Winter 2021 - 108

PRODUCT TRENDS
With dog adoptions on the rise, sales of pooch-themed
items are climbing
BY REGINA MOLARO
Contributing Writer
D
..ogs are cuddly, loveable and make great
..companions. During the COVID-19 era, there was
..an uptick in pet adoptions nationwide as people
were eager for the comfort and emotional support that
pets deliver.
" The pet category continues to sell very well. We're
finding it to be largely recession proof. Dogs are often
treated as family. More time spent at home means
higher sales, " said Jeanne Tripi, director of retail sales
at American Life Brands - a third-generation, familyowned
manufacturer in Jackson, Wisconsin.
According to market and consumer data provider
Statista's pet owners survey (2019/20), more than 63
million households in the U.S. own at least one dog.
During the pandemic, new pet parents snapped up
collars, leashes, toys and other items. According to
American Pet Products Association (APPA), sales of pet
products and services in the US reached $95.7 billion
in 2019.
There are certainly lots of items to choose from.
P. Graham Dunn, a Dalton, Ohio-based gift and
home décor manufacturer, entices proud pup parents
with its personalized items that enable Luna's name
to be emblazoned on bowls, tags and collars. Its Paws
& Prints Collection offers a fetching collection of wall
décor, tabletop, photo frames and tea
towels. Suggested retails range from $6
to $30.
Functional items and dog-themed photo
frames and personalized gifts are driving
sales at P. Graham Dunn. Consumers are
also barking for mugs and pillows.
Since proud pet parents are always eager
to introduce their bundles of joy to family
and friends, PrintsWell introduced dog
adoption announcements. This stationery
manufacturer near Birmingham, Alabama,
offers pooch-themed holiday cards, party
invitations and stationery. Its top item is
108 WINTER 2021 GIFT SHOP® PLUS
the Best in Show Notepad, which can be customized
with a variety of breeds. Suggested retails range from
$24 to upwards of $70. PrintsWell predicts its most
coveted item for 2021 will be Stacy Claire Boyd's
personalized pet desk calendar.
At American Life Brands, it's the toy category that
dominates. Consumers are snapping up Dog & Me Tennis
Balls for games of slime-free fetch. Other key categories
include collars, bandannas and food/water mats.
" Toys are easy to pick up as gifts or for your own
fur-baby. Dogs like and need variety as much as people
do. Sales of our dog-related tea towels have picked
up strongly, " said Jeanne Tripi, director of sales for
American Life Brands.
TOP DOG
Although every dog parent considers its pup " top dog, "
Labrador Retrievers nabbed the number one spot for
popular breeds in 2020, according to the American Kennel
Club (AKC). German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers,
French Bulldogs and Bulldogs trailed behind as " Most
Popular Dog Breeds. "
" We follow the AKC's list of registrations so we can be
sure our designs include the top five breeds, " said George
White, president and COO of Up With Paper, a pop-up
Circle 376.
Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2021
