TRADE TALK | PET GAZETTE | 5
PETS AT HOME LAUNCHES
NEW ‘STORE OF THE FUTURE’
The new stores will include groom rooms, a ‘pet village’, dog washing stations and pet care
classes
Pet care retail chain Pets at Home has
unveiled its new Store of the Future format in
Stockport and Chesterfield following a multi-
million pound investment.
The new offering hopes to create a centre
of “pet care excellence and exceptional
customer service”, and put Pets at Home at
the heart of local communities.
The new format stores include revamped
veterinary practices and groom rooms while
its retail offering has been transformed into a
‘pet village’, featuring dog washing stations,
selfie spots and pet care classes. The new
format will also see the launch of Pets at
Home’s first cat adoption lounge and will work
in partnership with the RSPCA.
The new stores will feature dedicated
events areas where customers can learn
about the importance of dog grooming during
a live demonstration, join like-minded owners
at the monthly breed socials, or see how fast
their dog is on the agility course.
Pet owners will also be able to book free
food consultations with a nutrition advisor,
The agency hopes to improve sales for
pet businesses through the training of
employees
as well as conducting weight checks for
their pets. They can also use the self-wash
station to wash and blow-dry their dogs in the
purpose-built facilities.
The stores will host interactive child-friendly
events to educate children on pet care and
interactive tunnels for kids.
Peter Pritchard, group CEO, said: “I am
delighted to announce the launch of our
new Store of the Future format in Stockport
and Chesterfield. We’ve always known
that our stores are much more than just a
convenience shop for pets and now we’re
providing them with the million-pound
makeover they deserve.”
NEUTERING FEMALE DOGS TREBLES
RISK OF URINARY INCONTINENCE
The research by RVC’s VetCompass programme also found that Hungarian Vizslas, Doberman,
Weimaraners and Boxers breeds were most at risk
Neutering female dogs makes them
three times more likely to develop urinary
incontinence (UI), a new study has revealed.
The research, carried out by the Royal
Veterinary College’s (RVC) VetCompass
programme, also indicated the females
of certain breeds were more prone to UI
than others. Hungarian Vizslas, Doberman,
Weimaraners and Boxers are the breeds
most at risk, according to the findings.
www.petgazette.biz
COMPANION
CONSULTANCY
LAUNCHES
TRAINING DIVISION
FOR RETAIL SECTOR
Currently, UI affects around 3% of bitches
in primary veterinary care in England. A
connection between neutering and UI in
bitches has long been suspected but this
study helped to provide stronger evidence. It
is expected that these results will aid owners
and vets in making evidence-based decisions
when it comes to neutering female dogs.
The study was conducted by analysing
data from 333,910 bitches who presented
at veterinary practices participating in the
VetCompass programme between 2014 and
2017.
The data also showed that age and
bodyweight were major contributory factors
to bitches developing UI as well as neutering
and breed.
The study, Spaying and urinary incontinence
in bitches under UK primary veterinary care: a
case-control study, has been published by the
Journal of Small Animal Practice.
Following the recent appointment of Emma
Sharp, veterinary-run PR and marketing agency
Companion Consultancy, has announced the
launch of a new training and development
service.
Sharp, whose background includes over 20
years of experience working within sales, will
head up the new training division. On offer will
be a diverse range of courses for all levels of
business within the retail and animal health
sector.
It will offer a range of training courses from
sales focused subjects such as overcoming
objections and influencing skills to more
general courses such as customer service skills
and understanding learning styles.
The agency will also provide a range of
managerial courses such as interviewing
techniques, team management and
performance development skills to help
facilitate strong leadership, staff retention and
job satisfaction.
Sharp joined Companion Consultancy
in February this year and her background
includes working on brands such as Horse
and Hound, Marie Claire and Country Life. In
recent years she has worked within the Animal
Health Care sector, relaunching a magazine
and website dedicated to the SQP market. She
launched the National SQP Awards in 2017 as
well as various conferences around the UK.
Sharp said: “Investment in people and the
commitment a business makes to support and
develop staff creates an environment where
job satisfaction is at its highest. When people
feel happy and supported, there are significant
results. Productivity is high, quality of work is
good and staff
turnover is low.
The current
economic
climate is
unpredictable
and very
competitive so
focusing on
the assets a
company has is
critical.”
June 2019