Are you interested in selling to loyal customers in a massive industry worth billions of dollars? Then the pet industry is where you should be.
Creating a Shopify pet store can be a rewarding venture, whether you're a pet lover or an entrepreneur looking to enter the pet care industry.
As a business owner, you'll have the opportunity to assist pet owners in selecting foods and treats that promote their pets' health. You can also educate them about the latest must-have items for their furry friends.
From understanding what products to offer in your Shopify pet store to implementing effective strategies for business growth, this guide covers it all.
Pet business is profitable?
Is running a pet store a good idea? Absolutely! These businesses can rake in up to $11.1 million a year. Plus, you can recoup your $10,000 investment in less than seven months. In short, it's a venture worth considering, especially if you're willing to put in the effort.
With a market size of $103 billion,So, starting this type of business seems like a smart move.
Let's break it down, if you're offering services like pet walking or sitting, your main concerns would be marketing your services and getting insurance. But if you're into pet day care, boarding, or grooming, you'll probably have higher expenses because you'll need physical spaces or mobile facilities.
But remember, success depends on understanding every aspect of running a pet shop.
Also read: How a Local Pet Store Achieved Nationwide Sales Growth with Shopify & Tameta
Which products you can sell on Shopify pet store?
Pet Sitting
Starting a pet-sitting service is a great idea if you love animals and enjoy meeting new people in your area. With more than 50% of US households having pets, you'll likely find plenty of potential clients.
You can start this business with minimal investment, focusing mainly on marketing and building your customer base. Your biggest expense might be getting insurance, but as you grow, you can hire more staff and build a loyal client list.
Pet Products
Pet owners often like to pamper their furry friends with gifts or gadgets, alongside the essential items for their pets' well-being.
For entrepreneurs interested in entering the market, creating new pet products can be a great option, especially for those who prefer not to work directly with animals or food, especially if they have allergies.
The possibilities are endless, ranging from custom portraits and personalized clothing to automatic feeders and water fountains. Your imagination is the only limit!
Pet Food
If you're passionate about pets and interested in what they eat, starting a pet food company could be a great fit for you. Unlike offering services, creating pet food allows you to make a tangible product.
To stand out in the competitive pet food industry, it's essential to specialize. You can focus on specific aspects like food tailored to different animal sizes, dietary requirements, or even preferences, such as dog or lizard food.
Keep in mind that producing pet food on a large scale can be costly, especially if it involves live animals or animal products.
You'll also need to obtain licenses and permissions. However, if you're skilled in the kitchen, you can start with lower costs and gradually expand your business.
Pet Clothings
In recent years, pet clothing has become increasingly popular, with dropshippers offering a wide range of shirts, costumes, and accessories tailored specifically for dogs and cats.
Dropshipping allows business owners to focus on building their brands or acquiring new skills, as it offers flexibility and requires minimal risk.
Selling dog clothes is a niche market where targeted marketing is crucial. Just like people, pet owners can be very particular about what their furry friends wear.
This opens up numerous opportunities for creativity and unique branding in the pet fashion industry.
Pet Supply
Pet supply businesses are growing worldwide, offering a wide range of essential items for different animals, such as fish tanks, bird cages, leashes, beds, and bowls for cats and dogs, among others.
These supplies are crucial for ensuring the safety, comfort, and entertainment of our furry friends. Managing an online pet store with virtual shelves and the option to personalize products makes it a great idea for a pet business.
This is especially true if you choose to use Print on Demand or dropship your pet supplies, which means you can make profits without needing inventory or facing startup costs.
Contrary to what you might think, selling essential pet items doesn't always make it harder to compete with bigger, more well-known businesses.
Dog walking
Start a dog walking company to help busy pet owners manage their hectic schedules. Your service will ensure that their pets get the exercise and socialization they need while their owners are busy.
Enjoy the outdoors as you visit nearby dog parks or take regular walks with furry friends. This job offers flexibility and satisfaction, keeping both you and your customers happy and healthy.
Pet sitting and dog walking are all about excellent customer service and building trust with clients. Your success in this business relies on maintaining strong connections with your clients.
Pet Grooming
Adding grooming services for dogs and cats can be a great idea for expanding the services you offer to pet owners.
Just like pet walking and sitting, grooming is all about building trust and having good interactions with customers. With pet owners in US households spending over $8 billion annually on services, there's a lot of potential for business growth.
Finding a niche market can be beneficial. For instance, you could specialize in mobile grooming services, catering to pet owners who prefer the convenience of having their pets groomed at home.
You might also consider offering grooming services for scared or adopted dogs, as well as accepting extra-large pets. These specialized services could set you apart from the competition and attract more customers
Pet Toys
To stand out in the pet industry, offer a wide variety of toys like squeaky toys, balls, ropes, handmade toys, and interactive or chew toys.
With the pet toy market reaching a whopping $8 billion in 2023, there's plenty of opportunity to succeed in this sector. Take Pet Culture, for example a Shopify store thriving in this lucrative market.
How to start a Shopify pet store
Analyze the market
The first step in creating a unique pet store that attracts and retains customers is market research. Decide what type of pet services you want to offer, like pet training, grooming, wholesale supplies, or online retail.
Once you've chosen your offerings, take a look at your competitors and see what advantages you can bring to the table. Consider things like expected profit margins for your services or products.
Google Trends is a helpful tool for market research. It allows you to explore different topics and search queries, understand customer demand, and identify seasonal trends.
Create a plan
Working with a company plan backed by a selling model is key for successful Shopify pet retailers. This plan should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Here's what your business plan should include:
- Your company name
- Mission statement
- What you offer
- Your target audience
- Potential competition
- Financial options
- Marketing and advertising strategies, and more.
Having a plan is crucial as it guides you through every step of launching and managing your online store.
Moreover, if you plan to work with a team, a business plan helps answer questions that may affect your proposed business idea and communicate the venture's goals to others.
Find Suppliers
To keep your business running smoothly, it's crucial to find reliable suppliers, unless you plan to make your own pet products.
Reach out to different vendors, ask for price quotes, and compare them to find the most affordable option. Relying on just one supplier's prices isn't a smart move.
To avoid problems like order cancellations or unexpected delays, it's a good idea to have multiple sources for specific pet supplies. You can find quality pet products at places like Wholesale Pet, Pound Wholesale, and Alibaba.com, among others.
Set up your Shopify store
Now that you've finished key tasks on your business plan, it's time to setup your Shopify pet store.
Make sure you have a great product page, a catchy homepage, a landing page that turns visitors into customers, and an easy-to-use product listing page on your website.
Once you're confident that your e-commerce setup has everything it needs to succeed, it's time to let the world know that your store is open for business!
Launch your online shop
Before you launch your store and start selling online, it's crucial to promote it extensively. Use all available resources to ensure a successful launch, with social media and word-of-mouth marketing being the most effective.
Spread the word by sharing flyers with your family, friends, and colleagues, encouraging them to share your store on their social media accounts. Create a unique hashtag for your launch and encourage people to use it to generate buzz.
Consider collaborating with small influencers and pet owners to promote your pet supplies business, even if it means investing some money before your store officially opens. This can help attract attention and build excitement around your launch.
Also read: How to set up a Shopify store in few steps?
Conclusion
In short, starting a Shopify pet store can be a great move. Whether you love pets or just want a profitable business, the pet industry has a lot to offer.
There are endless possibilities, from selling pet products to offering grooming services and more. But to succeed, you need to plan well, understand what customers want, and market effectively.
With Tameta Tech's help in Shopify development, we can guide you through this competitive market and create a thriving online pet store together. Let's team up to unlock your Shopify pet store's full potential.
