In 2010, it’s anticipated that $47B will be spent on pets in the U.S. alone. For marketers, pet care is what many call a recession-resistant industry. It’s ripe with opportunities in retail, services and healthcare. To animal lovers, however, pet care remains a highly personal and emotional experience.
Despite this, the pet marketplace is still extremely fragmented, and this rings especially true online. Although there’s been improvement in recent years, many online resources lack cohesiveness and sophistication.
This week’s Friday Five explores resources that aim to lessen the gap between the business and personal sides of pet care – through social and digital tools. Companies in the digital space are tasked with finding the tie between cutting edge digital utilities and the emotional experience intrinsic to pet ownership, thus creating a holistic online experience.
Health & Wellness Sites
In 2009, WebMD launched a version of its site for cats and dogs. Were there not cat and dog images on the page, one might get confused as the navigation reads much like the human version. It links to topics like “Parenting and Pregnancy,” “Mental Health” and “Drugs and Supplements.” Similarly, you can conduct searches for Fido’s symptoms, pet health insurance, veterinarians, or read expert advice from vets.
Social Networking Sites
Yes, believe it. There are social networking sites for dogs and cats too. Well, sort of.
We briefly mentioned Dogster and its feline counterpart Catster in a previous Friday Five. (Did you know there’s even a Hamsterster? You’re welcome, avid hamster and gerbil lovers. You now have a place to connect!)
Further, there are dating sites exclusive to pet owners. Whether it’s to arrange a puppy play date or canoodle with a fellow bird lover, these sites aim to connect people through their love for pets.
Smartphone Apps
There is an abundance of smartphone applications for animal lovers ranging from utility apps, to rescue apps, to absurd apps (like CatPaint). Picking just one is too difficult and will vary greatly on your interests. It’s best to conduct a targeted online search based on your pet, needs, and of course, phone type. If you’d like some unique free- or low-cost iPhone applications for dogs, check out Mashable’s top picks. And cat lovers, these apps are The Cat’s Meow.
Carbon Paw Print Reduction Resources
Pet food, supplies and behavior can be green too. With a little bit of searching, you can find a slew of great online resources for natural, holistic, and eco-friendly pet products. PetSmart has a Going Green Guide that includes recommendations for natural and organic foods and treats and sustainable toys. Discovery Channel’s planet green provides best practices for reducing your pet’s carbon footprint, and the ASPCA has even more greening tips for the home.
And since it’s Friday the 13th…
OK, I’ll refrain from making a “black cat” reference. Instead I’ll highlight some “just when I thought I’ve seen it all” animal gadgets.
Cue: Puppy Tweet and Bow-lingual
The first, Puppy Tweet, is a dog collar that updates when it detects barking or movement. These canned updates post to Facebook and Twitter. The second is an app that purports to analyze your dog’s bark and translate it into one of six dog emotions: happy, sad, frustrated, on-guard, assertive and needy. Depending on the regional version, the app may also include a medical checklist, tips on understanding your dog’s body language, and a home alone bark recording function.
