Industry Today - Are you into it?
New Users - Register click here
We all love our pets, so it's perhaps not surprising that despite the UK's fragile economy and stretched family budgets the amount we spend caring for our animal friends shows no signs of diminishing.
Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
A recent survey by Mintel* has shown that 87% of UK pet owners consider their pet to be part of the family and 70% treat their pet with as much care as they would a child. Leading pet care manufacturer, Rolf C. Hagen, has reported that sales of pet care products during 2010 continued to grow, while many other retail sectors struggled to survive. Hagen launched a whole raft of new products onto the UK market last year and is optimistic that UK families will continue to realise the health, educational and social benefits of owning a pet.
It seems we like to treat our pets with new toys and these are becoming increasingly like the kind of toys we would buy our children. If you haven't visited your local pet shop recently you could be in for a big surprise when you see the range of things on offer, especially for dogs and cats. For example, the problem of keeping cats happy and out of mischief, especially when their busy owners are at work all day, is one area where the manufacturers have come up with some interesting solutions. Hagen has developed a complete 'activity centre' for cats, designed to stimulate their senses and at the same time help them keep healthy and fit. There are similar toys for dogs as well. If your family like to play interactive games and puzzles, they'll probably enjoy watching the pet dog trying to earn rewards by solving doggie puzzles. Interactive mind games with varying levels of difficulty can challenge a dog's mental abilities and encourage bonding - they're not just fun for pets, they're fun for their owners too!
"Pets have always been popular for families with children, but there are more people living alone these days and pets are wonderful company in an otherwise empty home" said Jackie Wilson, Hagen's Marketing Manager. "Pets are very much a part of the family and it's clear many people treat them almost as children. I wouldn't be surprised if the developing trend for 'baby showers' - where people organise parties to shower gifts on newborn babies - spreads to newly acquired pets as well!" If it does there'll be plenty of interesting gifts in the shops to choose from.
Contact Information
Steve Jordan
The Words Workshop
26 Swanwick Lane
Broughton
Milton Keynes
MK10 9LD
BACK TO TOP