00:00.00
retailjosh
Welcome back to the retail initiative I'm so glad you're here. This is going to be a super cool episode with me I have Candace from Pet Boss Nation. Now if you aren't a pet retailer I realize that you probably are like oh this isn't for me. But honestly, she is one of the best minds in retail right now and I think that we have a lot, those of us not in the pet world, we have a lot that we can learn from this industry. There are so many things that they do well. From the way, they do experiential retail to the way they have to really think about the way they add value to their customers and the various experience things that they do. So I think this is going to be a really cool episode for those of you listening I'll cue the theme and we'll jump right in and for those of you watching. We're can they jump right into the interview.
00:00.00
retailjosh
Well thanks for tuning in to the Retail Initiative Podcast I am so excited to have my guests candace Hey candace I am great So glad to be here if you don't know who candace is especially if you're not in the pet world.
00:08.80
Candace D_Agnolo
Hey how are you Josh.
00:18.38
retailjosh
Ah, she runs pet boss nation and they are an incredible group that I of course I'd love for her to share more about it but they help so many retailers grow their businesses in so many different ways and so honestly, even if you're not in the pet world I think you're in for a tree I think you're good.
00:22.70
Candace D_Agnolo
Her.
00:36.84
retailjosh
Mean to talk about you're in for a treat for the pet business. Ah pun well unintended. But I'll now make it intended. Ah you're in for a tree and if you're in the pet industry. Oh my gosh like she is honestly I can't think of anyone that I would say you should be listening to.
00:37.80
Candace D_Agnolo
Ah, the pun and pun is intended. But.
00:55.40
retailjosh
More than her so Candace. Why don't you share like tell me what is pet boss and what do you do for the pet community.
01:03.50
Candace D_Agnolo
Well thank you for that. Awesome introduction Josh I really appreciate it and thanks for having me here today. I'm excited to talk to all retailers because honestly I am more passionate about business development than I am about helping you with your pets nutrition and their gas like. A pet retailer. That's like we talk about dog poo and gas like more than anything else. So it's fun now in the business world to talk about other things like building your business and that's what we help pet professionals with at pet boss nation is we help them with improving their sales.
01:28.73
retailjosh
Shirt.
01:37.43
Candace D_Agnolo
Um, making marketing a little bit easier and then also helping them improve their leadership right? I think a lot of us get into our businesses because we're passionate about whatever the subject is and then we realize we need to hire team and and you know that can become its own challenge right? is how we show up as a leader. So. What we do now I've been in the pet industry since 2004 as a retailer, a doggy daycare owner grooming salon owner I've had a dog walking business I even made our own dog bakery treats and sold wholesale at trade shows. Ah. The 1 thing I don't think I ever really did was have this big elaborate online store which um, if I did I would have worked with you for sure. But ah what we do now is we just help. Um, you know, independent pet businesses ah have a community see success and this helped them like have a place to. Go if they need their questions answered and then of course we help people on the backend like with our programs and one on one coaching and stuff.
02:34.93
retailjosh
Sure which I would love to you know, give you the opportunity to share more about that here in a little bit. Um, you know you mentioned something that I think is really valuable is this idea that people get in into retail a lot of times because we're so passionate about Whatever it is that we sell whether it be fashion or home decor or in your case pet which honestly is very very common in the pet world. It's kind of like the outdoor industry like just people very very passionate about it but at certain at some point it flips to oh this is. Like this isn't a hobby. This is a real thing. What would you say is um, you know like for that person who's at that point they're realizing. Okay, this is a business. This isn't a hobby I'm really ready to start taking it to the next level. You know you mentioned building a team. What is kind of that biggest that first big piece of advice that you give to that person. It's like I know I need to grow. But what do I need to be focusing on right now.
03:35.64
Candace D_Agnolo
ah ah money it's always about the money I feel like you know again because we get into these because we're passionate about business about the subject that we don't pay attention to the money and whether that's how much money's coming in and how much money's going out or how we price our products. That's probably for me when I meet retailers. They don't know how to price their products and they're following a formula that is either given to them by the brands or they're doing what other people they see other people doing or they're trying to price match the internet and so I feel like you know, paying attention to what you price your products at first. Making sure you have enough margin and then working on improving your your buying you know, improving. Um, what you're actually paying for it right? decreasing that cost of what you're paying for It's improve your margin and then if you can. Master kind of that or start to improve your money flow your cash flow. You have money to invest in your team and pay yourself so you know a lot of us. We need the team to get to where we want to go. But if the pricing and sourcing is broken. You will be in trouble really quickly.
04:45.23
retailjosh
Absolutely I think that's so true that if you know it's kind of this idea of we We always want to look at the future and be like okay if I could just get to this point then this whole problem's gonna go away and you know it kind of reminds me of like you know you're trying to lose weight and you could work out. All you want and there's you know that phrase you can't outrun your fork and if you don't get this piece under control If You don't get that diet under control The result of Health isn't going to Happen. It seems that finances are one of the like key things of if if this piece isn't under control.
05:07.45
Candace D_Agnolo
Ah.
05:15.12
Candace D_Agnolo
True.
05:24.26
retailjosh
Any other thing we do no marketing company. No ecommerce company. No anything else is going to solve that. Yeah I love that? Um, so I don't think it's any surprise to anyone that covered the whole every everything everything over the last few years has really shifted a lot.
05:25.14
Candace D_Agnolo
Right can save you? Yeah no.
05:44.22
retailjosh
So specifically in the pet world. What do you see? That's really shifted that retailers namely pet but across the board. What are they needing to think about in a different way that might be different from what you would have advised or or said two years ago
06:01.49
Candace D_Agnolo
So what's interesting about the pet Retail space is that they are like booming and exhausted right? So they were considered essential because it was almost like a grocery store especially if they sold dog foods and treats right? they were they were allowed to be open.
06:09.46
retailjosh
Um.
06:20.80
Candace D_Agnolo
And everyone panic bought and came in and I have clients that their entire stores were being wiped out of these pet supply stores and so then they're ordering from their distributors. Um almost an entire like. Ah, another refilling their whole store and then the distribution system got backed up because they didn't have enough trucks and drivers to meet the demand to refill all of these stores so in the early stages of it. It was total chaos and everyone was like just trying to keep up with the demand. And then the second wave that came through was that people bought and rescued more pets and so now our consumer base just jumped too so there were all these people in the market who were now coming to their to their businesses and you'd think that a lot of them were. We're shopping online and a lot were for sure. Um, but a lot of people wanted to support local businesses too and again that pet retailer they were just still so busy. Um, you know, just trying to keep up and then the third wave is just that we don't have the team to support these store owners and a lot of. People that I've talked to now that maybe had built that team and have been able to work their perfect schedule and manage certain aspects of the business that they really enjoy now they are. In the trenches working all the hours and they've had to make adjustments to even their store hours right? like they've had to close specific days of the week so that they can just get a day off and even that their team can get a day off because they just don't have enough coverage in employees to cover all the shifts that they maybe did you know when I had my pet store. We were open from 10 in the morning until Eight o'clock at night seven days a week. Um, just because I felt like that would help me compete and get all the sales. But I think the reality is that you know your customer base is going to shop with you regardless and consumers have kind of. Know that now and there's a little bit more forgiveness of like how you're going to start how you decide as a business owner you're going to to structurecture how you do business I feel personally I feel like the public has been more flexible with that. So. Ah, you know I don't if that answers your question but I think in general that has what that is what has happened in the pet retail space pet service. Providers are a whole and nother beast because you know nobody's using Dogggie daycare I shouldn't say nobody they weren't in the beginning now it's all it is coming back but doggy daycare boarding. You know people weren't traveling.
08:51.31
Candace D_Agnolo
People didn't need petiters so that side of the industry is is very different but our retailers have been slammed. Their revenue is up significantly. They're anywhere from 25 to 50% up that year after year even 2021 is up that much from 2020 it's it's crazy so it's crazy good
09:05.00
retailjosh
Um, yeah, you know I think at least the piece that's been on my mind because you know I'm getting a lot of people that are reaching out. Um.
09:09.30
Candace D_Agnolo
I Guess but they're they're exhausted.
09:20.54
retailjosh
Talking about all the things that they're wanting to do but then I'm like okay well let's talk about your team and like oh why I lost my whole team and frankly I think that sometimes we need to see it where are we in business right now is this a time that is a growth period that I really need to be investing in growth meaning like financial growth. And bringing a new customer's revenue and all of that or is this a time that honestly like we need to keep the ship together I almost wanted to have a customer word there because it would have applied Also Um, yeah, yeah.
09:50.19
Candace D_Agnolo
Ah, keep keep the dog poo together. Yeah, um.
09:55.26
retailjosh
Um, we need to keep that together and really just focus on sustaining what exists and then expanding infrastructure that can support the growth that will happen because honestly mental health and how exhausted it this whole season can be I think.
10:00.18
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
10:11.19
Candace D_Agnolo
Her.
10:14.51
retailjosh
Because in the entrepreneurial world This idea of growth growth, growth, growth growth which believe me I'm all on board for it. It can't be done at the cost of like at the end of the day if you don't grow healthy. What are you really doing.
10:29.74
Candace D_Agnolo
Right? Yeah, like yeah your quality of life is still important.
10:32.18
retailjosh
You're not yeah absolutely um, yeah, so obviously my bias is ecommerce and my company helps brick and water retailers that are wanting to gain traction online.
10:42.91
Candace D_Agnolo
Really.
10:51.62
retailjosh
Um, but in the pet world. It does look different. It's not shipping a £40 bag of dog food is not like shipping a a top or a candle so where where do you see ecommerce let's even go forward like 2 years from now.
10:52.90
Candace D_Agnolo
Yes, yes, right? yes. Yeah, yeah.
11:09.37
retailjosh
I say that to kind of remove the idea of a shutdown or whatever. Maybe I'm just wrong and if you're listening to this in 2024 I I know nothing but let's just assume that some things have eased up a few years from now where where do you see ecommerce fitting in in the pet world a few years from now.
11:25.79
Candace D_Agnolo
So it's interesting because you know many of our retailers again if we're talking about like independent which I feel like is truly like you know 10 locations or less. You know there's ah, there's a huge group of of independent pet stores that are you know a single locations or maybe even up to 5 but there are many many. Stores that are businesses have you know 2025 or 200 locations right? like the big box stores. So ah, let's talk specifically about like independent pet and you know I think that in 2 years they they will still be very successful without having an online store only because. Um, people love to take their dogs to places and they love to get out with their pet and go and go experience. Things. They love the dog to walk around and smell the treess and get the free tree then pick the treat out the bakery case like there are and they have to try on clothing and try on harnesses and so there is an element I think that that. Pet will bring makes the local pet business actually still really work. But there's a huge missed opportunity that these retailers who haven't found a way to be online. Um, there is a missed opportunity there. But I know why it exists and like you said there's lots of challenges that are just different in the pet space like the dog food being too heavy to ship or a lot of um, independent pet retailers now carry more fresh food raw frozen food and they have freezers and they can't ship that stuff. Um. They also have a lot of Cbd and have products now too that they you know can't put cbd online and they're getting shut down and so um, and honestly there's just so many skews.
13:01.13
retailjosh
Oh yeah.
13:11.30
Candace D_Agnolo
And the pet world like you know all the different sizes of bags all the different flavors grainfree knots you know, um and a lot of the small independent stores. Just don't have the space to dedicate to a shipping area. Their product varies in size. You know a dog toy can be little or can be massive. And it's like how many boxes do you have do you order and how do you pack it all. It's just clunky and kind of cumbersome um to have an online shipping business for some pet businesses. So they just avoid it because they're like you know and especially right now I'm making money anyway. So why do it. But. It's important that those if you can find somebody like yourself like I know you've recently worked with some of our pet boss club members which is so so cool I know Patty Zeller you just did her website right Um, from animal connection and so if more of them I think can get over the fear of the tech and actually.
13:55.14
retailjosh
Yeah, we love animal connection.
14:04.39
Candace D_Agnolo
Find ways to maybe not feel like they have to sell everything but have some stuff and if there's you know you know you're the expert here on this. But if there's ways to separate out like what can be picked up locally versus what is allowed to be shipped or. You know, another big fear is that it's like well. But what if it's not in stock in my store and it has to be special ordered like demystifying all of those pain points that this retailer is going to experience and making it easy for them to come online is going is going to be really important if anyone if.
14:39.82
retailjosh
Sure yeah, and honestly you know I'll get on calls with people. In fact, this happened to me yesterday or I was like it doesn't sound like you should be doing this I don't I don't think it fits your goals I don't think it fits your lifestyle. Um, so let's say that one of your members.
14:40.77
Candace D_Agnolo
They're going to do it.
14:48.69
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah.
14:58.72
retailjosh
Gets on a coaching call with you and ask you hey I'm really thinking about launching online I'm thinking about adding Ecommerce. What might be the thing like if you were to leave them with ah a point of like hey think about this. If The answer is yes or or whatever then you probably should start pursuing this. But if it if it's not maybe you should focus on these other areas. What do you think would be that big domino. Let's say let's say it like that that would that would make you say like yes Ecommerce is a good idea for you. Versus you know, hey, let's focus on some other things.
15:37.50
Candace D_Agnolo
If the business owner really understands that e-commerce needs to be its own. It's like its own department inside your business needs it needs it's it's its own business model that needs its love and attention and I would ask this person if they have. An additional team member who can be focused on just this piece of the business whether it's updating descriptions and adding new products or if it's just processing the order right? and pulling it from the store shelves and and getting making sure that their point Ofe systems updated like there needs to be a dedicated team member to doing to doing this. And then as you know we can't just build it and hope they come there has to be a marketing plan to drive the traffic to your website and I don't I you know again I I feel like you can do this with a pretty small budget still and start to build some momentum. But you have to be willing to spend some money on maybe Facebook ads or Instagram ads or you have to be willing to start to believe that Instagram can work for you by being consistent and pressing all the buttons and trying different things but that takes an investment of either your time or your money to have somebody else. Do it. You're not just going to build it and orders are going to start coming in. You know you have to really understand that just like your existing brick and mortar business has its own nuances. This online store is also going to just is going to need attention and can't just be built and forgotten.
17:08.40
retailjosh
Absolutely I completely agree I you know the my like core concept and if you've been listening to this podcast at all. It's this idea that I think covid really brought this forward but that we are. A brand. We're not a store with a website or a store with an Instagram we are a brand that serves customers wherever they are and wherever we are and the truth is that I think like shopify. For example, you know there are so many good themes out there and people talk about it all the time. And I think there's this this idea of like oh I can just go get a theme put some images up and then I'm going to start making money and where I typically say like oh no, we're not a fit. This isn't really where you should focus is this idea that we're just going to throw this online and then orders are going to start coming in just like you said. As though it were passive income and it really is just like you said it is a almost a completely other store. It is location 1 location 2 and this other location takes almost just as much energy now there's some things you don't have to do.
18:10.13
Candace D_Agnolo
Yes, ah.
18:22.29
retailjosh
In the same way. You don't have to staff it to the same degree where you're dealing with schedules to make sure that whatever overlaps at the right times these are store hours. There's some flexibility there that lends to things like remote staff and things that you couldn't have done with your store but to think that you're going to take your sales associate.
18:33.87
Candace D_Agnolo
Um, okay man.
18:40.23
retailjosh
And all of a sudden have them doing these other things. It's probably not going to work out like we would hope and it takes so much effort to create that online experience like we would want.
18:44.71
Candace D_Agnolo
Right.
18:50.83
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah, and and there are a lot of um, you know there's some catalogs already out there and there are some platforms that do make it easy to like get your inventory up online and they can they um you know the options are to for in-store pickup or local delivery. They you know aren't They're not the perfect solution though either they're going to have their challenges because things can't be customized or you know you know everything Everything can sometimes be a challenge right? Nothing's easy. Where's my easy button and everything in this life right? Where is it So So but.
19:24.24
retailjosh
I wept.
19:28.94
Candace D_Agnolo
And the other thing that's really interesting in the pet space that I feel like maybe um, women's boutiques are home decor not not in every category but pet is very brand drivenven and so because it's brand driven. Um, you know, ah consumers are looking at a lot of. Ah, they're looking at the brand online and there's just so many places to buy it. So another thing I would say to retailers is to a pet retailer specifically is to take take that cue from the women's boutique industry where maybe it's a private label brand or the brand isn't really significant. It's about. What the t-shirt says right? or what the toy looks like it's not so much about this specific dog food or this specific treat you know and maybe if you really want to build an online store. How can you take your own brand and personality and develop some products or find products that are more unique and that that would be 1 way to to kind of go about it to to be different but because. Also because it's so brand driven. Um, and I would just want to mention this since there's pet people listening hopefully but there is a company. Um next paw who just launched one bark and they have built a store locator that is free for brands and retailers to get on and what it does is you know and and. In the pet world or probably not even just pet but any any world where the brands put their store locators up. They're very clunky and they're outdated and um, they've found a way to make it easy and so when the consumer might love that brand and they go to the brand's website. Instead of buying from the brand. The brands usually now want to drive. You know if they're sign up for this program. They want to drive the traffic to the local store but this is a ah great store locator that prioritizes the independent stores versus going to your petcos or buying on Amazon because some of the brand locators do that right now. So.
21:07.81
retailjosh
No.
21:10.50
Candace D_Agnolo
Just mention that because you know we have to collaborate with our brands and that's a resource I think that if you're not ready to have an online story yet, you still can have a great digital presence by allowing consumers to find you in a really easy way.
21:20.55
retailjosh
I love that? Yeah um, and honestly for the pet world I think the piece that I would lead you with because I want to transition the conversation some universally towards retail. But 1 thing that I really like to see for pet retailers and if I'm going to focus on launching online if I'm in your shoes. Ah. I would begin to see it not as a way to reach a national audience because people aren't aren't buying if I I live in Texas I'm not buying my pet stuff from a store in organ ah because it doesn't make sense I'm going to buy it locally is seeing e-commerce as a way to increase your market saturation in your city.
21:48.63
Candace D_Agnolo
Right.
21:57.94
Candace D_Agnolo
Um, yeah.
22:00.50
retailjosh
It's in your community. You're pushing pet. You're pushing dog food but you're pushing it for a local pickup to get them in store. It is a convenience factor. You can add subscription services around that for some of you if if you have the capacity adding things like local delivery.
22:05.10
Candace D_Agnolo
Um, yeah.
22:16.87
retailjosh
On can be a massive way to increase sales being that convenience factor that is something that Petsmart isn't going to be able to provide and so.
22:22.61
Candace D_Agnolo
Right? and going one step further on that. What you said about the subscription is that that's why chewy has been so successful they league they get people in with this like 50% off your first bag of dog food. But their next click of the button or the next reminder or the next thing they've made it so easy for a consumer to just go oh I'll put this on autoship which is subscription right? So I think when when a lot of times retailers think they have to build a subscription business means it's this special box or it's this It's something else. No subscription is just getting people no matter what they buy. To commit to a reoccurring bill that's automated and they don't have to think about it and their product they want is going to just show up. So yeah I think if we can you know, get it? Yes I love you're right? It has to be pet businesses are the local.
22:59.56
retailjosh
I Love that.
23:08.87
Candace D_Agnolo
Driving in that local market for local pickup and delivery. But if there's a way that to also think well, what's next how can I get this customer to commit to getting this order from me on a regular basis so that you know you know what? and you know what revenue's coming in monthly and you know what you need to order and you can plan your delivery routes effectively like it really. Subscriptions Ultimately do make your life easier.
23:29.50
retailjosh
Absolutely I Yeah I Really believe that in the pet world I think that can be a massive revenue driver and honestly one of the easiest things to make ecommerce successful. Um, and there are plenty of ways honestly where that's not even that painful to implement which is the lucky part. Um, so.
23:39.46
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah, yeah.
23:48.56
retailjosh
Kind of pulling up a little bit the pet industry you know is booming. It's growing so much and I think that ah honestly retailers at large could I think look to the pet industry to learn a thing or 2 um and some of the ways that they've adapted over the last few years if you are a. Clothing boutique or a home decor business. What would you look at in your in your current community to say like oh maybe we could learn a thing or 2 here and start to apply it to our business.
24:17.88
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah I have 4 things. Actually you asked me to be able to think about this I was like okay and I and I've got like 4 things and the the main thing and really I don't know if this is really a thing I guess it is but it's really understanding that even if you're a store owner and you don't have a pet. Ah, more than 50% of the Us households have at least 1 dog. So so half of your customer base has a pet or more actually more than half of probably like I think what is it like something like 70% of households have a pet regardless of what kind of animal. It is so. Bringing into your product mix pet-themed shirts, um mugs all of the pet- themed giftwear actually will do really well for you because you already sell those things those products do not tend to do as well for pet stores so because there coming a lot of the consumer mindset is that they are buying the supplies and it's just. It works in some environments but not all of them so there is an opportunity for you if there's a local pet store in your community even to bring in those lines in your store and then start to do some collaborations where you cross promote each other in your and your businesses. Okay, that's one just don't don't miss out on your pet.
25:25.80
retailjosh
I Love it.
25:31.17
Candace D_Agnolo
Opportunity. Ah, your pet customer base in your in your network. Um, the other thing is loyalty programs I don't know if you have ah see a lot of loyalty programs frequent buyer programs in other retail but in the pet world. For many many years decades the dog food brands had a frequent buyer program where it's buy 10 get your eleven three or buy you know 11 bags get your twelve three and um. That has translated for us in the pet space with awesome loyalty programs that integrate with these brands and keep that customer coming back really regularly and rewards them for their purchases with us. So I think there's probably an opportunity there and then um, the 2 next big things are really.
26:11.77
retailjosh
Absolutely.
26:19.52
Candace D_Agnolo
That um, a lot of the pet retailers have also added a service within their business whether that is a self-wash station or they have a grooming salon and a lot of them have also Created. Or treated their retail stores like gathering spaces. Okay so they have Off-leash play areas for dogs. They'll have even maybe a small dog daycare setup some of them have coffee shops Now. Have fully integrated coffee shops inside their pet supply store because they want to have a place to host events and where people come regularly even just to get a cup of coffee some are even getting their packaged alcohol licenses and selling dog-themed wine and beer so that they can.
27:08.15
retailjosh
I Love it.
27:11.70
Candace D_Agnolo
And which is awesome because it's a really high margin So there you know dog foods low margin alcohol high margin and um and so I think that there's a real opportunity there too to think about your physical space and reinvent it as a place to gather or add a potential other service. That complements what you already sell and then the last thing is ah really just becoming an expertise about an or certain expertise really becoming an expert in the product that you sell and.
27:30.29
retailjosh
I Love it.
27:47.11
Candace D_Agnolo
The client that you have in the pet world a pet retailer and sales associate has to know all the different breeds of dogs or potentially even cats or birds or fish depending on what they sell they have to know all the different breeds which all of those breeds come in different sizes.
27:47.93
retailjosh
M.
28:06.62
Candace D_Agnolo
They really have to understand fit of their harnesses or collars or clothing.. There's also the age of the dog right from puppy to adult dog to senior dog in those ages they have different habits and needs. We also have to know a lot about Diet. So Whether that's. Because of allergies that the pet might have or specific health issues that they're going through. Maybe they're dealing with a weight issue because their pet parent treats them too much or gives them table scraps.
28:36.72
retailjosh
I Love it guilty.
28:39.66
Candace D_Agnolo
There's also Behavior knowledge that we have to have like dogs that pull there might be aggression issues. Anxiety is another big thing that we get a lot of questions about so in the pet. The pet retailer is so hyper educated on all aspects of their client. The the animal. And I think there's probably opportunities for a retailer who even you know if you're even if you're just selling to women's if you're selling women's clothing. There's still and there's still a niche inside your customer base that you can really get to know and think about what is what is my customer thinking feeling and doing. In their real life and what do I need to know about that subject so that I can connect with my core customer.
29:24.97
retailjosh
I Love that? Yeah, the I mean gosh that's something on this podcast I preach so much is the importance of having your customer and really getting a deep into not just the product that they're buying. But what are they excited about right Now. What are they scared of right Now. What are their hopes for their future. What are they anxious about and it doesn't mean that we are you know because good marketing is either pushing towards a hope and a goal or it's pulling away from a fear or a challenge and. It doesn't mean that our copy our sales copy is literally like you know, um, don't have a fat dog like it's not that it is instead. It's the creative way that puts the fun spin on that deeper issue and if we don't really understand who that is.
30:03.26
Candace D_Agnolo
Right.
30:11.30
Candace D_Agnolo
Right? Like like we want our dogs to live as long as possible. We want our dogs to live as long as possible and so let's let's see if we can feel the dog's ribs and you know some some pet retailers even have scales like a weight scale.
30:16.42
retailjosh
Yes.
30:26.73
Candace D_Agnolo
So then they and they do challenges where the dog comes in for its weekly way in and they yeah and it brings the person back because normally you can't get your dog on a scale unless they go to the vet's office. You know so you can actually yeah.
30:29.27
retailjosh
Oh my god.
30:35.20
retailjosh
Wow I Love that. So for those of you listening especially I Hope you're if you are in the car or on the treadmill. This may not apply to you. But if you're note takers which gosh I've gotten so much from this I take notes when I'm interviewing I think because candace you're brilliant.
30:51.99
Candace D_Agnolo
Oh thanks.
30:53.78
retailjosh
Um, so the 4 things that you got to make sure that you're getting here that I think we can all learn from the pet world is one understand I think I'm going to pull yours even up. Ah, another level if that's okay, but the way that you can look at your customer and what else are they interested in.
31:04.20
Candace D_Agnolo
Um, yeah.
31:12.30
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah.
31:13.78
retailjosh
And what other businesses could we collaborate with that aren't competitors. They are businesses that are in a parallel to who your perfect customer would serve and for a lot of people in the pet space. There's such a an opportunity there to 1 bring in product that relates to that. But then also collaborate with other businesses. So understand who your perfect customer is and what other interests do they have outside of what you sell and how can we incorporate that in some way the second that I loved was loyalty. The pet industry does this honestly probably better than anyone. And people are obsessed with this stuff and based on how your perfect customer is what could this look like and I realized like if you're a high end apparel business is not going to be. You know, buy 11 dresses and get a 12 free but it can look like something else.
32:03.22
Candace D_Agnolo
Right? Ah, um.
32:08.92
retailjosh
Spend X amount of money and get ah get a Vip party for you and your friends whatever that could be. It can look different in every single space but consider how do you keep people coming back. How do you keep them loyal to your business and incentivize them spending more with you.
32:11.41
Candace D_Agnolo
Right.
32:26.97
retailjosh
Because at the end of the day like I know my wife buys makeup where she buys her makeup purely because the loyalty points that she gets That's the only reason she's getting it so pull that in the pet world has added services and and I would even pull that.
32:33.13
Candace D_Agnolo
Um, yeah.
32:44.99
retailjosh
You alluded to all of these things as you were list that off the pet world is investing in a whole experience even outside of what they sell they're creating this space in this way of hey come here for all these if you need to wash your dog. Great. Let's give them a bath here. You want a cup of coffee great that that person that identifies as a pet owner wants to be around other pet owners and they're passionate about it. Well I think we can learn we can apply this to so many other spaces and lastly I think this one's so important is you're you talking about becoming an expert. And the women's Apparel World it's not just learning what's cute. It's learning how things fit on certain body types. What is it that and a body type. That's not yours what makes someone look and feel beautiful in the home decor world. What other decorating styles that maybe you don't have could you become an expert in. That way you can serve your customer in unique ways canicece that was that was gold I hope that those of you listening got so much from it. Um, so I first off I want to share if you guys don't know. Ah, Candace has an incredible podcast that just launched a little while ago. Um, and so I hope that you'll check it out so it will link to it in the show notes or wherever you listen to podcasts you can search for the pet boss podcast and find her. Um. Yes, definitely for the pet industry. But I think that even those of you not in it can learn a thing or 2 because gosh you.
34:13.23
Candace D_Agnolo
Yeah I even had um the woman who does my hair here in town. She's like I started watching your Facebook lives and they listened to my podcast too. So you know, just replace replace pets with whatever you sell because business is business and I like to give a dose of I think inspiration and fun. So. You can you can connect with us anywhere but just go to pet http://boss.com easy to remember pet http://boss.com and you can find all our stuff.
34:37.60
retailjosh
I Love it. Yeah and you know if people do want to connect So there's pet Bos Pet Boss Dot Com where else can people connect with you or learn more about what you do.
34:46.61
Candace D_Agnolo
Well I have a ah pet industry Facebook group. So if you just search pet boss on Facebook you'll find our group. It's for brands sales reps, http://photographersbloggersretailstore owners petsitters really anybody who works in the pet industry or as clients in the pet industry like Josh you're in that group too. Um, can join us there so go ahead and find that and we're on Instagram and Facebook and I you know speak at local tradeit or not local. But I speak at trade shows in the pet industry. So I'll be at global pet expo and I've been speaking there every for the last five years and I'll be at super zoo this year so you know. I'm and I'm ready to get out and about.
35:24.98
retailjosh
I love it. Well if you're going to any of those markets swing by and say hello to her and definitely connect on her Facebook group or whatever. Honestly, if you are a pet retailer. You know I can't recommend her enough for anyone but specifically for the pet world. Ah. I really do mean this I would say this even if she wasn't here if someone messaged me and said I'm opening a pet store who do I need to learn from canice would be the first person that I would say so Candace. Thank you for having or for being with me today. Ah I gosh I took away so much from it and I know that our listeners did too. So.
35:51.42
Candace D_Agnolo
Ah, thanks.
36:00.89
Candace D_Agnolo
Thank you for having me this has been so fun I.
36:01.57
retailjosh
Thank you so much? Awesome! Well hey if you are listening to this two things that I ask of you one if you could click subscribe. You know we put episodes out every single week whether it be interviews just like this one or. Ah, solo episodes where I dissect what we just talked about and dive in a little bit more and then leave a review. Let us know if you're finding this information Valuable. We Definitely want to hear from you and honestly those reviews are a way that you can give back to hopefully what is valuable in this podcast because it helps other people just like you find us. So. Ah, subscribe and leave a review and thank you so much for listening.
