Pet Store Inventory Management: 8 Tips & Tools for Success

Do you spend countless hours trying to organize your pet store inventory?

You’re juggling everything from frozen dog food with expiration dates to giant cat towers that sit for months. You’ve got hamster wheels, bird feeders, flea meds, live animals, and seasonal gear for winter walks and summer road trips.

And somehow, you’re supposed to track it all without wasting time or money. Sound familiar?

If you’re like most independent pet retailers, you’re probably spending too much time manually reordering, trying to make room for overstock, or wondering where all your cash went at the end of the month.

We know optimizing your pet store inventory management strategy can be overwhelming, so we have eight tips and tools you can use to help.

Let’s get started.

Why Pet Store Inventory Management Is Complex

Before getting into the solutions, let’s talk about what can make pet store inventory management uniquely challenging in the first place:

Perishable products with short lifespans: Unlike clothing or electronics retailers, you’re dealing with frozen raw foods, live feeders, and treats that can spoil quickly. A single oversight can mean hundreds of dollars in waste.
High-value, slow-moving items: Premium dog beds ($200–$500), large aquarium setups ($300–$1,000), and luxury carriers can sit for months, tying up significant capital and increasing your carrying costs.
Extreme seasonal variations: Holiday toy rushes, summer travel gear spikes, and back-to-school pet adoption seasons create dramatic inventory swings that can affect your cash flow.
Live-animal complexities: If you sell live animals, managing this inventory adds layers of complexity with feeding schedules, health monitoring, and ethical considerations that don’t exist in other retail categories.
Multi-pet inventory concerns: Every product category needs to be multiplied across dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and small animals, creating thousands of SKUs to track.

In short, you’re managing a broad range of products with varying requirements — all under one roof.

Now, let’s dive into the tips that you can use to manage your pet store inventory.

8 Effective Tips for Managing Your Pet Store Inventory

Tip 1: Build a Clear Inventory Categorization System

Categorizing inventory can be intimidating for pet stores. Not only do you have a wide variety of products, but you also offer them for multiple types of pets.

That’s why your first priority is creating a clear and logical inventory structure. But where do you begin? What’s the best way to organize your inventory?

Here’s a model you can start with — and refine as needed:

Food: Dog treats, wet cat food, rabbit pellets
Toys: Tug-of-war ropes, squeaky toys, rubber balls, catnip toys
Supplies: Collapsible travel bowls, disposable litter box liners, aquarium water kits
Accessories: Adjustable nylon collars, reflective harnesses, personalized ID tags
Health and wellness: Hip and joint supplements, dental chews, flea and tick collars
Live animals: Cats, dogs, mice, birds

Repeat this process for every type of animal that you carry products for, then go deeper. Subcategorize by brand, size, and even age group (puppy, senior, etc.). This structure makes it easier to sort, scan, and restock.

Tip 2: Use ABC Analysis To Focus on What Sells

Some pet products in your store fly off the shelves. Others? Not so much.

This is where ABC analysis comes into play. It’s a simple way to figure out which items deserve most of your attention and which ones don’t.

The idea is to group your products into three categories — A, B, and C — based on how much money they actually bring in.

Here’s how it works in a pet store.

A Items: Your Must-Haves

These are your bestsellers — the products your customers ask for again and again.

Think:

Premium dog and cat food
Top toy brands
Everyday essentials like flea meds

You never want to run out of these items. Check stock weekly, reorder often, and negotiate with suppliers for the best pricing and terms.

B Items: Nice to Have

These are steady sellers. They don’t move as fast as your A items, but they’re still worth keeping around.

Think:

Mid-range collars, leashes, and bowls
Seasonal basics like jackets or cooling vests
Alternative food brands

Stay on top of these, but don’t stress. Check them monthly, maintain a comfortable stock level, and stick with standard supplier terms.

C Items: The Slow Sellers

These are the products that sell eventually — or maybe they don’t.

Think:

Niche treats
Specialty accessories
Items you tried once but no one wanted

Review these every few months. If they aren’t selling, don’t be afraid to mark them down, stop reordering, or just special order them when a customer asks. No need to let them take up space and tie up your cash.

Tip 3: Set Smart PAR Levels To Avoid Stockouts & Overstock

Once you’ve got your inventory organized, the next step is figuring out how much of each item you need to keep on hand.

Luckily, PAR levels can simplify this process. PAR stands for “Periodic Automatic Replenishment” — but don’t worry, it’s not as complex as it sounds.

Your PAR level is the “just right” amount of inventory to keep on hand — enough to meet demand without overstocking your shelves and tying up your cash.

Start by looking at:

Your past sales data (what you’ve actually been selling)
How long it takes to get restocked after you order
Any seasonal patterns that affect demand

Once you’ve set your PAR level, reordering gets easier. When your stock dips to that number, you know it’s time to place another order.

General Tips for Setting PAR Levels in a Pet Store

Your store’s needs change throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to revisit your PAR levels every so often. Here are some basic guidelines.

Fast-moving staples:

Review weekly sales data for eight to 12 weeks.
Add a 20% buffer for demand spikes.
Factor in a one- to two-week reorder time.

Example: You sell 30 bags of 25-pound dog food per week. With a one-week lead time and a 20% buffer, your PAR level equals 36 bags.

Seasonal items:

Use data from the previous year, plus growth projections.
Order 60% of the expected seasonal demand upfront.
Plan two to three smaller reorders based on early-season performance.

Example: Last Halloween, you sold 100 pet costumes. If you expect 10% growth this year, plan for 110 costumes. Start with 66 units, then reorder based on how fast they’re selling in early October.

High-value items:

Set lower PAR levels for items over $200.
Use customer preorders when possible.
Consider special-order arrangements for ultra-premium items.

Example: You carry a $300 cat tower that sells about once a month. Set your PAR level at one, and offer preorders if someone wants a specific color or model.

Perishable products:

Calculate based on shelf life, not just demand.
Build in a 25% safety margin for expiration management.

Example: You sell 12 frozen raw food packs per week. If each pack has a 6-week shelf life, then your maximum stock is around 72 units. With a 25% margin, your PAR level is about 90 packs — just be sure to watch for spoilage trends and adjust as needed.

Tip 4: Know How Much Inventory You Really Need

It’s one thing to keep your shelves stocked. It’s another to stock them wisely. Inventory is money, and too much of it sitting idle can drain your cash flow.

So, how much inventory should you carry?

A financially healthy pet store typically keeps around two to three months of sales in stock. This gives you enough of a buffer to meet demand without overcommitting your budget.

Break it down like this:

Food and treats: Fast turnover — keep one to two months of inventory.
Toys and accessories: Moderate turnover — keep two to three months of inventory.
High-value items: Slow movers — Stock fewer units or hold three to four months of inventory.
Seasonal goods: Buy just for the season, not year-round.

But stock value isn’t the only metric that matters. Carrying costs — the hidden expenses of holding inventory — can eat away at your margins.

These typically include:

Capital costs: This refers to money tied up in inventory that could be spent elsewhere.
Storage: These are expenses like rent, shelving, and utilities.
Shrinkage and spoilage: This consists of losses from theft, damage, and expired goods.
Insurance and taxes: These are costs tied to holding unsold inventory.

Combined, they can add up to 20–30% of your inventory’s value each year.

This means a $500 item sitting unsold for six months may silently cost you $50 to $75 in overhead — before you even think about markdowns.

Tip 5: Plan Ahead for Seasonal Inventory

If your pet store inventory management strategy doesn’t shift with the seasons, your cash flow is going to suffer.

Holidays, warm weather, and even adoption trends all bring major changes in customer behavior and what they’re buying.

Here are some examples of how to plan ahead:

Spring (March–May): Prep for flea and tick prevention, outdoor play gear, and grooming supplies.
Summer (June–August): Reduce general inventory slightly and focus on travel gear, cooling vests, and outdoor accessories.
Back-to-school (August–September): Prioritize puppy and kitten essentials as adoption numbers rise.
Holiday season (October–December): Stock toys, treats, gift bundles, costumes, and gift cards by early fall.

It helps to review last year’s seasonal data alongside your current growth so you can order just the right amount.

Tip 6: Deal With Dead Stock Before It Costs You

Every store has those products that just don’t sell.

Maybe it’s an eco-friendly cat litter your customers didn’t love or a luxury pet bed that’s slightly too expensive for your local market. Regardless, dead stock ties up space, money, and mental energy.

You don’t have to guess which products are underperforming — just look at your sales data. If something hasn’t sold in 90 days or more, it’s time to take action.

Here’s how to deal with it:

Discount slow movers gradually (start with 25% off, then increase).
Bundle them with popular items (“Buy one, get this toy 50% off”).
Create a clearly marked clearance section in store.
Promote the deals through your email or social media marketing.
Offer employee discounts or donate leftover items to a local shelter.

Tip 7: Leverage Inventory Management Technology

Technology might feel intimidating at first, but the right tools can save you hours and make your inventory process way less stressful.

Here are a few simple ways to use tech to your advantage in your pet store inventory management strategy.

Implement Barcode Scanning

Still typing in product names or SKUs by hand? This may be the biggest time-waster in your store.

Adding barcode scanning can cut your inventory time in half. It speeds everything up — from receiving shipments to doing cycle counts — and it helps avoid mistakes.

Plus, it makes training new staff much easier. Instead of explaining your whole naming system, you can just say, “Scan the tag.” Done.

When your point of sale (POS) system supports barcode scanning, you can:

Check in inventory faster.
Count items more accurately.
Pull up pricing or product info instantly.
Speed up checkout and reduce register errors efficiently.

If you’re not using barcode scanners yet, it’s a small change that can make a big difference.

Invest in a Cloud-Based Pet Store POS System

A cloud-based POS system means you’re not tied to the front counter.

You can check your inventory, update products, or see sales reports from anywhere — whether you’re at home, on vacation, or managing a second location.

Make sure it’s easy to use. A clunky interface just slows you down and increases the chance of mistakes. You don’t want to spend all day figuring out how to fix a simple inventory error.

Look for a POS system that’s built for pet stores, not a generic retail system.

You want features like:

Pet-specific tools and integrations
Online booking for grooming or training
A built-in product catalog
Customer loyalty program options

Conduct Regular Inventory Audits & Use Data Analytics

Even if your system is mostly automated, you still need to check in.

Here’s what regular audits help you do:

Spot missing stock before it becomes an issue.
Fix errors before tax season.
Fine-tune your reordering.
Stay ahead of trends in what’s selling and what’s not.

Find an audit process that works for you — maybe full audits every quarter or weekly mini-counts by category. Then, make a habit of checking your inventory data regularly.

Tip 8: Strengthen Supplier Relationships

Your pet store suppliers play a major role in how smoothly your inventory runs.

A reliable, flexible supplier helps you stay stocked, competitive, and profitable. A poor one can leave you with empty shelves, dead stock, and lost sales.

Start by negotiating better terms.

Consider taking these steps:

Extend payment terms from net 15 to net 30 to ease your cash flow.
Ask about return allowances — many suppliers accept 10–15% of unsold seasonal items back, which can protect you during busy seasons.
Combine orders across product categories to qualify for volume discounts.
Negotiate exclusive access to new or specialty products if your sales or customer loyalty are strong.

It’s also smart to diversify your supplier base:

Get about 60% of your inventory from primary suppliers with the best pricing and most reliable delivery.
Use secondary suppliers for roughly 30% — they offer competitive pricing and serve as a backup when needed.
Rely on specialty vendors for the remaining 10% to bring in unique or niche products that help your store stand out.

Finally, keep track of your suppliers’ performance over time.

Watch for:

On-time delivery rates
Product quality consistency
Responsiveness of their customer service
Stability and fairness of pricing

Strong supplier relationships take effort but pay off by improving your inventory control and increasing your margins.

How To Manage Your Pet Store Inventory With eTailPet

Now that you’ve got the basics of pet store inventory management down, it’s time to put this knowledge into action with the right tool to back you up.

eTailPet is an all-in-one, cloud-based POS system made just for pet stores. It simplifies inventory management and gives you greater control over your stock.

Here are just a few ways it helps:

Smart order system: This feature analyzes past purchasing behavior to recommend ideal reorder quantities, helping reduce overstock, avoid stockouts, and keep cash flow healthy.
Real-time inventory sync: Inventory levels automatically update across both online and in-store channels the moment a sale happens. This helps prevent overselling and ensures customers always see what’s truly available.
Robust reporting: Detailed reports highlight which products are slow to sell or expensive to keep on the shelf. With this insight, it’s easier to make smart inventory decisions and keep the product mix profitable.

eTailPet gives you everything you need for pet store inventory management. Schedule a demo today to see how it can help you run your business more efficiently.

Pet Store Inventory Management: 8 Tips & Tools for Success

Why Pet Store Inventory Management Is Complex

8 Effective Tips for Managing Your Pet Store Inventory

Tip 1: Build a Clear Inventory Categorization System