Pets of all type substitute as children in many households. Here’s why your customers give two paws up for pet gift baskets.
Stats tell the story
I share my love for pets (especially dogs) in the biography of my gift basket books, How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business and The Gift Basket Design Book.
An estimated $72 million was spent on goods and services in 2018 by pet owners in the U.S. That statistic is cited in a trend report on the American Pet Products Association website along with a breakdown of the types of pets owned and how owners spent their pet care money.
Here are other U.S. pet ownership facts for 2017-2018:
- Households with pets (top 3 in millions): dogs (60.2), cats (47.1), freshwater fish (12.5)
- Number of pets owned (top 3 in millions): freshwater fish (139.3) cats (94.2), dogs (89.7)
- Annual amount spent on food and treats: dogs ($307), cats ($291)
People love pets, so why not make pet gift baskets for family and friends as well as for customers if you own a business?
A large investment of money in pet-related products isn’t necessary. People own reptiles, rabbits, and birds, but a better beginning with gift baskets is to make them for dogs and cats unless you know lots of people who have other types of pets. Here are some product ideas:
- Collars
- Treats
- Bowls
- Toys
- Leashes
- Barrettes
- Food mat
Where to find pet products
One type of supplier, discount stores, offers quality items at costs that are lower than retailers, which is another supplier.
If you are a professional gift basket designer, pet industry and gift trade shows are open to you to see merchandise. There are also pet industry websites and print publications to receive by subscription which feature products.
You have the choice of making an entire gift basket (guidelines on gift basket creation are here) with pet products, or you can add one or two pet items to a gift basket made for an individual owner or entire family. How wonderful it is for a family to open a housewarming gift and see items for them and their pets, too.
Above are seven suggested pet products to include in gift baskets. What else would you buy so sales figures give two paws up for pet gift baskets.?
