dog supply merchandise at a good price.
2 Consider finding a niche market within the dog supply business so that your business will stand out. Some possibilities are selling holistic dog supplies, herbs and other homeopathic treatments for dogs.
3 Think about offering services to dog owners through the dog supply business that will mark the business as one that is run by experts. Some services could include alternative veterinarian care, dog obedience classes, dog grooming or a pet-sitting service.
4 Locate a dog supply wholesaler who can supply the items that will be sold in the dog supply business (see Resources).
5 Secure financing to start a dog supply business. A small business loan may be available through a local bank or credit union.
6 Decide whether to sell dog supplies online, in a shop or both. If the dog supply business will be located in a shop, find a good location in a commercial center that has plenty of foot traffic in a community with a solid income base.
7 Set up a website. Pet suppliers successfully market through a variety of methods but a good website is probably the most important tool to market a business. The website will inform potential customers which dog supplies and services are available, as well as their price.
8 Establish a good storage system. If pharmaceuticals, herbs or other similar supplies will be in the store, a good refrigeration system is necessary.
9 Find a good veterinarian and ask for her assistance as a consultant. Many customers rely on the merchant to give them sound advice about their purchases. If dog owners see that their supplier can be counted on for reliable advice, they will be likely to continue buying there as well as to recommend the dog supply business to their dog-owning friends.

Many busy pet owners prefer to avoid making a special trip to the store to purchase items like dog food, treats, collars and leashes. The convenience of ordering online allows them to keep their canine well supplied with a variety of products delivered right to their door. If you want to start your own dog supplies sales business online, there are several steps to take before you are up and running.

Instructions

1 Locate a supplier from which you can purchase your products. Choose a company that offers wholesale prices --- this allows you to price your products at retail rates and make money on each sale. Check out Pet Wholesaler, King Wholesale Pet Supplies, J-B Wholesale Pet Supplies, Inc. and others. Compare available products, pricing, delivery fees and customer service policies to find your best option.
2 Choose a domain name. Select something catchy that conveys what your business is about. Domain names with the word "canine," "puppy," "dog," "Rover," or "Fido" are all options. An alliterative name like "Puppy Products" or "Canine Kit and Kaboodles" are possibilities. Consider alternate domain name extensions like ".net" or ".biz" when ".com" is not available.
3 Choose an e-commerce company to host your website. Many providers offer a full-service package that allows you to design your website yourself with easy-to-use tools, upload photos of your merchandise, enter pricing and offer a virtual shopping cart service to your customers. Full-service sites also provide options that allow you to accept payments easily and effortlessly via credit and debit cards and PayPal. Choose a free service like Vendio or osCommerce, or consider paid options like Shopify or Virtue Mart.
4 Market your online store to direct traffic to your website. Leave your business cards in the offices of local veterinarians and dog groomers. Place a flyer on the bulletin board at your local animal shelter. Advertise in small, local newspapers. Contact area newspaper or news channels and offer to allow them to do a personal interest story on you and your business.