The Current State of Pet Stores and Where They’re Headed

Pet owners today have more options than ever before when it comes to caring for and spoiling their furry friends. The pet store industry today is highly competitive, with key players divided among chain stores, independent shops, and online sales. The balance between these three options is continually changing based on consumer needs, with each filling certain niches.

The Difference Between the Three Core Pet Care Retail Channels

While most pet owners can tell whether or not they’re shopping online, the distinction between chain stores and independent shops isn’t quite as clear. If you visit your local pet store in Los Angeles, you might not know at first whether or not it’s part of a chain. The three primary ways people pet care supplies differ in many ways that can affect the consumer experience.

Chain Stores

Your chain pet store is likely to be much larger than independent shops, with many prominent chains having a wide variety of products. You’ll be able to find food and accessories for just about any pet imaginable. These stores will have food, toys, and other items available for many different types of animals, including more exotic pets like reptiles. However, the experience can be impersonal, and the number of choices could be overwhelming for inexperienced pet owners.

Independent Shops

With an independent shop, the owner of the shop is more likely to be passionate about the quality of goods they provide. There may be a smaller variety, but chances are the pet food and accessories you’ll find there are of the highest quality. An independent pet store in Tel Aviv will probably be specialized towards the care of some specific group of pets, whether that’s dogs and cats, fish, or reptiles. The employees there will be highly knowledgeable about how to care for those particular animals.

Online Shopping

Online shopping provides a versatile range of options for pet owners. Various online outlets provide the widest possible variety of pet food and accessories. You might be able to find a good deal, but shipping could prove prohibitively expensive, especially for heavy dog and cat foods. Even more so than with chain stores, the number of options can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

The Latest Pet Care Industry Trends

Today, chains have a significant share of the market. They account for over 70% of retail sales, with single-store operations accounting for 20%. These single-store operations account for nearly 50% of the total number of pet stores, showing that each chain location brings in significantly higher revenues. The market share of chain stores has been steadily rising for at least 20 years, with many independent stores struggling.

Online sales have been another area of marked growth within the industry. Today, e-commerce accounts for 20% of all pet care sales. This number is expected to continue to grow into the future. The pet care industry as a whole is poised for significant growth, with some analysts targeting up to 50% growth by 2027. While the balance might be shifting between them, it’s clear that there is still significant demand for chain, independent, and online pet stores.