Crisis-proof

The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. While large parts of Europe are gradually returning to normality, the number of new infections in the USA was still high at the time of going to press. In Latin America, no end to the pandemic seems to be in sight; and in China, from where the coronavirus has spread to the rest of the world, a second wave was threatening to materialise at the end of June.
In the pet sector, virtual trade shows are currently the norm. A number of employees in many pet supplies companies are working exclusively from home. The meetings between retailers and the field sales teams of their suppliers are by no means as informal and spontaneous as was the case before Covid-19 emerged.
We're not complaining, however. The pet sector is and will remain crisis-proof. It has weathered the coronavirus storm much better than other sectors of the economy. Pet products were classed as an essential product group in almost every country, enabling most pet stores to stay open throughout the pandemic. Some were even cele-brating sales growth this spring because the demand for pet supplies was unexpectedly high. In countries that implemented a strict lockdown policy, however, the majority of pet supplies businesses suffered a drop in sales. As public life begins to return to normal, this downturn might be balanced out again in the coming months.
Social networking sites have experienced a massive rise in usage during the coronavirus crisis, as has online shopping. Pet retailers who concentrated hitherto only on bricks-and-mortar business have been quick to open online shops so as to be better prepared for the future. Tools like click & collect, which connect shopping in stationary stores and online, have also benefited significantly from the pandemic.

How will the situation develop in the next few months? Despite an as yet uncertain future, the prospects for the pet sector don't look bad. At the height of the crisis, many people longed for a pet companion to take out for walks and as a source of comfort. This trend may persist for some time after the crisis and might even increase respect for the family pet. Pets could thus assume greater significance in society in the future, and the pet sector should take advantage of this. Customer service is the…