If you’ve thought of expanding your market through new products or offering freebies that will hook customers, the pet-owning population may be the best demographic for you to tap right now. According to a 2011 survey from The Harris Poll, more than 90 percent of pet owners claim their pets are a part of their families. This phenomenon has given rise to the term "fur parents," which pet owners use to refer to themselves.
In America alone, almost 85 million households have a pet, and over the last 30 years, pet ownership has gone from 56 percent to 66 percent of all households. The American Pet Products’ (APPA) 2023 and 2024 national survey on pet ownership revealed that almost 87 million households in the US owned a pet, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the American family typically spends an average of USD 741 on pets’ needs. The MarketWatch Guides team, on the other hand, estimates that average US dog owner spends upwards of USD 2,500 on their pups every year.
Given the state of the economy, the uncertain future, and the environmental impact of having children, many millennials and Gen Z’ers have expanded the definition of "family" to include or be exclusive to pet parenthood. Millennials, in particular, are more likely to use raw pet food or foods geared toward enhancing the health of their pets, and to even take care of their pets' teeth at home and buy oral health care products for their pets.
From here, one can really see the amount of care that new generations of customers are willing to allot for their furred companions because they truly see the latter as family. Knowing that, there could be some lucrative opportunities for your business to engage with the pet owning populace and bridge the current market gap for appealing, high-quality pet products for everyday use. Here are some points that further illustrate the benefits of targeting pet owners in your business endeavors:
Pet Spending among the Millennial and Post-Millennial Generations
Millennials are the largest single population in America today, overtaking the long-dominant baby boomers. They represent 24 percent of the US population and 35 percent of the labor force. This makes them influential in today's market, with their purchasing power only expanding as they age. They are also the single largest population of pet owners, with millennials owning 35 percent of America's pets in 2018.
The Packaged Facts National Online Consumer Survey reports that pet owners in the millennial age group are much more likely than those in the 35-and-over age group to spend more on pet products and pet care services during the next few years. Between 2007 and 2015, millennials were also responsible for 43 percent of the growth in the number of pet owners in the United States.
To date, there are more than 40 million millennial pet owners in America. In 2014, they spent a total of USD 10.6 billion on their pets alone. Looking at figures like these, one can really say that millennials are putting their money into what they care about: their pets.
Seven in ten millennials own a pet, and more than half of these are dog owners. Many of them believe that what people need for themselves, they also need for their pets. As such, many fur parents are willing to splurge on luxuries such as bed, toys, clothing, travel accessories, gifts, and grooming services, along with necessities like collars, leashes, bowls, medicine, and veterinary services for their pets.
What Items Will Prove a Hit for Your Pet Parent Customers?
There are many different items that you can offer to earn you the attention of pet owners. For instance, you can provide custom dog plushies, rope toys, and tennis balls for dogs in your business’s catalog of products. These toys can be thrown and pulled, allowing owners and their dogs to bond.
You can also look into collars, leashes, harnesses, and even dedicated car seat belts for dogs. These will keep pets safe and let other people know that they have owners that care for them. If you want a fun lineup of products or freebies to offer your customers, explore accessories such as dog hats, bandanas, bow ties, and dog ties. You can even improve pets’ stays at home by offering pet parents custom made dog blankets, dog beds, teepee dog houses, toy baskets, dog placemats, bowls, and treats that carry your business’s brand.
It’s about time for businesses to acknowledge the fact that pet ownership does affect how consumers spend their money, as well as how a customer’s identity as a pet owner creates an emotional connection with the brands and companies they interact with. With the help of an experienced custom pet merchandise supplier like PrideBites, your business can immediately add pet products to your stock, or design merchandise pet owners will appreciate. On behalf of your business, contact the PrideBites team and start a project for custom branded pet items now!