retailing dog food

[workingchihuahua]

someone had asked in a different post about retailing dog food and is it profitable. i am mobile and last year made an extra $10,000 doing retail. it works for me because i can sell enough to go through a distributor rather than the manufacturer. i also have 6 dogs, my personal philosphy is whatever doesn't sell, my dogs would use. i sell slightly higher ($1-3) over the stores.

[diamienono]

What size bags do you sell? What brand of food?

[neanea]

We started selling dog and cat foods almost a year ago and can't keep it in most of the time. We order once a week and don't order large quantities (to keep it fresh), so we are usually selling out our larger size bags weekly. As far as mark-up, it is anywhere from 30% -40% depending on the brands you choose to carry. We are currently selling Eagle Pack (mostly the Holistic's), some Natura, select varieties of Merrick (canned mostly), and some of the Natural Balance (allergy formulas). At this time, we don't carry alot of products, but hopefully this year we are going to expand our retail sq. ft. to be able to offer more foods and products.

While foods don't carry the same mark-ups as some of the other products, it's a great way to improve the health of your clients, as poor nutrition is at the root of many of the health problems seen in pets.

[workingchihuahua]

mostly 30 lb bags znd 13 oz cans sold in case only. i stock blue buffalo and merrick in the varieties that either i use or my customers order. i also have blue buffalo cookies and merrick turkey wafers are given out after each groom. i also carry Kronch salmon oil and their salmon treats. anything else is a special order providing my distributor carries it

[rapuzzled]

We carry both Merrick, and Precise, and we can't keep it in fast enough. It helps that we have a distributor about a mile down the road from us, and we can get things that day if we need it.

[toomuchfunbnme]

Great Retail!

someone had asked in a different post about retailing dog food and is it profitable. i am mobile and last year made an extra $10,000 doing retail. it works for me because i can sell enough to go through a distributor rather than the manufacturer. i also have 6 dogs, my personal philosphy is whatever doesn't sell, my dogs would use. i sell slightly higher ($1-3) over the stores.

That's great! How do you let your clients know what foods you carry? Do you have a brochure? How do you carry your dog food with you so that you have enough on hand for sales? Do you take orders? Also do you accept charge cards or just cash? Thanks for the input! I really appreciate it!

[diamienono]

I have never heard of these foods except on the board. Never saw them anywhere.

[plushpuppy]

This is great to know. I have wanted to carry dog food for awhile but was afraid to be stuck with it, listening to you guys it might be woth it

[rainingcats&dogs]

i carry nutro, but hope to add more by summer, the thing i like about nutro they will buy back whatever doesn't sell.

[workingchihuahua]

i bring up food when i notice a problem with the dog i.e. dirty ears, bland coat, dry skin and offer a different solution to their problem. get them off the food with fillers and onto a quality food. i had a lab that went from white flaky skin to a beautiful coat in a manner of weeks. there is more to grooming than the groom itself. both ears being excessively dirty is usually a sign of food allergies. most common are the fillers, not that they can't be allergic to chicken. most manufacturers have very informative websites regarding their food. whole dog journal is another great resource.

[jaeinn]

I too push the food when a problem is presented by the owner.

I dont really care if we make alot selling the food. I look at it as a convience thing for our clients and I believe in the foods that we sell.

We sell canidae and merrick only.

I have noticed most people either want to buy in bulk 30-40 lb bags or they wanna try something new in which case they want a 5lb bag only.

Both move pretty good. I probably dont sell as much as some other people.

Jason

[pamperedpups]

This is a great topic... I've considered offering several high quality kibbles for my clients, but there are so many great ones to choose from!


So what do you feed, Diamienono?

[Debby]

I also believe its my responsibility to get the dogs on a good food if there skin looks ******... alot of dandruff , skin and shedding problems can be corrected with good food choices....

I have referred them to the local Agway for my choice of food, which they started carrying after I referred alot of people for special orders... Good community service and I get a great price from them on my own food.

When we move back to WI, will probably start to sell my own food, though. We will be adding boarding and training to grooming, we have a heated pole building to revamp!

Debby

[toomuchfunbnme]

Where do you find the wholesalers?

This is really good info. I think that carrying an excellent quality dog food is perfect for a grooming shop. I think that having the owners on a routine of buying dog food/having their dog groomed would help to keep the owners on a schedule with their grooming appointments. Plus the dog would be in better condition because of the good nutrition.

How do you guys that are offering holistic dog food locate the wholesale suppliers in your area? Do you pick up the food at a local wharehouse? Do they require a tax id? Do they have minimum order requirements? Thank you for all of the excellent information!

[jaeinn]

TOOMUCH:

Call or email the manufacturer directly. They can tell you where to go.

You will need tax id info with certificate.

Jason