6 Pet Store Success Stories [2024]
Pet stores are retail businesses that sell animals and pet supplies. They are a leading industry category with sales of approximately $4.5B U.S dollars and positive sales growth of 2.7%.
You can set up a pet store in many places, like supermarkets, malls, or pet supply stores.
The first thing to do is to find a location for your store. A good place would be an area with many residential buildings, schools, and colleges as this will give you access to many customers. It would help if you also looked for a location near public transport as it will make it easier for people to come and visit your store.
In this list, you'll find real-world pet store success stories and very profitable examples of starting a pet store that makes money.
1. iHeartDogs ($22M/year)
Justin Palmer and Marshall Morris came up with the idea for iHeartDogs after building large dog-themed Facebook communities. They realized the potential for a business centered around dog lovers and decided to create a brand that sold physical products and also served as a media property for advertising. The success of their first product, a beaded bracelet that represented meals donated to shelter pets, propelled them forward and they have since raised over $300,000 for various charitable causes. They have been profitable since their first month of operation and continue to grow on their own terms without outside funding.
How much money it makes: $22M/year
How many people on the team: 50
iHeartDogs is a lifestyle store and blog with over 25 million members in its Facebook communities, which sells products for pet dogs and donates to specific programs that rescue animals, totaling over 1.5 million pet heroes served.
2. Tuft & Paw ($15.6M/year)
Jackson Cunningham, the founder of tuft + paw, came up with the idea for his business when he rescued a cat and realized there were no high-quality cat products available. He started by importing beautiful cat furniture and eventually launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for a modern litter box, raising over $150k. Today, tuft + paw is thriving, with monthly sales exceeding $300k and $2M in funding from investors like Alexis Ohanian.
How much money it makes: $15.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 14
Tuft + Paw, a modern cat brand founded by Jackson Cunningham, started as an importer of exquisite cat furniture and, after raising $150k from Kickstarter, graduated to manufacturing products, seeing sales grow to over $300k per month and now raising $2m from famed investors including Alexis Ohanian.
3. Bell & Bone ($2.16M/year)
Frustrated by the lack of regulation and quality in pet food, Arianne launched Bell & Bone to offer superfood dog treats with clinical backing. Since launching their Dental Stick range in March 2020, the business has doubled its revenue annually and expanded to over 450 stores worldwide.
How much money it makes: $2.16M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 1
Australian dog food brand Bell & Bone has doubled its revenue each year since the launch of its Dental Stick range, which has led to the expansion of its distribution network to over 450 pet specialty stores in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Hong Kong, with plans to double its store count in the next financial year.
4. Bike Tow Leash ($240K/year)
press (Dog Fancy Magazine, Good Morning America, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, etc.) attesting to our product’s safety and its fun. Those benefits continue today from stores and buyers in the U.S. and Canada noting us from the products we sell on Amazon. I have interviewed with 10 separate manufacturers so far with presentations to the remaining 2 major manufacturers with over 2000 sales reps each. Remember any of the direct competitors we have met so far have focused on a single product. With our portfolio of multiple patents, we can offer them a steady stream of new products, from both existing patents and pending applications alone!
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $22K
How many people on the team: 1
Mechanical engineer and avid bike rider Mike Leon turned his hobby of creating a safe bike-to-leash attachment for his service dog into a 6-figure business, shipping from hundreds to thousands of 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leashes per year to dog owners, military and law enforcement, and search and rescue teams.
5. Front Line Publishing Inc ($228K/year)
James Rosone, a former military interrogator, turned to writing as a form of PTSD therapy. After realizing a gap in the market for authentic military thrillers, he and his wife co-wrote and self-published their own books. Since their debut in 2015, they have published eighteen books and earned an impressive $47,365 in a single month.
How much money it makes: $228K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Military veteran turned author builds a six-figure self-publishing business through rapid release and effective marketing strategies, with a current monthly average revenue of $19,000.
6. Dog With Blog ($4.8K/year)
Abhishek Joshi founded Dog with Blog in 2010 with the goal of making a difference in the lives of stray and abandoned dogs in India. Using content marketing and social media, Joshi has driven over 900 adoptions and built a community of 116k fans. The blog features articles on pet care, adoptions, and dogs in pop culture, and has partnered with brands such as National Geographic.
How much money it makes: $4.8K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 2
Dog with Blog, a content-driven pet adoption network in India led by founder Abhishek Joshi, has successfully driven 900+ dog adoptions using social media and content marketing, and has an active community of 116k fans across its social handles.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
