HOW THE PET INDUSTRY HAS GROWN AND CHANGED AFTER COVID-19
One change that can be seen in the pet industry after COVID-19 is the number of pet owners.
After the pandemic, the number of pet owners has increased… People have adopted a pet to fill their void, (Business Today)
Due to the restrictions, people could not travel during the pandemic — so they became lonelier. So, they filled their loneliness by adopting a pet.
HOW PET INDUSTRY IS MOVING TOWARDS LUXURY PET ACCESSORIES
Here are a few trends that emerged during COVID-19, and moved the pet industry towards luxury pet accessories:
1) Awareness of Organic and Healthy Pet Food
The pandemic made everyone realize the importance of good health and healthy food. So not only they have improved their own diet but also focused on their pets’ too. There is the rising popularity of organic pet food items, which cost 50% more than conventional ones. Moreover, pet food brands have started promoting health-focused variants of pet treats.
Organic pet food experienced higher-than-anticipated demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, (Business Research Insights)
2) Prioritizing Pet Comfort and Relaxation
Both pets and their parents enjoy a relaxing walk every day, but the pandemic restrictions made it difficult. So, pets had to spend more time at their home, and that’s why their parents made sure their furry friends’ stay at home is super relaxing and comfortable. This led to a huge demand for pet houses, beds, cushions, blankets, etc.
3) Keeping Pets Active and Engaged at Home
Because pets had to spend all their time at home during the pandemic, pet owners also had to make sure their little friends are healthy and active. Since they could not go for walks and outdoor activities as usual, due to the restrictions, so pet owners invested heavily in pet toys and accessories that can keep them healthy and active.
4) At-Home Pet Grooming
During the pandemic, professional saloon grooming was not feasible, so pet owners replace it with at-home pet grooming. This created a demand for grooming products that can help pet owners make their little friends look perfect, without any extra effort. From anti-tick treatments to shampoos to brushes, many pet grooming products witnessed a huge demand.
Grooming essentials experienced a 20% increase during the pandemic, (CXO Outlook)
5) Travelling with pets
We can find new trends even during the time when the COVID restrictions were eased. For example, the pandemic changed the way people used to travel; now they preferred traveling with their pets. So, they had to grab luxury accessories that can make cars more comfortable to travel for pets.
After it was safe for people to travel, they traveled with their pets, instead of traveling with large families or friends, (CXO Outlook)
EXPERIENCES THAT LUXURY ITEMS BRING
The impact of COVID-19 and the move towards luxury pet accessories have created many new experiences for pet owners.
Closer bond with pets: When pet owners grab luxury accessories for pets, it develops their bond of love because it makes them feel like they are their family members.
According to a recent study, 60% of pet owners say they feel even closer to their pets since the start of COVID-19, (Money.Com)
Humanization of Pets: The increased demand for luxury products has given a rise to the pet humanization trend. Pet brands are designing products that make pets feel like human members of the family.
The trend of humanization of luxury pet products like treadmills, GPS pet trackers, smarter feeders, etc. are growing in demand, (Industry Arc)
Ease and Convenience: As the industry is growing rapidly day by day, and more brands are entering the market, there is a gadget or accessory for literally every pet need. The wide range of smart products makes pet parenting a lot easier and more convenient.
Do you agree with these points? Would you like to share something with us and your fellow readers? The comment section is all yours!
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