20% of consumers believe local pet stores ‘care more’ than big chains
People in the North West of England were the most likely to consult their local pet store for a solution to a problem, with 49% of people saying they would
Over one in five consumers believe that the workers in their local pet store care more than those in big chains, according to a survey from Johnson’s Veterinary Products.
The survey of 1,000 pet owners, found that 28% of respondents believed their local pet store to be knowledgeable and trustworthy.
However, 22% of people said that independent stores were overpriced, whilst 13% said they would rather buy from a supermarket as they could do all their shopping at the same time.
Half of all respondents named cost as the biggest influencer of product selection, 39% said they would be more likely to shop at a local pet store if prices were reduced, and 38% saying they would if special offers were introduced.
People in the North West of England were the most likely to consult their local pet store for a solution to a problem, with 49% of people saying they would.
Paul Gwynn, managing director of Johnson’s, said: “This survey, the first of many we hope to produce, has helped us understand the purchasing habits of different groups of pet owners, by their age, region of the UK in which they live and even by the pet or pets they own.
“It is clear that the relationship between pet owners and pet shops is important and strengthens over the years. Our role is to help nurture this bond with affordable, effective, high-quality products that resolve problems, like fleas and worms in cats and dogs, whilst also offering hamsters a treat.”
Gwynn added: “There are many valuable insights contained within this report, any of which are worthy of further detailed study, but all show the value of pet shops and pet stores to the pet owning public, explaining the rude health reported by the majority, if not all of our customers.”
