For many pet-care businesses, offering retail products feels like a natural extension of their services. After all, who better to recommend a great chew toy, leash, or shampoo than the people who care for pets every day? But transitioning into retail—whether it's a small selection of treats or a full-fledged shop—requires learning an entirely new side of the business: vendor relationships.
If you're just starting to navigate the world of pet supply vendors, this guide will walk you through the essentials, from finding suppliers to understanding retail terms and confidently placing your first orders.
Vendors are the businesses that supply you with the products you'll sell in your retail space. This could include everything from a national distributor of popular pet food brands to a local artisan who hand-makes dog bandanas. Some businesses work with just one or two key suppliers, while others manage a network of vendors to stock a variety of products.
Your vendors are more than just sources of goods—they're partners in your success. A reliable vendor helps ensure you have the right products in stock, at the right time, and at a price that allows you to profit. Choosing the right ones and managing those relationships effectively can make or break your retail success.
When you're starting out, one of the first questions is: Where do I even find vendors? Fortunately, there are several ways to discover suppliers that are a good fit for your business.
One of the best ways to connect with pet product vendors is by attending pet industry trade shows and conventions. These events bring together suppliers, brands, and retailers under one roof, allowing you to:
Depending on your budget and schedule, you can travel to attend a large-scale or smaller, niche event in your area. Both are great networking opportunities and chances to find out about new suppliers in your industry.
Websites like Faire and Abound allow you to browse and order wholesale pet products online. Many platforms offer easy onboarding, free returns, and flexible payment terms—perfect for businesses just getting started with retail.
Sometimes, your best vendor isn't a big distributor—it's a local baker or a small-batch pet supply company with loyal customers and unique appeal. You might find these vendors at farmers markets, on social media, or through word-of-mouth in your community. Local collaborations can open doors for new marketing, event, and referral opportunities as well.
You'll encounter a few important terms as you begin working with vendors. Here's a quick primer:
Knowing these basics will help you communicate more effectively with vendors and evaluate whether a product is financially viable for your retail space.
Choosing the right vendors is the first, and arguably most important, step in setting up your retail operation. These partners will supply the products you rely on to generate revenue, build trust with pet parents, and align with the overall experience your business promises. It's not just about filling shelves—it's about selecting products that reflect your business values and meet your clients' expectations.
Quality should always come before quantity, especially in the pet industry. Pet parents are increasingly informed and discerning about what they feed their pets, what they put on their pets' skin and coat, and the durability of the items they buy. As a pet-care professional, you're in a position of trust, so the brands and products you recommend matter.
Look for vendors who source responsibly, use high-quality materials or ingredients, and meet (or exceed) industry safety standards. Certifications such as USDA Organic, NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) approval, or Made in the USA can signal credibility. It's also wise to research whether a brand has had recent product recalls or legal issues, especially if you're considering food or supplement vendors.
Stay current with pet industry trends—such as grain-free diets, eco-friendly packaging, and enrichment toys—and choose vendors who are adapting to these shifts in consumer interest.
A good product is only half the equation. If the vendor can't deliver on time, respond to inquiries promptly, or provide consistent inventory availability, your shelves could end up empty—or worse, you may be forced to scramble for last-minute substitutions that dilute your brand image.
When evaluating vendors, ask:
You can also look up reviews or ask for references from other pet-care businesses that buy from them. Don't be afraid to trust your gut—if communication is slow during the first interaction, that may be a red flag for future challenges.
Once you've selected a vendor and identified the products you want to carry, it's time to place your first order. Start small and test the waters. You don't need to fill your shelves overnight. Begin with a few best-sellers or sample products that align with your clientele—things like natural chews, stylish leashes, or breed-specific toys.
Before you order, ask the vendor about:
Once you place the order, track everything: what you ordered, when it shipped, and how it performed once in-store. This information will be critical for planning future purchases.
Successful vendor partnerships aren't transactional—they're collaborative. Just as you may offer perks to loyal pet parents, vendors who see you as a serious, communicative buyer may offer incentives or bonuses like:
Reach out regularly to share feedback, discuss what's working, and explore what's new in their product line. Even a quick email after a product sells out ("These chews are flying off the shelves!") can strengthen the relationship.
Some vendors do more than just sell products—they actively support your success. Working with vendors who offer extra services can make your launch smoother, especially when you're new to retail.
Look for vendors that provide:
These value-adds can help boost product visibility, increase sell-through rates, and reduce your workload when promoting new items.
As tempting as it is to stock a wide range of products right away, it's better to start with a few well-aligned vendors whose products you believe in. Pick items that complement your core services—such as grooming sprays in your salon, or calming chews for boarding clients—and build from there.
Pay attention to what your customers respond to. Are they asking about grain-free treats? Do they prefer branded toys or boutique-style accessories? Your initial vendor choices should offer flexibility so you can expand—or pivot—based on real sales data and client feedback.
Over time, as you build confidence and familiarity with the retail landscape, your track record will help you broaden your vendor network strategically, test new categories, and even negotiate better pricing or perks.
As you add vendors, staying organized becomes essential. Create a digital folder with:
Also, leverage your pet-care software to manage inventory, track best-sellers, and generate reports on retail sales. These tools can help you see what's working and ensure your shelves are stocked with customer favorites.
As your pet-care business grows, offering retail products becomes more than just a value-add—it becomes a natural extension of your services. Whether selling brushes, calming treats, or breed-specific toys, managing your retail program efficiently is key to turning it into a reliable revenue stream.
Built with pet-care businesses in mind, Gingr offers powerful point-of-sale (POS) and inventory tools that make it easy to add, track, and promote retail products—all while keeping your client experience seamless and professional.
Gingr supports a variety of retail models, whether you’re offering a few branded items at checkout or developing a full retail section. As you build your product list, Gingr lets you organize and manage items by category, making it easy to track what sells. You can enter product details, vendor information, and even import a large list of SKUs if you're building out your inventory quickly.
While Gingr helps behind the scenes, your physical space tells the retail story. Use Gingr's insights—like your top-selling products or frequent customer purchases—to determine which items should be placed near your check-in desk, lobby, or other high-traffic zones.
Impulse buys like treats or toys can be highlighted at checkout, while more specialized products can live in thoughtfully arranged displays. The goal: make retail feel like a natural part of your facility, not an afterthought.
Retail success isn’t just about stocking the right items—it’s about your team feeling confident recommending them. Gingr makes training easier by giving your staff access to product details, usage info, and even historical sales performance.
Ensure your team understands each item's benefits and can personalize recommendations for each pet. For instance, if a dog comes in for grooming with itchy skin, your staff can recommend a soothing shampoo you carry, backed by Gingr’s tracking tools that show how often it’s been purchased and by whom.
Looking to extend your retail reach beyond the lobby? Gingr allows customers to purchase retail items online from their Customer Portal for convenient in-store pickup. This feature is perfect for clients who want to reorder their favorite products or grab something new during appointment scheduling.
Manage Inventory and Vendors with Ease
From the Retail Admin page, you can update items, adjust pricing, disable outdated products, and view 30-day sales history for each SKU. Gingr also keeps vendor details in one place—so you know which supplier you purchased from, how much you paid, and how often you reorder.
You’ll never need to manually cross-check spreadsheets or guess when it’s time to restock. Gingr’s inventory management tools alert you when stock is low and allow you to forecast demand based on real-time usage. And because POS items can’t be deleted (to protect the integrity of your financial and reservation history), you can simply disable old SKUs when they’re no longer in use—keeping your database tidy and your reports accurate.
Finally, Gingr makes it easy to evolve your retail program based on customer preferences. You can track what sells, view trends over time, and pair this data with customer feedback to refine your product selection. If clients consistently ask for calming chews, you might expand that category. If a certain shampoo isn’t moving, it might be time to try something new. Gingr gives you the insights to make smarter decisions, with less guesswork.
With Gingr, retail doesn’t have to feel like a separate part of your business—it becomes a natural, data-informed extension of your client experience. Whether you’re launching your first product display or scaling a growing inventory, Gingr gives you the tools to sell confidently, stay organized, and create new streams of revenue that align with your brand and mission.
Want to try Gingr's retail integration tools? Book a demo to get started!