Package Facts recently released their list of 10 Pet Product Trends to Watch in 2017.
Key quote from their press release:
From leather collars to fur-lined carriers and orthopedic bedding, there's no shortage of innovative and human-inspired products trending in the U.S. pet industry.
The key point here is "Human-inspired".
This is because the pet humanization trend continues to grow in strength.
Ever growing numbers of "pet parents" and "pet partners" are treating their furry friends as full-fledged family members.
The list comes from the Packaged Facts report Durable Dog and Cat Petcare Products in the U.S, which costs $3995.
Regular readers know we like pet trends here at Small Business Labs. But we don't like them nearly enough to spend that kind of money. So we're sticking with just reading the press release.
Several of the trends really caught our eye. Mobility seems to be a theme this year with two trends in this area:
Fashionable pet carriers are in fashion: The importance of fashion and style cannot be overestimated since many pet owners seek out carriers that serve as a fashion accessory. Available in a vast range of materials, colors, styles, and patterns—with trims ranging from fine leather and faux fur to rhinestones and silver findings—pet carriers that look more like handbags also allow owners to sneak their pets into places that may not be dog-friendly. Accordingly, designer purse-type pet carriers, like those offered by Michael Kors and Chanel, are popular ...
Tiny pooches and cuddly kitties spurring pet stroller sales: More and more, owners of small dogs and cats want their pets to be able to enjoy the great outdoors as much as their larger canine counterparts, driving up interest in pet strollers ... One marketer cashing in on this trend is Pet Gear, with its new Jogger No-Zip Stroller designed for runners or joggers with a large three-wheel design.
Being old fashioned, when we take our dogs for a walk we expect them to actually walk. But we can report the number of dogs and cats in strollers or bags we see on our walks has substantially increased over the past couple of years.
Another trend caught our eye:
Designer brand apparel for cats: In general, most pet apparel is geared towards dogs, which tend to be a lot more amenable to getting dressed up. Taking humanization to the extreme, one of the biggest ways cats have been impacting apparel markets is via human clothing. High-end designers such as Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson have incorporated cats into their recent collections.
We've covered cats clothed in various ways in the past. But we still don't get it. Cats don't like to get dressed up, but humans still seem to insist they do.
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