BUSINESS - American Kennel Club Opening Retail Centre In New York City

Manhattan will be the home of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) first retail store and dog-care centre.

The 4,000 square foot facility will offer day care, boarding, training, grooming and walking services along with retail sales, reported the Wall Street Journal.

The dog-care centre will be located at Via 57West, on West 57^th Street, a luxury residential building with 45,000 square feet of retail space.

“We are experienced people with lifetimes involved with the care and showing and exhibiting of dogs,” Dennis Sprung, AKC’s chief executive, told the Wall Street Journal. “We bring that knowledge and experience to the table, and now we are just applying it to brick and mortar.”

As the United States’ registry for purebred dog pedigrees and promoter of sanctioned purebred dog events, the AKC has seen first-hand the devotion Americans have towards their pets – and the resources they commit to them – making this move into the pet retail business make financial sense.

According to the American Pet Products Association, of the $60.6 billion pet owners spent on their pets in 2015, an estimated $5.24 billion went toward grooming and boarding services.

The AKC plans to open more dog-care centres in other major cities.

DayCare and Boarding Services may be the Answer

Declining pet visits and excess capacity has those who service the companion animal industry searching for ways to improve or expand services to existing clients.


Large operators like PetSmart are presently experiencing the benefits of having integrated their retail operations with other services over the past few years.  But it is not too late for other service providers to move in this direction. During the Regional Summits last month, service providers in the lower mainland of British Columbia reported they are exploring ways to convert excess shelter capacity into daycare and boarding facilities.


Delivering a 'home away from home' is not a new idea but shelters, veterinary clinics and hospitals may have a significant advantage over other service providers because of the level of management, professional services and even volunteer resources they can commit to delivering these new services.  Understanding the needs of the customer and pets who require these services will be important, however, evolving the business model to create a more holistic approach to client services is likely to create wins for everyone.


Ani-Mall Pet Hospital in Middletown, New York, is accredited by the American Association of Animal Hospitals (AAHA) and offers a full range of veterinary and wellness services including annual exams, vaccinations, pet dental care, and elective surgical procedures. Recently it also began offering pet boarding and day care services to pets in the area it serves.


Among the needs that can be satisfied with boarding services are:

• Vacations
• Family events or parties that cause stress/anxiety
• Business travel
• Socialization/behaviour issues

"Our goal is to create a safe, loving and compassionate environment for pets," said Dr. Michael Barra, veterinarian and owner of Ani-Mall Pet Hospital. "Our entire veterinary care team is dedicated to being your pet's 'home away from home' - whether your pet needs daycare services to let out energy or a safe place to stay while you go on vacation."

View the Ani-Mall Services

When should you explore new options for your business model and service offerings? The evidence from PetSmart and other successful ventures would suggest the right time is always.


Got an idea?  Please share it with your colleagues in the comments area below.