Internet sales advancing

Internet sales of pet products are on the upswing in the US market. Market research publisher Packaged Facts estimates in its latest study that online sales accounted for approximately 4 per cent of the $44 bn US market for pet products in 2014, around $2 billion at retail. The company expects this trend to continue. According to Packaged Facts, Internet sales of pet products are projected to grow between 10 per cent and 15 per cent annually up to 2018. The findings were published in the Packaged Facts report entitled “Pet Product Retailing in the U.S.: Channel Competition and Consumer Shopping Trends”, 2nd Edition. “The Internet is especially well suited to ‘info-centric’ pet products, including premium and niche items, offering myriad opportunities to communicate detailed product information via websites, email, chat groups, blogs, social networking, and online advertising,” according to Packaged Facts. A survey conducted by the company in 2014 showed that 41 per cent of pet product buyers agree they use the Internet to find information about pet care services, and 39 per cent agree they use the Internet to help choose which pet foods to buy.