Consumers on the UK pet supplies trade

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The Pet Care Trust is a national charity with some 1 500 business members. In May 2008, before the onset of the current financial crisis, the Trust sent out surveys to independent and chain pet and aquatic stores and to other outlets all over the UK, whether Trust members or not. A total of 2 820 surveys were sent to pet stores, which generated a response rate of 228.
Fewer customers
"How many regular customers do you have who visit at least monthly?" was one of the questions that aimed to provide information about the popularity of the speciality trade among consumers as a distribution channel. Three years ago, the average number of regular customers was 906, whereas now it is only 490. Most stores, accounting for 45 per cent of those asked, put the number of regular customers per month at 0 to 100. A further 20.5 per cent said they had 101 to 200 regular customers. Even if the previous survey is hard to compare with the latest one due to the different numbers of participants, this outcome nevertheless indicates that customers are no longer paying as many visits to the pet store as they were three years ago. How has the average customer spend developed between 2005 and 2008? According to the Pet Care Trust, the figure has risen during this period from £ 13.89 to £ 14.79, thus by 6.5 per cent. As the association stressed, however, the retail price index has increased by 11.7 per cent in the period surveyed, so that the average spend in pet stores has declined on balance.
The product range in UK pet stores has also undergone changes. 63 per cent of those questioned said that they sold pets – 10 per cent fewer than three years ago. On the other hand, 98.7 per cent said that they now sold pet food, 4.2 per cent more than in 2005. And 98.3 per cent stated that they stock pet accessories; in 2005 this figure was 96.5 per cent. The growth rate for luxury and fashion items was particularly strong: the number of pet stores carrying such products has risen between 2005 and 2008 from just over 40 per cent to 66.9 per cent.
Decline in aquariums
35.5 per cent of all pet product dealers do not sell pets. This figure has increased by over 10 per cent since 2005. Of the animals sold in pet stores, small mammals are especially popular. 51.3 per cent of the survey participants sold rabbits. And as many as 55.1 per cent said in the survey that they stock one or more species of other small mammals, e.g. hamsters, rats…