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What Pet Food Stores are not offering to us Dog Lovers?

4K views 18 replies 14 participants last post by  ZekeandTara 
#1 ·
Starbucks turned a cup of coffee into an experience worth going out of the way for. What's missing with our pet food stores / shoppes?
 
#3 ·
In the back of my mind, I have an idea for a café/specialty non-kibble/canned food store/indoor dog park. Possibly with a separate room for training classes.

The café probably would be a different store with a covered/heated pedway to the dog park and would only serve food that was non-toxic to dogs.

Though I doubt the business would be sustainable here since it's a smaller city and I will be pretty much settled permanently once I move out to the lake so I wouldn't want to try it elsewhere.
 
#8 ·
In the back of my mind, I have an idea for a café/specialty non-kibble/canned food store/indoor dog park. Possibly with a separate room for training classes.
Super cool! The BF and I also have a dream of opening a restaurant that serves both human and dog foodies. The only dog-friendly eateries here are Dairy Queen and Starbucks, both of which require you to keep your dogs on the patio.

We planned out all kinds of activities and fundraising events. It's one of those fun conversations we have while at dinner or the park.
 
#4 ·
Good products at better prices. ;) I try to support local shops, but it is hard to beat online prices a lot of times.

Other than that, I don't want an "experience." Honestly, I get annoyed when employees approach me, offer help, or try explaining something. I'm an in/out and ask-if-I-need-something person. :)
 
#5 ·
I'm not a Starbucks customer so I guess I can't really say. I have been in Starbucks but didn't really consider the experience one I wanted to repeat. I could barely figure out how to order a regular size cup of plain black coffee. lol I felt like an idiot and was holding up all the people behind me who were desperate for their latte mocha caramel whatever. :)

I consider pet stores places to buy pet stuff. We have quite a few pet stores here, big box and small businesses. I just go in and get what I need and leave. I guess I'm not much of a browsing type shopper.
 
#13 ·
I am not much of a Starbucks lover either, though I like their lattes though :), but the place itself is WAAAAY to hectic for me most of the time.

I wish the ones here had a separate place for training, so while browsing you didn't have to worry about messing up someone's training class or whatever.

wish Petsmart would branch out and consider selling some of the more specialty dog brands. There's a huge market for cute, well-made collars, for example, but Petsmart really only carries a few brands and they rarely get anything new with regards to pattern, style, etc.

Unfortunately, pet boutique's don't do well here, which is usually where people can get nicer products.

I have nothing against online shopping, but I really like being able to physically pick up a product, see how big it is in my hands, etc.
I cant do online shopping very easily, esp with things like food. we are so remote that UPS will just drop whatever it is on the other side of our gate and leave it to either be stolen or (in the case of food) be eaten by whatever wild animals are in the area :p

Also, I think places like Petsmart need to put their employees through training on how to approach someone who brought their dog in. I've had a number of employees not even bother to ask me if they could pet my dog. It just bugs me, because you'd think stores like that would put more emphasis on politeness and how to provide proper socialization.
I wish they had employees that are dedicated to each area, like cat specialists, fish, small animal ... etc. Because there is nothing more infuriating then having a question about your beta fish and getting a deer in the headlights look from someone who is supposed to be helping you, or in the case of dog food, or dog stuff in general, knowing more then the person helping me :p

The only food store for pets that carries food and accsesories is Bosleys. Its the only place here that has well trained employees. They ask if they can pet your dog and everything, unlike PetSmart. PetSmart really needs to give their employees better training.
Pet Supplies Plus in our area is similar, sounds like. the employees are knowledgeable and helpful and if they cant answer something they will try and find someone who can, they don't pretend to know.
 
#6 ·
wish Petsmart would branch out and consider selling some of the more specialty dog brands. There's a huge market for cute, well-made collars, for example, but Petsmart really only carries a few brands and they rarely get anything new with regards to pattern, style, etc.

Unfortunately, pet boutique's don't do well here, which is usually where people can get nicer products.

I have nothing against online shopping, but I really like being able to physically pick up a product, see how big it is in my hands, etc.
 
#7 ·
Also, I think places like Petsmart need to put their employees through training on how to approach someone who brought their dog in. I've had a number of employees not even bother to ask me if they could pet my dog. It just bugs me, because you'd think stores like that would put more emphasis on politeness and how to provide proper socialization.
 
#9 ·
They make you watch a video as part of training, but no one else paid attention to it. I always got weird looks for wait at an appropriate distance away (maybe a foot further back than would be normal for conversation, so as not to pressure the dog) and asking if I could greet the dog before moving into the handler/dog's space.
 
#12 ·
The only food store for pets that carries food and accsesories is Bosleys. Its the only place here that has well trained employees. They ask if they can pet your dog and everything, unlike PetSmart. PetSmart really needs to give their employees better training.
 
#15 ·
I would love to see a pet store with all natural products, then have an indoor play area for dogs to run with a pool and some agility equipment. Then of course a little Cafe with coffee/ muffins for the humans and water/ biscuits for the dog :). Updated pet vaccine records would be required to come into the shop as well...

I have always dreamed to have my own pet store and this is exactly what I would do... Now i just need to find that money, lol!
 
#16 ·
Yea we don't have that many small pet places in the area, the ones that only sell biscuits never seem to last, and the other ones sell puppies and I refuse to condone that.

We have a few restuarants that will let you eat on the patio with dogs in our areas but I have heard Florida is really strict on their laws with food and animal. I know when I worked at the good ole Petsmart we couldn't sell snacks because foods had to be over 6 feet above the floor to avoid animals getting into it.

As far as Petsmart, they do their best on training the employees they get. Remember these kids are usually AT BEST making $10 getting AT MOST 32 hours a week. The training they get are books they are given to read and horrible videos they are forced to watch. Most of them don't care. But don't discount everyone that works at a Petsmart. I can tell you, atleast when my fiance and I worked there, we got looked down on a lot but my fiance can talk circles around most fresh water fish people (he does planted tanks and angelfish) and I knew far more about dogs than I was given credit for. And I know a few people who are still there who are still very knowledgable. Not all are the same, and don't worry I've seen my fair share of deadbeats roll through that place, but keep all that in mind.
 
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#17 ·
I like the pet stores around here, they are small not crowded with people and the employees leave you be unless you ask for assistance.

And when you buy 10 bags of food you get one free!!

Also my fave local store the employees are very nice and one of them always saves up samples and that and once or twice a year gives me a huge bag of samples including treats, toys, food etc. :D
 
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