Pet Industry's Largest Annual Trade Show is Next Week

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) will present Global Pet Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on March 16 through 18^th.

How big is this event? Check out these facts from the Global Pet Expo website.

In 2015 there were:

• 1,051 exhibitors
• 3,113 booths
• More than 3000 new product launches
• More than 13 football fields’ worth of pet product
• More than 900 companies from around the world showcased their products

The show also includes educational opportunities with a variety of seminars on everything from customer service and digital media, to inventory and staffing.

 

Visit the Global Pet Expo website for more details.

Perfecting partnerships: Retailers and Distributors

Retailers can improve their stores' sales and profitability by taking advantage of the services offered by pet specialty distributors. 

An article in petbusiness.com outlines the importance of pet retailers and distributors as the cornerstone of a store's operations. Pet industry distributors, it says, not only provide stores with products, they offer a variety of services that nurture retailers and ultimately help them grow their bottom line. However, cultivating successful relationships with distributors is more complicated than simply picking one at random and placing an order. Retailers must be prepared to align themselves with the right distributor partners and do their part to make these partnerships flourish. 

READ MORE: Perfecting Partnerships  

"It's all about building relationships," says Bob Merar, president of General Pet Supply. "We are all so busy that we forget to take the time to build the relationship, trust and confidence. The retailer needs to let the distributor show them how much automation we can bring to their company  which can, in turn, save money and allow them to make money."