Focus on pet health

The business opened on the outskirts of Lodz nearly five years ago. The idea and initiative can be traced back to the Warsaw-based company Dermapharm, which is a leading laboratory and manufacturer of animal care products, food supplements, repellents, anti-flea and masking formulations among other things under the company’s own “Dr Seidel” brand. Chairman Tomek Rajza realised that up to then no pet retailer had existed in Poland that would fit his desired profile: a full range of products for healthy nutrition, care, cosmetics and beauty for dogs and cats along with competent veterinary advice. Premiere in Lodz So Dermapharm took the decision to create a network of shops based on its products. Tomek Rajza found the right partner for the first shop according to his concept in Marek Stanislawski. In an area of around 250 m² he offers Dermapharm’s range as well as selected products from other manufacturers, always with the emphasis on added health and hygiene benefits. The adjacent grooming studio and veterinary practice covering a similar retail area complete the all-round service on offer: “No matter what canine health problem a customer brings to us, we can help him,” says Marek Stanislawski. “Everything happens in one place so it makes things simple, clear and quick. This is a professional customer approach.” A key success factor is the extensive interaction between the sales staff in the pet store and the staff of the veterinary practice. Marek Stanislawski gives an example: “The customer has a problem; his dog needs its feeding habits to be changed. Our sales person can advise him on it. If the sales person thinks that the advice of the vet is necessary here, he immediately consults a vet who is on site so that he can always help.” Dog food and accessories are the best-selling ranges at Centrum Dr Seidla, followed by products for cats. Here a wide range of premium brands are stocked, for example Brit, Bozita, Acana, Animonda, Nestlé Purina, Finnern and ProPac. The principal and most strongly represented brand for dogs and cats is Royal Canin, however. Much smaller ranges of products are offered for small animals and birds, with products from Vitapol, Nestor and Vitakraft. And the entire stock of products is rounded off by a basic assortment of aquatics items. Pleasing trend Marek Stanislawski views the development of the pet sector in Poland as very dynamic and positive. Centrum Dr Seidla is benefiting to a large extent from the growing trend towards…