Progressive Grocer - January/February 2009 - (Page 76)

COMPETITIVE WATCH: Pet Supermarket celebrates Pet Spa grand opening Nonfoods Pet retail chain Pet Supermarket last month opened in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. its fourth The Pet Spa location, a full-service luxury grooming facility aimed at customers who want to pamper their dog or cat with top-notch services. Other spa locations are Asheville, N.C.; Coconut Creek, Fla.; and Tampa, Fla. According to the retailer, The Current economic woes aren’t keeping Americans from pampering their dogs. Pet Spa is designed to offer the best luxury experience for a customer’s dog or cat, with full grooming services, dog nail polishBy Joseph Tarnowski ing, and flea and tick baths/ removal, at competitive prices. Combining pet food/supplies and people during this difficult time. spa services under one roof is Pet This is reminiscent of what we saw Supermarket’s latest strategy to during Hurricane Katrina. With differentiate itself from other pet people facing great hardship, many chains and other retailers selling remained so loyal to their pets that pet products. “The Pet Spa is a they were willing to risk their lives. milestone for Pet Supermarket that Our survey demonstrates that they has given us the opportunity to break into a new niche,” says presiare also willing to forgo some dent Diane Holtz. “The grooming of life’s luxuries for the facilities offer a variety of luxury welfare of their pets.” services to our customers’ pets and According to the add a valuable dimension to our study, 65 percent brand.” of those surveyed Steve Feinberg, Pet Supermarsaid they would ket’s v.p., adds: “We are always Indeed, according to an online survey of more than switch to eating looking for ways to improve our 1,000 pet-owning consumers, conducted this past Decemramen noodles facilities and offer the best retail ber, more than 96 percent of respondents with a taste for before switching environment to our customers. With the Pet Spa we can. Our gourmet coffee would give up their latte habit to save to a lower-quality grooming salon is built with elemoney that they would devote to meeting their dogs’ needs. dog food (Table 1). gant flooring and granite counter“In general, people are more dedicated to their dogs More than half (59 tops, and includes state-of-the-art than ever before,” notes AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterpercent) said they grooming equipment. At The Pet son. “No doubt dogs bring comfort and stress relief to many would color their hair at Spa, customers can expect a premier grooming experience for Table 1: Giving up like for like Table 2: Money-saving techniques their furry friend.” Sunrise, Fla.would cancel their travel plans if they couldn’t 52% look for sales and/or clip coupons before shopping for 67% afford to pay to board their dog. based Pet pet products. Supermarket operates 115 stores throughwould regularly eat ramen noodles before they are purchasing fewer toys/treats and other nonessential 48% dog supplies. 65% would skimp on their dog’s high-quality food. out the southeastern United States. would perm or color their own hair in the have begun buying dog food in bulk. 34% 59% kitchen sink to keep Rover’s appointment with the groomer. Financing Fido hile today’s economy may be going to the dogs, consumers’ canine friends certainly aren’t feeling it, as shoppers are making sacrifices in their own product choices so their pets can live in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed, according to a recent study by the American Kennel Club. W 76 • Progressive Grocer • January/February 2009 A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - January/February 2009

Progressive Grocer - January/February 2009
Front End: Aldi’s Private Label Showing its Fitness
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Prepared Foods-DryMixes/Rice Mixes
Market Snapshot: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
Outstanding Independents Awards: Up with People
Current Events: Retail Newsmakers
Contents
Lempert Report: The Phoenix Format Face-Off
Independents Report: Making your Workplace Family-Friendly
Multicultural Marketing: Where there’s Mystery, there’s Margin
Wake-Up Call: New Habits Die Hard
Beverage Alcohol: Wine 101
Soft Drinks: Creating a Buzz
Whole Grains: The Brown Version
Packaging: The Whole Package
Meat: Master Beef Backer
Pet Care: Financing Fido
Executive Insight Series: Technology and the Independent Grocer: Eye of the Gale
Equipment Case Studies: Food. Service. Equipment
Financial Insights: What the Yield Curve Shows
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - January/February 2009