A superlative shopping experience

With 30 stores currently in operation, Animalis-1000 Amis is one of the leading speciality trading groups in France. The company was created by a takeover of 1000 Amis by the Truffaut subsidiary Animalis. In the last two years in particular, the group has consolidated its position in the market with the opening of seven new stores. The Animalis-1000 Amis concept is geared to large-format speciality stores in densely populated conurbations. In the Paris area alone, with around 12 million inhabitants, the company runs 17 stores and it is well represented in the Bordeaux area too with four outlets. All the stores stock a full range of over 9000 products, including a wide variety of live animals.
At night the Animalis tower is illuminated in a myriad of colours.
In Herblay, Animalis-1000 Amis has spared no expense in opening a flagship store comprising various themed areas in the new well-frequented “Patte d’oie” shopping centre. Located just a short distance from this store is also France’s largest garden centre, run by the parent company Truffaut – and this likewise has a pet department. “The customer base of the garden centre tends to be different from that of the pet store, ensuring that competition between the two is strictly limited“, explains Gilles L’Heureux, the director responsible for the operation and expansion of the stores from his base in the Animalis-1000 Amis headquarters in Evry.
Attractively presented: toys for pets.
The round glass tower crowning the outer façade of the new Animalis-1000 Amis store is a striking sight from a distance, especially at night when it is illuminated in a myriad of colours. The inside of the store is equally fascinating to visitors. It’s not only young pet lovers that are attracted by the massive koi pond complete with fountains that create a constant, illuminated play of water. An artificial rock wall and trees conjure up a suitable exotic ambience around the pond, and just beyond it fish enthusiasts will find what they are looking for: the aquarium area, all in black and comprising 22 tanks for freshwater fish and four for marine fish, may well offer the widest selection of fish for miles around. The extensive display of aquarium sets, featuring both classic models and modern, extravagant designs, will also suit a wide variety of tastes. To give customers a better understanding of how an aquarium system works, the complexities of a complete aquarium, including water conditioning, are explained clearly and…