Will consolidation among pet industry distributors make it more difficult for independent retailers to access the products they need to set themselves apart from their competition?

As the Marketplace Fairness Act, otherwise known as the online sales tax, moves to the House, brick-and-mortar retailers should understand how it could affect their operations if it passes.

Retailers can and should use a formal, consistent employee-training program to grow their businesses.

While the ultimate impact of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act remains to be seen, some of the challenges and opportunities that it will present to pet retailers are already apparent.

Facing an unprecedented amount of competition and economic pressure, single-store pet retailers must be nimble in leveraging their unique strengths or fall by the wayside.

The challenge of finding, developing and retaining good store managers can be made much easier if storeowners take the right steps.

Wielding formidable weapons such as low overhead and unlimited shelf space, Internet retail giant Amazon.com is testing brick-and-mortar stores like never before.

Pet specialty retailers are leveraging their arsenal of competitive strengths to battle against Amazon.com.

A focus on stocking only products that are unique to the independent pet specialty channel is not necessarily the right choice for all mom-and-pop pet shops.

With the current economy testing the health of pet retailers like never before, Pet Business investigates why some thrive while others flat-line.

While health and wellness products clearly represent a great growth opportunity for pet specialty retailers, the jury is still out on the best way to make the most of this burgeoning market.

Pet stores that can improve their performance in category management, product sourcing and staffing will be able to counteract some of the profit margin erosion that has plagued specialty retailers over the past few years.