Who Knows Best What Pet Stores Need? Retailers Do.

SINCE WE LAUNCHED PETS+ in 2017, one of our core values has been to aggregate and amplify the voices of independent pet retailers and service providers. They contribute to our print magazine and digital products through the PETS+ Brain Squad, our monthly reader survey group, and via our annual Big Survey.

Retailers also take part in the PETS+ Sample Box program, discovering new products for their stores while also helping to shape development for our partner brands.

So it was only natural for us to turn again to pet indies when we decided to launch a contest that celebrates the top products in the industry. After all, who knows best what not only meets the needs of pet parents but also helps pet stores thrive? They do!

Voting ran for six weeks during May and June across 35 categories. In our Big Story, “Retailers Know Best,” you’ll see the winners and hear from the retailers who voted for them. “Retailer Raves” cover everything from success with their own pets, making it easy to recommend and sell the products, to insight into how the brands support indies in particular.

A huge thank you to all of the retailers who voted! And also to all of the brands that entered. Even those that didn’t take the top spot told us that the exposure from appearing in the May-Jun issue’s Voting Guide was a win in and of itself.

Speaking of success, in “Own the Holidays,” columnist Candace D’Agnolo tells you how to find exactly that. And in “Best in Class,” Katherine Ostiguy and Daniel Lombard share how they earned PETS+ America’s Coolest honors.

There’s a lot to celebrate in this issue! We hope you enjoy all the wins.