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9 Tips For Transitioning Your Pet Products Business To An Online Store

As pet ownership soars to unprecedented levels, with 70% of U.S. households now home to furry companions, transitioning your pet products business online has become not just an option, but a necessity for growth and sustainability in today’s digital-first marketplace.

Key Takeaways

  • Choose a user-friendly e-commerce platform like Shopify for easy setup and management.
  • Optimize your product listings with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and accurate pricing.
  • Implement a secure payment gateway to protect customer information and build trust.
  • Offer multiple shipping options to cater to different customer preferences and needs.
  • Create engaging content like blog posts and videos to educate customers about pet care.
  • Use social media to connect with pet owners and showcase your products.
  • Provide excellent customer service through various channels to build loyalty.
  • Consider offering subscriptions for recurring pet supplies to increase customer retention.
  • Continuously analyze your online store’s performance and make data-driven improvements.

The US pet market is currently on track to hit a valuation of USD 95.30 billion by the year 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in North America. This isn’t solely because people are owning more pets, either. Today, there is a growing change in attitudes towards pet care, with American pet owners now more willing than ever to seek out quality pet food, veterinary care, and accessories than they were in previous decades.

This also speaks to a growing realization that popular pet species like dogs and cats are, in fact, closer to humans in terms of their physical and mental health needs than previously realized. Pet owners are now essentially treating their furry companions much akin to (but not quite like) human children, increasing median per-pet spending.

Neighborhood pet stores—long a fixture of even small American towns—have evolved to keep up with the times. For instance, sales of wholesale stainless steel dog bowls are stronger than ever, thanks to concerns that once-popular plastic bowls may be a breeding ground for harmful pathogens. 

These stores are also increasingly adopting a hybrid online-offline structure, where the brick-and-mortar shop essentially functions as a combination showroom and fulfillment center while the shop’s website and marketplace postings handle the bulk of the sales. Many have even transitioned to completely online models.

If you run a traditional pet products business, expanding your online footprint has probably been on your agenda for some time. The broader market reach, improved cost-effectiveness, and theoretically superior sales growth potential of e-commerce are enough to make anyone think. 

Fortunately, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to these transitions. Many traditional pet businesses have transitioned to an online or hybrid model, and emulating their successes is often a simple matter of consistently following established best practices. Let’s look at some important things to consider when expanding into the world of online pet product retail: 

1) Choose the Right E-Commerce Platform

Start by selecting an e-commerce platform that suits your current business setup. If you already have a WordPress site or want to follow a business plan that leans heavily on content marketing, integrating the WooCommece plugin is probably the way to go. However, if you want a more straightforward e-commerce site-building experience, Shopify is most likely right for you. 

These, and other popular choices, also offer user-friendly interfaces and extensive support for small businesses that make them a much better option compared to setting up an expensive bespoke site framework.

2) Create a Mobile-Friendly Website for Your Pet Products

In the US, the vast majority of online discoveries are initiated over mobile devices. Similarly, most buyer demographics today prefer to complete purchases over their phones. However, because websites are developed on desktop devices, it’s easy for developers to overlook the importance of the mobile experience. 

If you went with a mainstream e-commerce platform, offering a decent mobile-friendly experience shouldn’t be an issue. Regardless, you’ll want to periodically test your website over multiple devices to ensure that you’re providing a smooth experience to as many potential pet product buyers as possible.

3) Invest in High-Quality Pet and Product Photography

High-quality images of both pets and products are essential for showcasing your products in ways that are immediately relatable to potential buyers. Consider hiring a professional photographer and investing in good product photography to take clear, attractive photos of your offers and the types of pets they’re for.

4) Offer Multiple Payment Options

Another reason that you want to use popular web frameworks is that they will allow you to integrate various payment acceptance solutions without any issues. Aside from popular options like credit cards and PayPal, make sure your checkout process accepts various payment methods that are popular in your region, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo. This flexibility will reduce cart abandonment and ensure that more customers stick with you for future pet-related purchases.

5) Streamline Your Shipping Process

Pet owners generally want their purchases to be delivered as soon as possible. Develop a reliable and efficient shipping strategy that makes sense for your specific offers to address this need and increase the chances of repeat purchases.

6) Write Compelling Product Descriptions

As implied earlier, pet ownership is a highly emotional responsibility. As such, your product descriptions and content must do more than just highlight technical specs. They should also make a strong emotional argument that gets people to buy. 

Don’t forget to combine your content creation efforts with a solid search engine optimization (SEO) strategy to improve your store’s visibility in search engine results pages.

7) Build a Strong Social Media Presence

Pet products and social media are a natural pairing. Share high-quality videos and photos of cute critters and useful accessories on social media platforms to better engage with potential customers and to build a brand following. Don’t forget to post content, interact with your followers, and team up with the right influencers (and their pets) to keep your business at the top of your community’s mind.

8) Use Analytics to Track Your E-Commerce Website’s Performance 

Set up tools like Google Analytics to monitor your budding pet product store’s performance. Look into the context behind key metrics related to traffic, conversion rates, and customer behavior to provide your website with a basis for future success.

9) Provide Excellent Service to Your Pet Parent Customers

Lastly, ensure that your online store has clear and accessible customer service on all of its main channels. At the minimum, provide customers a means to reach you over email, phone, and live chat so that you’re able to resolve issues as quickly as possible.

How to Make the Best of Your Pet Business’s Next Chapter

Despite a few inevitable growing pains, transitioning your pet product store to an online model will undoubtedly open up new opportunities for brand and sales growth, as well as potentially deeper levels of customer engagement. These best practices should help smoothen your journey towards developing a successful online presence in the field—thus allowing you to better meet the needs of customers and pets not just in your immediate neighborhood, but also the world over.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right e-commerce platform for my pet products business?
Choose a user-friendly platform, offers customizable templates, and provides essential features like secure payment processing and inventory management. Shopify is a popular choice for its ease of use and robust functionality.

What types of product images work best for online pet stores?
High-quality, clear images that showcase your products from multiple angles work best. Include lifestyle shots of pets using the products to help customers visualize their use.

How can I ensure secure transactions on my online pet store?
Implement a reputable payment gateway, use SSL encryption, and display security badges on your website to assure customers their information is protected.

What shipping options should I offer for pet products?
Offer a range of options, including standard shipping, expedited shipping, and local pickup if possible. Consider free shipping thresholds to encourage larger purchases.

How can I create engaging content for my pet products’ website?
Share informative blog posts about pet care, create product demonstration videos, and offer helpful tips related to your products. This content can educate customers and improve SEO.

What’s the best way to use social media for my online pet store?
Share cute pet photos, run contests, offer exclusive deals, and engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages promptly. Use platforms popular with pet owners like Instagram and Facebook.

How can I provide excellent customer service for my online pet store?
Offer multiple contact channels (email, phone, chat), respond quickly to inquiries, and create a comprehensive FAQ section on your website. Consider implementing a chatbot for 24/7 support.

Should I offer subscriptions for pet products?
Yes, subscriptions can be great for recurring items like pet food or litter. They provide convenience for customers and steady revenue for your business.

How often should I update my online pet store?
Regularly update your product listings, add new items, and refresh your content to keep customers engaged. Aim for at least weekly updates to your blog or social media.

How can I analyze my online pet store’s performance?
Use tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic, sales data, and customer behavior. Regularly review this data to identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about your business strategy.

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