Remember last week when I asked “What’s In You Bottle?” Well, it turns out that dogs have special bottled water too. “PetRefresh® is the only water available today that is specifically designed for the daily hydration needs of pets. Not a treat, but a core nutrient for better health.” Also a new water product for dogs, OOH’s “Pup Cups”, is water in a cup for dogs on the go. They got great brand recognition by donating water to the Humane Society for Hurricane Katrina canine victims. I just love this one: K9 Water Co., a Valencia, Calif.-based company, is selling a line of vitamin-enriched bottled waters for dogs over the Internet.
http://www.k9waterco.com/. A four-pack comes in four flavors — Toilet Water (chicken), Gutter Water (beef), Puddle Water (liver) and Hose Water (lamb).

The humanization of pets is more than just as part of the family; they are living longer and healthier lives. There are all kinds of innovations in pet “goodies.” The list of packaged things for your dog is endless. In fact, there is even a new word coined, pupperware, to describe this niche. Pupperware n. Dog accessories and toys, particularly ones demonstrated and sold at in-home parties. [Blend of pup and Tupperware.]

But just innovation and being trendy doesn’t tell the whole story. People are concerned about a dog’s health too. Vitamins and minerals for Fido present a huge new segment. The big thing in “packaging” is ease of dispensing and use for DIY pet medications. There are a lot of new DIY products offered for when you can do it yourself instead of carting your dog to the vet. Just remember make the instructions simple and easy to read if you want people to buy your product.

Recently “Greenies” (a top selling dog treat) got in trouble with consumers because purchasers claimed the product packaging was not informative enough about the potential choking problem. I don’t know the outcome but its important to note that the consumers blamed the package labeling as part of the problem.

Affluent boomers and other empty nesters are looking at Fido as an integral part of the family. They have money to spend and plenty of it so look for an influx of products geared towards this audience. A good example is Harley Davidson. They see money in the 50+ generation and have developed the companion dog products too.

Think about this unique marketing and packaging application too. Prepared meals for dogs, sounds good enough for humans to eat.
“BENEFUL® ELEVATES PET FOOD TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH
INTRODUCTION OF FIRST-EVER PREPARED MEALS™ FOR DOGS
The difference is visible, as Beneful Prepared Meals showcase the eight, mouth-watering varieties and real food ingredients in clear, ready-to-serve, re-sealable plastic containers – a new packaging innovation in pet food. The new product is being launched regionally in 2006 in 50 percent of the U.S.”

I just had to use this example, Bow Wow Breakfast Cereal for Dogs. It is a new line of dog food intended for morning consumption. The company that makes it claims it’s specifically formulated to meet a dog’s needs in the morning. The thing is pets don’t buy this stuff; people do. So keep that in mind as you develop your product packaging. First, you have to appeal to the “human” side of the dog owner.

At the Marketing to Women conference at which I recently spoke, I used an example of packaging dog food that appeals to women. Pedigree Dog Food just implemented a reclosable zipper, something SHE will buy. So think “people” when packaging your products for the dogs. You have to first persuade the owner to pick your product up off the shelf. Make sure that in addition to your packaging “going to the dogs” it’s attracting the people too.

Some predictions on “hot” packaging trends in the coming months:
Baby Boomer Products
Environmental Sustainability And Packaging
Labeling And Ingredients Statements On Packaging (ongoing)
RFID And Packaging

JoAnn Hines the Packaging Diva has been on TV, traveled to China, worked with the SBA and spoken at the White House (twice). Why do they seek her out? Because she knows how to package products so that people will buy them. When Faith Popcorn made her business trend predictions for 2006, she called JoAnn to find out what was going on in the world of packaging. Businesses large and small call upon her to solve their packaging problems.

She loves to share her proficiency in packaging. JoAnn speaks on the subject around the globe and made the packaging world more understandable when she created several web portals, http://www.packaginguniversity.com, packagingcoach.com, womeninpackaging.org and packagingdiva.com, to answer packaging questions and resolve packaging problems.

Her expertise is important because packaging is the third largest industry. In fact, 10% of every dollar spent at retail goes directly to packaging materials. For more insights on what is hot and what is not in packaging contact the Packaging Diva via phone at 678-594-6872 or via email at PackagingDiva@aol.com

More Choice Online

So where does everyone get all the things they need for these exotic and not so exotic animals? The local pet store, of course. At least you would think that was the case. The trouble is not every pet shop carries the same merchandise. You may not find what you need in the local stores. This is why so many people are seeking pet supplies on the Internet.

The local pet shops usually are specialty stores. Many shops carry a little bit of everything but focus on one main niche. When you browse the catalog of the online pet stores, you will discover many different items you never knew existed. These e-stores can carry products the local shops cannot because they have drop ship services. This means when you order from the pet store online, the items will be delivered to you directly from a warehouse rather than the store itself. There is no inventory cluttering up the aisle ways.

If you need a large iguana cage you can find it from an online pet merchant. In fact, you can find just about anything you would need for the little lizard. From heat lamps to warming stones, the online pet store will have what you desire for the care of your reptile.

Low Prices

Low prices are normally a real benefit of the e-commerce pet stores which carry bird supplies. Many times the prices are lower and even the quality is better from the online pet supplies shop. Local stores buy from different suppliers who offer discounts for the larger orders. Small local stores cannot compete with the purchasing power of the larger nationwide chains. The pricing reflects this problem.

Online pet stores do not have to worry about buying power. They have a worldwide client base. These shops are able to keep their prices affordable, offering some items the local stores simply cannot stock. This is because the pet stores found on the Internet have their own specialties. There are groups that focus on bird sales. Another devotes their attention to the fish. Still another deals with things like reptiles or snakes.

Quality Service

You also can typically find good quality service from an online store. You can almost always locate what you need, and usually useful items you did not know existed. The prices are reasonable. The service is good. Take a look at what is available. You may be surprised by the advantages of online pet shopping options.

For information on practical dog necessities, please visit http://www.dog-necessities.com/, a popular site providing great insights concerning issues that help you with dog care, such as dog training products, dog medical supplies, and much more.