Pet Store
Marketing
Fundamentals
Are you an independent pet store owner looking to grow your Business?
Then this checklist of pet store marketing fundamentals is for you! Through our years of experience working with brick-and-mortar pet retailers, we’ve compiled this list of strategies, tactics, tips, and ideas that have worked for us and our clients to consistently increase the size of their community and their sales numbers. The resource is available for download as a PDF here.
Marketing Fundamentals
for Independent Pet Stores
Some key learnings of ours that we’d like to pass on to pet store owners, especially ones that are newly established:
You should do 80% marketing and 20% sales in the first 6-12 months.
On average, it takes 5 to 7 impressions for a potential customer to remember you.
When in doubt, promote your store more than you think you need to.
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Join 2-3 local networking groups: BNI, Chamber of Commerce, American Pet Pros, etc.
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Partner with local businesses and retailers: retail neighbors, sponsored cookie jars, veterinarians, pet daycares, dog walkers, dog trainers, pet photographers, etc.
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Establish flags or signage in high traffic areas
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Regularly planned social media posts on a minimum of 2 platforms
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Maintain a presence with a booth at local events
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Provide new customer promotions and discounts
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Set up sidewalk sales and popup shops, hand out coupons, samples, and business cards at a local dog park
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Do a monthly giveaway, contest, or raffle on social media
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Host adoption events with local rescues and shelters
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Send out 1-2 direct mail campaigns
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Promote your buildout and the process on social media platforms
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Ask for or incentivize every customer to leave you a review on Google
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Engage in promotions or partnerships with local microinfluencers
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Create a store tour video and post it on social media, Google, and your website
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Set up and brand your business listings on Google, Yelp, Apple Maps, etc
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Build or establish a rewards and loyalty program