Dogs and owners are choosing to visit pet shops for the experience on offer not just a one stop shop to buy their dog food. Shop owners are evolving and thinking of new ways to attract customers to high street stores in a world where it is so easy to use the alternative of online shopping. In the Cotswolds these pet shops are thinking of new ideas and initiatives to engage their customers and welcome them into their stores.
Tetbury Pet Shop
Opened in the beautiful Cotswold town of Tetbury in 2022, The Tetbury Pet Shop not only caters for local residents and their dogs but also the huge numbers of dog loving tourists visiting the Cotswolds on their holidays.
They have converted the first floor of their high street pet shop into a professional dog grooming salon called The Groom Room with self-employed groomers using it as a base for their services. With many dogs needing grooming every 4-6 weeks this regular visit to the store not only builds up a relationship with the customers but encourages smaller more regular purchases as they pick up and drop off their dogs.
The Tetbury Pet Shop have also taken advantage of social media, keeping up with trends on Instagram reels and TikTok videos to organically boost their brand awareness online. People can discover their informative or entertaining content online which will then encourage them to visit the store in person. They also sell products online with TikTok livestreams where people can view the toys or treats and see their order being packed live on screen. A youtube channel for video blog style episodes and insights into the behind the scenes of running a pet shop encourages people to follow the progress and journey of a small business.
They have a puppacino bar, welcoming dogs to have a barista style dog friendly drink, whilst capturing their photo as a polaroid to stick on the wall. They’ve newly launched a communal workspace for remote workers wanting to work in a friendly environment at the back of the store, or a space for people to work and have a coffee whilst their dogs are being groomed upstairs. As well as a brand-new podcast series with Amelia, the owner, talking to the Jordan the Dog groomer based upstairs in the Groom Room, about different canine topics and to dog experts.
There really isn’t anything this team hasn’t thought of when it comes to marketing their brand, it is so much more than just a pet shop.
Be more Bob
Be more Bob is a dog store in Cheltenham which opened 5 years ago, inspired by their own Border Collie x Poodle called Bob! This shop is kitted out with everything you would need for an adventure with your dogs, featuring the latest Ruffwear hiking gear to every day food and treats to feed your dogs.
They won the UK’s best Pet Shop in 2021, Gloucestershire's Independent Shop of the Year 2022 and a Southern Enterprise Award for Pet Business of the Year which just shows the success of this family business! Having products tried and tested by Bob himself means that they only stock products that they are passionate about and truly recommend!
They have a private garden out the back of their store which is available to book for a safe place for dogs to play and explore. Advertising puppy play dates for dogs to meet up in a secure environment or a training session with local dog trainers helping out other small businesses.
Another recent launch was their grooming salon ‘Oh My Pup’ which welcomes 1-1 bookings with their groomer Jess. For young dogs they offer puppy packages which are four sessions for a gentle introduction to dog grooming so the dog has a positive start to their grooming journey. The puppies are welcomed in for a play session for a positive association to the salon, followed by exploring it to experience all the new smells and sounds before a bath, blow dry and trim.
With the shop being named after their dog Bob, the social media accounts are run from his perspective with the captions and commentary coming from Bob himself as if he was welcoming you into his home!
Just for Pets
With more and more stores opening across the country, Just for Pets is a pet shop chain focused on the best quality brands for dog owners. They have a store in the heart of the Cotswolds – Cirencester, as well as Stow-on-the-Wold and soon to be launched – Bourton on the Water!
A huge area of each store is dedicated to natural chews, with a pick and mix style display, most of which is at perfect dog height so your dogs will drag you into the store to choose their next snack! As well as rows of freezers with different RAW dog food brands which their team are on hand to help talk you through. Their knowledge on good quality diets for dogs is especially helpful for first time dog owners. They have weighing scales instore for you to work out the correct feeding guide as well as a loyalty points scheme to encourage regular purchases. Easily set up on your phone you can scan your ‘Just for Perks’ card at any of their stores, collecting points with each purchase which can then be saved up and used for chews and treats.
Each store stocks carefully selected high end brands, with the new Bourton-On-The-Water store to stock designer brands for dog accessories such as BOSS, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren and more! Not your everyday dog gear for muddy walks in the fields, but targeting pampered pooches who love a dog friendly getaway in the Cotswolds with their humans.
