Pet Business: Why should retailers carry travel products?

Linda Parks: It’s new as a category, but travel is definitely a growing trend. It’s where a lot of our growth has been recently. The pet is now a member of the family, and there are a lot of people who  won’t go anyplace unless they can take their pet. More people are traveling with their pets and more  hotels are accommodating pets.


PB: Most retailers probably associate travel products with the summer months–is that accurate?

Parks: For us, travel products are year-round. We do, however, get a spike in watering products during the summer months. Dogs get so dehydrated, and they really need to be kept well hydrated when they travel. Giving dogs a lot of water in the summer months is really important, and retailers should make sure that store employees explain this to customers.


PB: Is there anything else retailers should make sure employees know?

Parks: I think they should make sure employees sell the right size product for the right size dog. Our products say on the label what weight range is appropriate or that they are good for any size dog. Retailers should also go over individual products with the staff, because some travel products have really unique patented features and the staff should be able to explain how they work.


PB: How and where should retailers display travel products?

Parks: Well, if a retailer has the space, they should consider putting travel products in their own section–the big retailers are making travel its own category. I think it’s best if the travel category is located as close to the crates as a retailer can get it.

There are definitely enough products to stock a whole section, including companion products like seat covers and harnesses. Harnesses are particularly important when dogs ride in the car while traveling–if there is an accident, a pet will go through the windshield just like a person. But if a retailer doesn’t have the space to set up a whole section, they should use signage to show the products’ features and note that the item is for traveling.


PB: What products are included in the travel category?

Parks: Travel is a focus for us at Lixit. We have a variety of travel products–we offer four different sizes of dog crate bowls, two hand-held water containers and three different types of food/water travel containers (for food and water or just water storage). We also have a product called Dry Paw-mini towels–the pet owner just adds a drop of water and the towels blow up into a cloth for the dog; they’re great to have in the car to clean the dog’s feet off before he gets in, or in case he has an accident.

In addition, we have a new dog bottle that you can put on a crate that doesn’t drip when the crate shakes while in the car or on an airplane, because it uses a valve rather than a vacuum.

Also new is our 50-piece first-aid kit for dogs. It contains just about everything a pet owner can imagine. The lid of the product even converts to a water bowl for the dog when traveling.