Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know
Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.
A new breed of direct to consumer (DTC) brands shares retail’s most loyal customers: Very Good Boys.
The latest: Subscription DTC darling Public Goods entered the pet care category yesterday with a line of grooming and food products for dogs and cats. It’ll add to the line over time.
By my count, four DTC brands focused on elevated pet essentials have launched since March: Maev (holistic dog food), Finn (nutritional supplements for dogs), Cat Person (cat food and accessories), and Sundays (more holistic dog food).
Why now? Premium pet care was having a Moment before lonely millennials cleared out shelters, since owners are increasingly inclined to treat their pets like people. Unlike stiletto lines, pet brands can justify launching now: Pet care is the only retail category that didn’t take a hit during the 2008 recession, and it’s proving its mettle again in 2020.
Zoom out: As new entrants fetch their share of sales, incumbents are also growing. Chewy, the online-only pet line owned by PetSmart, added more customers this year than in all of 2019. And Petco is considering a sale or an IPO as interest in pet care increases, Bloomberg reports.