Business
Outlook
According to pet product manufacturing association there
are estimated 80 million cats and 75 million dogs. The pet business is estimated at $55 billion
dollars with pet boutiques gaining a share of the industry.
Things to consider before opening a pet boutique are
employee salaries, insurance and rent. Others are funding the business, type of
products and services to offer customers. The business is practicable
on/offline depending on your business template.
Considerations include legal fees, registering the
business name, insurance and tax. You need quality products and services.
Others are accounting knowledge, interpersonal skill,
operational license or permit. Register the business as a limited liability
company or sole proprietor.
• Legal fees
• Registering
the business name
• Incorporate
• Insurance
• Tax
• Quality
products and services
• Accounting
knowledge
• Interpersonal
skill
• Operational
license or permit
Gain
Experience
Gain workplace experience or get formal training. Work as
an apprentice and Prior employment in related industry is an advantage. A good
grasp of retail sales and marketing are important aspects of the business.
• Formal
training
• Work as an
apprentice
• Prior
employment in related industry
• Retail sales
knowledge
• Marketing
skill
Pricing
The business is highly competitive with many players. Pet
boutique products and services attract premium prices.
To compete favorable your prices should be comparable
with those in your locality. Try to study your competitions prices, products
and services.
Marketing
Your target customer base are middle to upper class
clients. Advertise the business at high end shops, upscale cloth boutiques,
high end venues. Use flyers, posters, billboard, banners, sign board.
Use word of mouth, referrals, email marketing, reciprocal
advertising. Other good locations to advertise the business are pet grooming
centers, doggie day care, and veterinarian clinics. Add the business to yellow
pages, online directories.
• Use flyers
• Posters
• Billboard
• Banners
• Sign board
• Use word
of mouth
• Referrals
• Email
marketing
• Reciprocal
advertising
• Choose a
unique business name
• Add blog
posts to the site
• Add
contact address
• Use social
media platforms
• Online
advertisement
• Advertise
in local newspaper
• Organize
community activities
• Offer
discounts
• Use
promotions
• Coupons
• Newsletters
Build
a Website
Build a website to highlight the business. Choose a
unique business name, domain name and good host plan. Add blog posts to the
site, contact address, telephone number and products.
Add online shopping including a PayPal payment system or
debit card processor. Use social media platforms and online advertisement to
drive traffic to the website.
Place advertisement in local newspaper, pet magazines.
Organize community activities, offer discounts to regular customers. Use
promotions, coupons, newsletters.
Product
The list of pet boutique products is huge. Common
products are pet toys, supplies, treats, travel carriers. Others are collars,
leashes, pet identification tags, bedding. More are pet clothing, gift baskets,
bows, bandanas, hats.
• Pet toys
• Supplies
• Treats
• Travel
carriers
• Collars
• Leashes
• Pet
identification tags
• Bedding
• Pet
clothing
• Gift
baskets
• Bows
• Bandanas
• Hats
Location
The choice of location should be close to customer base.
Target customers are middle to upper class individuals.
Good locations are highbrow areas, upscale areas and
commercial areas. You need a web store to run a home based business. However a
retail store offers better opportunities.
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