Not just for humans: Branded items for your pets
Can you quantify how much you love your pet? While you most likely don’t keep receipts for all the treats, toys and veterinarian visits, you surely consider your animal part of the family. If you’re like most Americans, though, you probably spent around $1,641 in 2015 if you’re a dog owner and about $1,125 if you own a cat, according to the American Pet Products Association.
Most U.S. households own a dog as compared to all other pets, but keeping Fido fed, happy and healthy is getting more expensive as the pet industry continues to grow and as we all keep spending money on our animals. While shelling out money on pets might make some people roll their eyes, many companies can take advantage of the spending fervor by way of promotional pet gifts.
“Not only is the pet industry thriving, it’s also changing.”
Impressing pets and their humans
Consider all of the branded items you can offer pets and their owners, from wearables such as dog coats and and paw coverings featuring your company logo to custom dog accessories food bowls and squeak toys. The odds of a pet owner coming across your business or product and becoming a loyal customer are considerable. The U.S. pet industry made approximately $60 billion in 2015, the APPA noted, and Americans spent $350 million of that sum on Halloween costumes for their pets alone, The Christian Science Monitor reported. That’s dogs, cats and other animals – not children.
The Advertising Specialty Institute noted the humanization of pets – treating them like a member of the family – is one key reason pet products are booming. While it’s a niche market, a number of companies are getting in on the act and offering branded dog and cat collars, leashes and packaged treats with their company names prominently featured on the box. According to the ASI, Comcast, the cable and Internet provider, even gives out individually-wrapped dog biscuits to some customers.
Sitting in the lap of luxury
Not only is the pet industry thriving, it’s also changing thanks to customer demand. More pet owners want luxury items or tech gadgets tailored for their dog or cat, according to NBC News.
“The two main areas we’re seeing is you’re adding to the pets’ safety or you’re adding to their enrichment,” Wendy Toth, editor-in-chief of Pet360.com, told NBC News. “That makes for a calmer owner or a calmer pet, so the time they spend together they can focus on one another.”
This means pet owners want luxury hotels that allow them to bring their dog or cat along with them or upscale pet-sitting facilities that feature video cameras. The pet’s owner can then access the cameras visit remotely with their dog or cat or keep tabs on them while they’re away.
Pet tech doesn’t end with monitoring cameras, though. Many owners want gadgets to track their dogs’ fitness. While some companies already offer wearable promotional tech gifts for people that can track exercise and quality of sleep, a few businesses make similar devices for canines.
The ASI pointed to WonderWoof, a Bluetooth-enabled dog collar that looks like a bow tie. The gadget acts like a pedometer for chubby pups needing to shed some pounds.
The world of pet products is incredibly expansive, and whether you run a vet’s office, pet store or a business totally unrelated to pets, branded apparel, tech items and other trinkets with a dog or cat spin on them are a great way to spread the word for your company.