How To Choose & Manage Pet Store Vendors [+ 5 Top Vendors]

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To sell great pet products, you first need great vendors.

Small retail pet stores usually get pet food, toys, collars, and other pet products from wholesale vendors. These large corporations sell high quantities of products at prices lower than retail value, which allows retailers to make a profit when they sell it to customers.

But not all pet store vendors are the same. To get quality products that customers and pets love, you need to choose your vendors wisely.

As the owner of a small pet store, you likely work with multiple vendors to obtain a variety of pet products. Your vendors impact the quality of the products you sell, how you run your store, and how profitable your business is. So, it’s important to research and choose the best option (or options) rather than going with the first one you find.

In this blog, we offer guidance on the vendor selection process, how to work with vendors, and the top pet store vendors you should consider.

How To Choose Pet Store Vendors

As you research potential vendors, the three most important factors to consider are products, prices, and business practices. Let’s look at each of these factors.

Product Selection

First, you need to decide what kind of pet store you want to run — then, you need to find a vendor that stocks the right kinds of products.

To determine your store’s focus, ask these questions:

Do you want to be an affordable option for pet owners, or stock high-end pet products?
Do you want to focus on a specific pet, like dogs, or be a general pet store?
Do you want to be a one-stop shop for all of a pet owners’ needs, or focus on one kind of item, like pet food?

Once you’ve made these decisions, look for vendors that offer these items.

Regardless of what kinds of pet products you want to sell, ensure the products you order are high-quality. Low-quality pet food or defective pet products deter pet owners from coming back and negatively impact your business. If you notice issues with the products you’re receiving, consider different products or different vendors.

Pricing Strategy

When you’re deciding who to work with, it’s important to compare prices between pet store vendors, too. What prices you can afford depends on the amount of product you expect to sell and the profit margin you expect to make.

For example, if suppliers are charging high prices for organic pet food, but your customers buy lots of it, you can likely make a reliable profit. However, if your customers aren’t as interested in pet clothing and sales are low, paying high prices to vendors for these items isn’t wise.

Look at prices from a variety of vendors to make sure the prices you agree to are reasonable compared to the market. Remember: Look into extra fees, including the cost of shipping, so you can stay profitable.

Business Practices

Apart from products and prices, you need a vendor with great customer service and honest business practices. One of the best ways to assess this is to get in contact with a vendor’s current clients. Ask them if the vendor is reliable, if they meet deadlines, and if they’re clear about what they charge. This helps you understand a vendor’s reputation in the industry.

Occasionally, problems occur with orders. You may receive the wrong product, experience delays, or have other issues. You need a supplier who works with you on these issues and quickly corrects them. Look for vendors who go the extra mile to resolve your issues rather than doing the bare minimum.

How To Manage Pet Store Vendors

Once you determine which vendor or vendors you want to work with, you need to maintain positive relationships with them to keep inventory coming in and to make a profit. Let’s discuss three important ways to manage supplier relationships.

Negotiate Favorable Deals

Some pet store vendors are open to negotiation on price. If you order a greater quantity of a certain product, like dog food, you may be able to negotiate a bulk discount. If you prove to be a valuable partner for your vendors, you have more leverage to negotiate deals that benefit your business.

Maintain Clear Communication

To work effectively with vendors, you need to communicate clearly. Explain your expectations and priorities — and listen as vendors do the same. If you encounter issues, let them know. Be open to feedback if the vendor has an issue with how you’re operating, too. Regular check-ins with vendors may help to resolve issues and to adjust processes where necessary.

Keep Your Word

To have the best supplier relationships, you need to live up to your end of the bargain. If you agree to a certain price, be sure to pay it within the agreed-upon time frame. If you commit to a certain quantity, stick to it. If your situation changes and you need to adjust your purchasing strategy, give your supplier notice and explain why. Over time, keeping your word helps you earn the trust of your suppliers — which leads to opportunities for better deals in the future.

Top 5 Pet Store Vendors

There are many pet store vendors on the market. Each has strengths and weaknesses, which is why working with multiple suppliers is often best. Here are five of the most trusted pet suppliers in the business.

1. Mars Petcare

Mars operates in a variety of industries, including the pet industry.
They offer some of the most popular pet food brands on the market, including Pedigree, Royal Canin, and Whiskas.
They also partner with other organizations to promote pet health and environmental stability.

2. Purina

Purina sells its own line of Purina-branded pet food and care products.
The company has existed for over 90 years, and prioritizes pet nutrition.
They invest in innovation and sustainability.

3. Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Hill’s makes their own pet food.
The company was founded on science-based pet health and nutrition.
Hills donates to animal shelters to help pets find homes, and provides support for pets in need in the aftermath of natural disasters.

4. Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet stocks a variety of garden and pet products. Their pet items include food, health, grooming, training, and behavior products.
They’ve acquired some of the top brands in the pet industry, including Four Paws and Cadet.
By partnering with top omnichannel retailers, they offer a wide selection of both premium and value products.

5. Spectrum Brands

Spectrum owns a variety of brands that cover multiple home-related industries.
They emphasize the values of trust, accountability, and collaboration as they strive to make living better at home.
The pet brands they offer include Good’n’Fun, Nature’s Miracle, and Perfect Coat.

Find the Right Pet Store Vendors for Your Business With eTailPet

The pet store vendors you work with have a huge impact on the success of your business. While great products lead to customer satisfaction and loyalty, subpar products cause your business to struggle.

To see success at your pet store, make sure your vendors offer great products at reasonable prices and are willing to help you with customer service concerns. Once you find suppliers you trust, maintain these relationships by communicating clearly and keeping your word.

If working with multiple vendors seems overwhelming, a point of sale (POS) system can help. Industry-specific POS systems offer direct access to industry suppliers — eTailPet is an all-in-one cloud-based POS system designed specifically for pet stores.

Our solution gives users access to a catalog of over 130,000 pet-specific products, so you can place orders right from the system. eTailPet also offers a vendor credit module, which allows you to get credit back from vendors for returned or expired product — saving you money.

To see the difference eTailPet makes for your pet store, schedule a demo today!