GLOBAL PET EXPO 2019 has it all… and more!

The premiere event of the U.S. pet industry gets under way on March 20th. This is the 61st show in a tradition that began in 1958. Both the show and the industry have grown spectacularly since then. In 1960 spending in the pet industry totaled $1.1B. In 2017 it was $77.1B, with $50B in Pet Products alone. Even accounting for inflation, pet spending has grown 80% faster than H/H income and twice as fast as H/H spending. The GPE began as the APPMA with 17 exhibitors in 30 booths. It now is approaching 1200 exhibitors who occupy over 355,000 square feet of booths plus a 30,000 square foot new product showcase.

However, like everything else, the industry’s growth was and is an evolutionary process. Perhaps, the most significant change was in our attitude towards our pets. Over the years they went from being pets to companion animals then to our pet children as pet parenting became the norm. Recently, this has gone a step further as we have personified and humanized our pets. We now project our needs to those of our pets.

The industry has also evolved as we saw the rise of pet chains and superstores and an explosion of “pet space” in mass market retailers which provided the room for the ever-growing product wants and needs of pet parents. The number of outlets selling pet supplies went from 86,000 in 1992 to over 200,000 today…plus the internet, which essentially has no limit on space. Where was GPE during this time? It was right there providing an efficient method for manufacturers to showcase their products and for attendees to view them and make informed choices to help them satisfy the growing demands of their customers…and build their businesses.

The growth has not been without traumatic events. In recent years we experienced the melamine recall which forever changed the consumers’ view of pet food. Of course, we can’t forget the great recession. The economic impact of this event focused the consumer on value (price + quality) in their buying decisions and they began to research before they buy. In 2017 the industry experienced a bit of a well disguised trauma. There was deflation in Pet products. Consumers recognized the value and spent $7.4B more on pet food and supplies. However, value comes with a price and the price was paid by manufacturers, distributors and retailers. We are now experiencing perhaps the most competitive market in history.

Some of the results of this competition are reflected in small changes at GPE. There have been a number of mergers and acquisitions and it is even tougher for new companies to get started. This has resulted in a slight drop in the actual number of exhibitor booths. However, the average booth size is up 5%. Every product that you’re looking for and plenty that you’ve never seen are at GPE, just merged into bigger spaces. Let’s take a look at what awaits you in Orlando:

First, some 2019 GPE “booth” facts: (Note: These numbers reflect committed booths as of 2/18/19 – more to come)

  • 1134 booths – down 26 from the same time last year, but exhibitors are still opting in. Better late than never.
  • 355,000+ sq ft of exhibit booth space (Not counting the 30,000 sq ft new product area)
  • For the first time 20 x 10 is the most popular size – 394 (34.7%), reflecting the need for more space.
  • Booths are also larger than 2017 – the “average” booth is over 315 sq ft, up 5% from 300 in 2018.
  • Size matters – Booths 300 to 800 sq ft (27%) occupy 42% of the space. Those over 1000 sq ft (5%) cover 26%.

Will you see any new exhibitors or is it the usual group? The “usual” group is definitely there (773 from 2018) but…

  • 361 (32%) of the GPE 2019 Exhibitors did not exhibit at GPE 2018 (1 in every 3 Exhibitors was not at GPE 2018!)

There are Specially Designated “Floor Sections” at GPE. Here is a brief review.

  • International – Separate pavilions for 4 countries – China, Taiwan, Great Britain and Brazil, Total: 53 Booths. However, this is only about 18% of the 295 exhibitors from 25 countries outside the U.S. – GPE is truly GLOBAL!
  • Natural – 166 Booths: Up 22 (+15%) “Natural” still has a very strong consumer appeal.
  • Boutique – 62 Booths: Up 11 (+22%) A bit of a resurgence, but still down slightly from the peak (65) in 2014.
  • Aquatic – 49 Booths but 6 are still open. Popularity of this category is trending down.
  • 1st Time Exhibitors – 113 Booths: The Section is full but most of the 288+ 1st Time exhibitors are on the regular show floor. GPE is a “must do” for new companies and New – products and companies are a major focus of GPE.

There are large numbers of exhibitors in the “regular” floor space who would qualify for inclusion in these sections. You need to “work” the whole show to ensure that you get a full view of the product categories of interest to you. I will again be creating a GPE Exhibitor Visit Planner that allows attendees to plan their floor time by targeting the exhibitors with products of interest. The GPE 2019 SuperSearch will be made available on February 26th and be regularly updated with last minute changes. Now, let’s take a look at the results from this year’s research on exhibitors’ product offerings.

First, we’ll Compare Exhibitor Types – By function: By Animal type (Numbers are based assigned booths as of 2/18/19)

Because of the overall drop in booths, in this chart and others pay particular attention to the change in share. A change of (+/–) 0.5% is significant. In terms of booth count, any increase is significant and take note of any drop of 10% or more.

  • Dogs Still Rule – 84% (5 out of every 6 booths) are selling dog products.
  • Cats continue to gainIn 2019, Cat Products were offered by 57% of exhibitors. Up from 40% in 2014.
  • Fish/Aquatic – This is category had the biggest decrease and is down 34% since 2017.
  • Other Animals – A sharp decrease in both booth number and share in all but horses.
  • Business Services – From POS systems to private label manufacturing, the continued strong growth reflects the growing business needs of attendees. There were only 8 exhibitors in 2014.
  • Distributors – After a big lift, this segment dialed back but is still double the number that exhibited in 2014.
  • Gift/Gen Mdse – This category has been slowly declining since peaking at 91 in 2016.

Dogs and Cats are the undisputed royalty of Pet. Because of their huge impact on the industry. I have divided the products designed for them into 32 subcategories. Let’s see how this year’s GPE Top Ten (by booth count) are doing.

While there was shuffling in the rankings, 8 of 10 categories gained share – 5 were up 0.5% or more. Carriers had the biggest gain and made it back to the top 10 after dropping out for 1 year. They replaced shampoos which fell to #12.

  • Treats are still #1 and continue to gain share. 1 in 3 booths offers treats. (Many supplements are in treat form.)
  • OTC Meds/Supplements/Devices continues to gain ground. In 2014 there were only 113 exhibitors.
  • Food has plateaued but Feeding Accessories is falling.
  • Toys – It’s not all about health and nutrition. There is still room for fun. Toys moved up to #2 because C&L’s fell.
  • Apparel – This category gained in count and in share. It is driven by therapeutic devices like vests, not fashion.
  • Collars, Leads & Harnesses – The biggest decrease. They are now below the 2015 level of 247.
  • Beds/Mats gained in rank because of the drop in Food Accessories. They are essentially stable.
  • Grooming Tools – still holding their ground.

Pet Parents’ concern for the overall health and wellness of their “pet children” is still the current biggest trend.

The last chart details the specifics for all 32 of the Dog/Cat product categories that I defined. Of note: All the data inputs for this report and the SuperSearch tool come from  a review of the GPE online exhibitor product listings AND visits to over 1100 websites. They’re not 100% accurate, but pretty close. Which categories are of interest to your business?

GPE 2019 has it all and more, including enhanced educational offerings and the New Product Showcase. However, to reap the benefits, you need a plan. Exhibitors must showcase the “right” items. Attendees need to strategically analyze their data, determine what they need to improve their business and develop a plan to find the products to fulfill their needs. Then…execute the plan. If they do nothing else at GPE, attendees have 1 minute and 19 seconds to spend with each exhibitor. The GPE 2019 SuperSearch will be released next week. It can help. Try it out and…Good luck in Orlando!

 

 

 

Attending SuperZoo 2018? – It is a great Opportunity! But….You Need a Plan!

Moving the show date from late July to late June opened the show for more exhibitors while allowing them to maintain the increased booth size that they wanted. There was another definite benefit. The additional floor space that became available also allowed the show to open up new Pet Tech Center and Made in the USA exhibits which help everyone keep up with these strong trends in the pet consumer market.

The result is that the show is bigger than ever with a huge array of exhibitors in every product category.

Consider these 2018 SuperZoo facts:

  • 1185 exhibitors
  • 285,000+ sq ft of exhibitor booths (Plus 32,000 sq ft to highlight: New Products, Technology and Made in the USA)
  • Over 21,000 attendees with more than 10,000 buyers.
  • SuperZoo University: Seminars on Retail, Grooming and Animal Health – 90+ hours; 75 separate sessions/topics
  • Almost 5 miles of aisles – just to walk the exhibit floor

Whew! This show is huge. The show floor is open for 22 hours so…Let’s “Do the Math!”

If you don’t attend any seminars, visit the New Product Showcase or other special sections, stop to chat with anyone in the aisles or for food, a drink or to go to the bathroom and maintain a walking speed of 2.5 mph…

You can spend…61 SECONDS…with each exhibitor7 seconds less than last year! Perhaps, you need a plan…??

With a higher concentration of Pet retailer attendees and a commitment to groomers, there are subtle differences between SuperZoo and GPE.  However, like GPE, SuperZoo has attendees from every major retail channel and attracts both exhibitors and attendees from around the globe.

Despite the variety of offerings to fill an attendee’s time, SuperZoo is still primarily about Pet Products. New Products are critical to maintaining and growing any business so you must take the time to visit the new product area. Knowledge is power so you should also sign up for any relevant classes. Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know that matters most. This makes networking with other industry professionals a priority.

Every business can improve in terms of products. If you are a retailer, what sections of your store are not doing as well as you hoped and need a “facelift” or conversely, what areas are growing and need products to fill additional space? Category managers for distributors and retail chains may only be interested in targeted visits to exhibitors relevant to their “categories”. Representatives may be looking for new manufacturers…in specific product categories. Manufacturers could be looking to find distributors to handle their products or just looking to “check out” the competition. In regard to products, there is always something to see…for everyone! Plus, there are over 500 Exhibitors at SZ 2018 that weren’t at GPE 2018.

SuperZoo is a great place to review products but Business Services, everything from Private label to POS, have also become increasingly important. In fact, 1 out of every 10 exhibitors offers some type of Business Service. Attendees can now “Leave no stone unturned” in their quest for business success. SuperZoo is about gathering information and making decisions to improve your business – whether they are made on the spot or put on your “must do” list. Your only real limitation is time. How do you make the most effective use of your time on the show floor? Here’s a suggestion.

Use the Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner to make SuperZoo easier and more productive. I initially designed it in 2014 and have updated the data and produced a new version for every GPE and SuperZoo since then…including SZ 2018.

The “update” is not just exhibitor lists but also to the product category offerings for every exhibitor. I reviewed every exhibitor profile on the show site but I also visited over 1000 websites and conducted separate internet searches to “validate” the offerings. It is not 100% accurate, but it is close.

What does the Super Search do?…It searches for and produces a list of Exhibitors by product categories.

  • From the simplest – “give me a list that I can look at on my phone or tablet in either Booth # order or alphabetically”
  • To the most complex…”can do a simultaneous search for multiple specific product categories, allowing you to personally narrow down the initial results and see the “final” alphabetically or by booth number.

The SuperZoo Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner does both…and more…and does it quickly! Take a look at the Quick Start Guide. You will see that it looks complex but is really quite simple.

SUPERZOO 2018 Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner – Quick Start Guide

The SuperZoo Super Search Exhibitor visit planner is designed to make your time on the show floor more efficient and more productive. With the Super Search you can conduct up to 5 separate and distinct product category searches simultaneously with consolidated results produced in booth # order to facilitate your “journey”. There are detailed instructions for reference and to help you understand the nuances of the tool. However, it is really very simple so let’s get started.

Here is the Dashboard where you set up your searches.

On the dashboard, the first things to note are the numerous category columns. There are 5 different floor sections, 11 different Exhibitor or Animal Types and 32 Dog and/or Cat Product categories. You can search exhibitors for any combination of these.

Let’s take a specific example running 3 simultaneous searches for several Dog/Cat categories:

  • Toys
  • Treats
  • Catnip & Litter (Must sell both)

Now referring to the Dashboard, let’s take it by the numbers:

1. This column is where you activate each search. Type in a “Y” (Cells C3>C7 will auto-capitalize) This search “line” becomes active.(cell turns green) In our example we are running 3 searches so we have 3 “Y”s.

2. Now we enter a 1 in the correct column for each search line. Search Line 1: Toys; Search Line 2: Treats.

3. In Search Line 3 we want exhibitors that sell both Catnip and Litter so we put a 1 in both of these columns.

4. Now we just “click” the Execute Search Button. The searches are done simultaneously and the results combined into a single list in alphabetical order.

5. If you would like to view the list in Booth # order, just click the Booth # Sort.

6. You can switch the list back to an alpha view by clicking the Alpha Sort Button.

7. To Clear all your search categories and start a new search, click the Clear Criteria Button. Then click Execute (#4) again and you will be back to the full list

Note: Any Search Line with a Y and no 1’s in any column will always deliver the entire list regardless of what is selected in other lines. Change the Y back to an N in unused search lines. Now a sample of the results:

Company A – Has Toys Only; Company B has Dog Treats Only and is also a 1st Time Exhibitor at SuperZoo; Company C is on the list for Treats and also has Catnip, but no Litter. This is not unusual as Catnip is often a Treat; Company D has Treats & Toys. Company E has both Catnip and Litter and in fact, actually has it all!

Note: The Super Search highlights your search categories so you know “why you are there”. However, it also shows all categories that are available. Some might “pique” your interest while you are visiting the booth.

You can review the exhibitors alphabetically then put the list in Booth # order to make it easier to “work”. The Super Search also allows you to “cut down” the list during your review. (Pg 2; Point #11 – “U Pick ‘em” in Detailed Instructions) But First, I suggest that you “play” with the Super Search to get a “feel” for the tool, and then review the Detailed Instructions. With your “play” experience, the detailed instructions will become a “quick read” and a valuable reference. You’ll soon be “up to speed” on the full capabilities of Super Search. Good Luck and Good “Hunting” at SuperZoo 2018.

Ready to Start Planning?

Use the links below to download The Super Search (Be Sure to Enable editing/macros/content), the Quick Start Guide and the Detailed Instructions. Then GET STARTED!

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/SZ2018-QuickStartGuideSUPERSEARCHExhibitorVisitPlanner.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Quick Start Guide (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/SZ2018-SUPERSEARCH-ExhibitorVisitPlannerDETAILED-Instructions.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Detailed Instructions (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SZ2018-SuperSearch-6-23-.xlsm” type=”icon” newwindow=”no”] Download SZ 2018 Super Search 6-23-18 (Excel)[/button]

(For the Excel file to work on your computer, be sure to enable macros/editing/content if asked.)

Super Search was updated on 6-23 with changes in exhibitors and booth numbers from the 6-18 edition. The latest changes are highlighted in grey on the 6-23 file. The earlier changes that occurred between 6-11 and 6-18 are still highlighted in blue and those that occurred between 6-4 and 6-11 are still highlighted in pink. Always look for the date in the file name to insure that you are using the most up to date edition of the planning tool.b

SUPERZOO 2018 – It’s a great Opportunity and a Sure Winner!

SuperZoo 2018 is only a month away. It is most definitely a great “Opportunity” for attendees and exhibitors and the “surest bet” in Vegas. Like Global Pet Expo, SuperZoo is a “must do” if you want to be a player in the U.S. Pet Market.

There are differences between the two shows. After all, GPE started the U.S. Pet Industry with the first trade show 60 years ago. It is still the largest annual show and has a huge international following with over 200 exhibitors from outside the U.S. On the other hand, SuperZoo traces its roots to a regional trade show for independent pet shops. It too has come a long way since those early days. Although Independents are still a major focus of the show, it has expanded both in size and its reach. With nearly 1200 exhibitors, a special section devoted to the fast growing grooming segment and over 100 international exhibitors, it too has become a “destination” for manufacturers, distributors and key players from all retail channels.

SuperZoo’s growth has not come without challenges. The latest started last year. In an effort to increase their impact on attendees, Exhibitors increased their booth size by 20%. Although the staff was able to acquire more floor space, it was not enough, so the exhibitor count was reduced by over 100. With another large trade group competing for space in the same time frame at the convention center, there was only one logical choice – move to a different date. Because of the impending Holiday season, a later date was not an option so they chose late June, 3 months after GPE.  This caused a little “hand wringing” by some exhibitors and a few decided to pass. However, these were rare exceptions, not the rule. The exhibitor count is again approaching 1200, but with the larger booth size. Exhibitors will occupy 285,000 square feet, up 23,000 sq ft (9%) from 2017. Plus, there is also room for a 23,000 sq ft New Product Showcase and over 7,000 sq ft for new sections showcasing Tech Advancements and Made in the USA products – two “hot” societal trends. Let’s take a closer look. We’ll start with some overview trends then move to the special floor sections.

  • Assigned Exhibitors: 1182; Up 95 (8.7%) from 2017
  • Booth Sq Ft: 285,000; Up 23,000 (8.8%) from 2017
  • 322 SZ 2017 Exhibitors (29.6%) aren’t at SZ 2018
  • 426 (36%) are new. They didn’t do SZ 2017
  • 511 (43%) SZ 2018 Exhibitors weren’t at GPE 2018
  • 307 (26%) are really new – Not at SZ 17 or GPE 18

  • You first notice that the count in Special Floor sections fell 6.6% while the overall exhibitor count increased by 8.7%. Smaller booths drove the increase. 97 more booths were 200 sq ft or less. 76 of these were 10×10 or smaller.
  • Since I began tracking SuperZoo in 2014, special sections have accounted for nearly 50% of exhibitors, peaking at 52% in 2016. This year’s 38% is even 6 percentage points below last year, when the show ran out of floor space.
  • Every special section but 1st timers has fewer exhibitors than last year. However, remember that over 400 companies weren’t at SuperZoo 2017 so the 74 doesn’t reflect the true count of new exhibitors.
  • The Natural Section is still large as this trend continues to be strong in the marketplace. The Grooming segment also continues to be important as this segment is growing and becoming even more competitive.
  • Rodeo drive is down 35% from its peak in 2016, perhaps reflecting the increased emphasis on function over fashion.
  • Ultimately, the show sets the size of the sections based upon exhibitor feedback. However, we may be reaching a point where exhibitors are less likely to embrace a limited categorization of their appeal.

Now let’s look at the Exhibitors by type, including animal.

  • Almost all segments gained exhibitors but remember, to maintain your share you need an increase of at least 8.7%.
  • The most significant decline is in Fish – down to a 5.5% share. This is even more significant when you consider that in 2015 the share of exhibitors offering fish or aquatic products was 8.6%. That’s a 36.0% drop in only 3 years.
  • There was a big lift in Equine products which was driven by a big increase in the number of Horse Supplements.
  • Gifts/Gen Mdse/Uncategorized had a strong increase but is still down from their peak of 139 exhibitors in 2016.
  • We also need to take note of Business Services – up 9 (7.8%) from 2017, but up 79 (+176%) from 2014.
  • As always, Dogs and Cats are the royalty but the Cat share of exhibitors has grown from 44% in 2014.

Let’s take a closer look at the “royalty”. Here are the top 10 Dog and/or Cat Categories at SuperZoo 2018.

  • You can see that it’s not all “rosy”. Three categories actually have fewer exhibitors and only three kept pace or exceeded the 8.7% increase in exhibitors. The 2018 Top 10 is the same as 2017 but two gained in rank and 2 fell.
  • The drops in Collars & Leads and Clothes are perhaps understandable as the industry moves more towards function. However, the decrease in Grooming Tools in conjunction with the increase in shampoos is a bit of a puzzle. Both categories are still strongly represented and this may be the result of competitive pressure in the grooming area.
  • Toys are losing share but surprisingly beds are gaining ground and floor space.
  • The big news is the seemingly unstoppable momentum of Treats and Meds & Supplements. In many cases their success is tied together as Supplements are often produced in Treat form. They now rank #1 & #2 in terms of exhibitor count, which is up 57% for Treats and 73% for Meds & Supplements from 2014. Amazing!

SuperZoo is growing in exhibitors and size. There are products and services available to fill virtually every need or want of the attendees. It is also staying in tune with what is happening in the overall consumer market which is illustrated by the new Tech and Made in the USA product showcases. 994 exhibitors (84%) focus on Dog/Cat. Let’s take a closer look.

There are 95 more Exhibitors at SuperZoo. Those offering Dog and/or Cat products increased by 86. However, the increase is not “across the board”.

  • 16 of 32 (50%) Dog/Cat categories have fewer exhibitors in 2018 than in 2017
  • Only 8 of 32 (25%) of the categories increased their share of exhibitor booths

In the Top 10 categories we saw losses by Apparel and Collars & Leads but huge gains in Treats and Medication/Supplements. There are only a few other significant gains in the other Dog/Cat categories:

  • Wipes: +12 (29.3%)
  • Flea & Tick: +13 (23.2%)
  • Stain/Odor/Clean Up: +14 (16.5%)

When you look at the 5 Dog/Cat Categories making big gains, you can see a common thread – the health and wellness of our companion animals. This fits right in with the ongoing trend in Pet Food to more nutritionally focused recipes.

SuperZoo certainly showcases what is “happening” in the Pet Industry and offers a great opportunity for attendees and exhibitors to make a mutually beneficial connection. Once again, it’s the surest bet in Las Vegas!

Finally, the chart below details the specifics for all 32 of the Dog/Cat product categories that I defined for the Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner.  (Note: The SZ 2018 Super Search will be released on June 5th.)

TAKE A LOOK. I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN VEGAS!

 

 

 

Attending Global Pet Expo 2018? … It’s “All under one HUGE Roof” and.. You need a Plan!

The first Global Pet Expo (APPMA) occurred 60 years ago with 17 exhibitors in 30 booths. The industry and the show have both come a long way since then.  In 2018 attendees will see and experience:

  • 1185 separate exhibitor booths – with companies from the U.S. and 28 other countries – a Global experience!
  • Over 358,000 square feet of booths (Plus 30,000 sq ft for the New Product Showcase) Global Pet Expo 2018 actually occupies more than 18 acres of prime Florida “real estate”.
  • 1000 new items in the New Product Showcase plus 3000 more launched on the exhibit floor
  • Sharing the aisles with 16,000+ attendees, more than 6000 “buyers”.
  • The opportunity to choose from 30 different educational seminars – 33 hours of classes
  • 5 miles of aisles – just to walk the exhibit floor

The show floor is open for 26 hours so let’s put this in perspective and…

“Do the Math!”

If you don’t attend any seminars, visit the New Product Showcase, stop to chat with anyone in the aisles or for food, a drink or to go to the bathroom and maintain a walking speed of 2.5 mph,

you can spend about 1 minute and 13 seconds with each exhibitor…

You definitely need a plan!

The theme of Global is “It’s All Under One Roof”. This is very accurate. Attendees will find the broadest selection of products and services while Exhibitors have the opportunity to reach a wide range of buyers across all retail channels.

First and foremost, Global is about Pet Products – Food, treats and a vast array of Supply categories. A regular flow of New Products is always critical to keep businesses and the whole industry strong and growing. Obviously, you must take the time to visit the New Product Showcase. You should also sign up for any relevant classes, network with other industry professionals and…walk the whole show.  There are 3 times as many new products being “launched” on the show floor as there are on display in the New Product Showcase. Plus, 1 of every 3 exhibitors was not at Global 2017. Global is about gathering information and making decisions to improve your business – whether they are made on the spot or put on your “must do” list.

Every business can improve in terms of products. If you are a retailer, what sections of your store are not doing as well as you hoped and need a “facelift” or conversely, what areas are growing and need products to fill additional space? Category managers for distributors and retail chains may only be interested in targeted visits to exhibitors relevant to their “categories”. Representatives may be looking for new manufacturers…in specific product categories. Manufacturers could be looking to find distributors to handle their products or just looking to “check out” the competition. In regard to products, there is always something to see…for everyone!

And Global is the place to see it. It’s “All under one roof”. With so much to see and do, Time is perhaps the most valuable commodity at the show. How do you make the most of your time on the show floor? Here’s an idea.

In 2014 I first designed a tool in Excel, the Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner to make “working Global & SuperZoo easier and more productive for ALL attendees – retailers, distributors, reps, groomers, vets…even exhibitors. I have updated the data and produced a tool for every GPE and SuperZoo since then…including GPE 2018.

The “update” is not just exhibitor lists but also to the product category offerings for every exhibitor. I reviewed every exhibitor profile on the show site but I also visited over 1100 websites and conducted separate internet searches to “validate” the product offerings. It is not 100% accurate, but it is close.

What does the SuperSearch do?…It searches for and produces a list of Exhibitors by product categories.

  • From the simplest – “give me a list that I can look at on my phone or tablet in either Booth # order or alphabetically”
  • To the most complex…”can do a simultaneous search for multiple specific product categories, allowing you to personally narrow down the initial results and see the “final” alphabetically or by booth number”The GPE Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner does both…and more…and does it quickly! Take a look at the Quick Start Guide. You will see that it looks complex but is really quite simple.

GPE 2018 Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner – Quick Start Guide

The GPE Super Search Exhibitor visit planner is designed to make your time on the show floor more efficient and more productive. With the Super Search you can conduct up to 5 separate and distinct product category searches simultaneously with consolidated results produced in booth # order to facilitate your “journey”. There are detailed instructions for reference and to help you understand the nuances of the tool. However, it is really very simple so let’s get started. (Note: No changes in instructions from 2017) Here is the Dashboard where you set up your searches.

On the dashboard, the first things to note are the numerous category columns. There are 5 different floor sections, 11 different Exhibitor or Animal Types and 32 Dog and/or Cat Product categories. You can search exhibitors for any combination of these.

Let’s take a specific example running 3 simultaneous searches for several Dog/Cat categories:

  • Toys
  • Treats
  • Catnip & Litter (Must sell both)

Now referring to the Dashboard, let’s take it by the numbers:

#1. This column is where you activate each search. Type in a “Y” (Cells C3>C7 will auto-capitalize) This search “line” becomes active.(cell turns green) In our example we are running 3 searches so we have 3 green “Y’s”

#2. Now we enter a 1 in the correct column for each search line. Search Line 1: Toys; Search Line 2: Treats.

#3. In Search Line 3 we want exhibitors that sell both Catnip and Litter so we put a 1 in both of these columns.

#4. Now we just “click” the Execute Search Button. The searches are done simultaneously and the results combined into a single list in alphabetical order.

#5. If you would like to view the list in Booth # order, just click the Booth # Sort.

#6. You can switch the list back to an alpha view by clicking the Alpha Sort Button.

#7. To Clear all your search categories and start a new search, Click the Clear Criteria Button. Then click Execute (#4) again and you will be back to the full list

Note: Any Search Line with a Y and no 1’s in any column will always deliver the entire list regardless of what is selected in other lines. Change the Y back to an N in unused search lines. Now a sample of the results:

  • Company A has Toys Only;
  • Company B has Dog Treats Only and is also a 1st Time Exhibitor at GPE;
  • Company C is on the list for Treats and also has Catnip, but no Litter. This is not unusual as Catnip is often a Treat;
  • Company D has Treats & Toys.
  • Company E has both Catnip and Litter and in fact, actually has it all!

Note: The Super Search highlights your search categories so you know “why you are there”. However, it also shows all categories that are available. Some might “pique” your interest while you are visiting the booth.

You can review the exhibitors alphabetically then put the list in Booth # order to make it easier to “work”. The Super Search also allows you to “cut down” the list during your review. (Pg 2; Point #11 – “U Pick ‘em” in Detailed Instructions) But First, I suggest that you “play” with the Super Search to get a “feel” for the tool, and then review the Detailed Instructions. With your “play” experience, the detailed instructions will become a “quick read” and a valuable reference. You will soon be “up to speed” on the full capabilities of Super Search.

Ready to Start Planning?

Use the links below to download the Super Search Tool (Be Sure to Enable Editing/Macros/Content if asked by your computer), the Quick Start Guide and the Detailed Instructions. Then GET STARTED!

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GPE2018-QuickStartGuideSUPERSEARCHExhibitorVisitPlanner.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Quick Start Guide (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-GPE-SUPERSEARCH-ExhibitorVisitPlannerDETAILED-Instructions.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Detailed Instructions (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GPE2018-SuperSearch-FINAL-.xlsm” type=”icon” newwindow=”no”] Download GPE 2018 Super Search FINAL- (Excel)[/button]https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GPE2018-SuperSearch-FINAL-.xlsm

(For the Excel file to work on your computer, be sure to enable macros/editing/content if asked.)

NOTE: There have been 3 additions and 1 correction since our last update on 3/14/18. These changes are highlighted in GREEN The changes from 3/5 to 3/14 are still highlighted in PINK and the changes that occurred from 2/26 to 3/5 are still highlighted in BLUE. This should allow you to quickly determine if any changes impact your schedule. Always check the “as of” date on the download button and file to insure that you are using the most recent version.

GPE 2018 – It’s “All Under One Roof” and Coming Soon!

This year’s theme, “All Under One Roof” is not only accurate, it reflects one of the strongest trends in the evolution of the U.S. retail market in the last 40 years – One Stop Shopping. We saw it first in the late 70’s as Grocery stores began to expand in size by radically increasing their GM departments, eventually adding, delis, coffee shops and pharmacies. They became today’s Supermarkets. Discount stores also saw an opportunity. They added a full grocery department and doubled in size to become today’s SuperCenters and Warehouse Clubs – the highest volume retail outlets in history.

What is behind this “one stop shopping movement”? It is the U.S. consumer. 3 factors drive their buying behavior:

  • Value (Price + Quality)
  • Convenience
  • Selection

One Stop Shopping answers all 3 of these consumer needs. You can also see why internet sales have taken off. Driven by the internet, non-store retailers passed the SuperCenter/Club channel in March of 2016. They only trail Supermarkets, but not for long. The internet will become the #1 retail channel in America because it is nearly impossible for a brick ‘n mortar store to beat a well-run “virtual” store in the 3 key areas affecting consumer buying behavior. To compete, traditional store retailers need to offer an online option, a personalized experience and when possible, services which are unavailable through the internet. This is especially true in our industry because Pet Parenting is very personal.

So how does all of this relate to GPE 2018? It is not just consumers, but buyers at all levels that are strongly impacted by these 3 factors. By putting all the key companies “Under One Roof”, GPE insures that the buyers are likely to be satisfied.

The presence of so many competing companies from around the world insures that they will get a great value. Having them all in one place allows the buyers to easily see the products up close and personal. Finally, where could they find a bigger selection? Ex: There are over 360 exhibitors offering Dog and/or Cat treats. However, “All Under One Roof” isn’t just a benefit for attendees. The exhibitors can see their competition but more importantly, the attendees include buyers from the smallest independent pet stores through the largest retail chains in all channels. The opportunity is there for everyone – and it’s “All Under One Roof” at GPE 2018. Let’s take a look at what awaits you in Orlando.

First, some 2018 GPE “booth” facts: (Note: 2/20/18 – 98% of the booths are assigned or committed)

  • 1185 booths – up only 1% from last year but an incredible 16.5% from 2014
  • 358,000 sq ft of exhibit booth space (Not counting the 30,000 sq ft new product area) – up 23.6% from 2014.
  • 10 x 10 is still the most popular size – with 435, in fact 70% of the booths are 20 x 10 or less.
  • But Booths are also slightly larger than 2017 – the “average” booth is over 300 sq ft (30×10)
  • Size matters – Booths 300 to 800 sq ft (26%) occupy 41% of the space. Those over 1000 sq ft (4%) cover 25%.

Will you see any new exhibitors or is it the usual group? The “usual” group is definitely there (807 from 2017) but…

  • 348 (30%) of the GPE 2018 Exhibitors did not exhibit at GPE 2017 (1 in every 3 Exhibitors was not at GPE 2017!)
    • In fact, 289 (25%) of this year’s GPE exhibitors didn’t exhibit at either GPE 2017 or SZ 2017

There are Specially Designated “Floor Sections” at GPE. Here is a brief review.

  • International – Separate pavilions for 4 countries – China, Taiwan, Great Britain and Canada, Total: 84 Booths. However, this is only about 28% of the 299 exhibitors from 28 countries outside the U.S. – GPE is truly GLOBAL!
  • Natural – 144 Booths: Down 7 (-5%) but booths are larger as “Natural” still has a very strong consumer appeal.
  • Boutique – 51 Booths: Down 1 (2%) The section is “stable”, but down 22% from 2014. Fashion still has a strong appeal but Pet Parents’ priorities have shifted more to function, health and wellness.
  • Aquatic – 58 Booths: Up 7 (14%). GPE has a long standing commitment to be the “go to” show for Aquatics.
  • 1st Time Exhibitors – 144 Booths: The Section is full but only includes about 40% of the 348+ 1st Time exhibitors at the show. If you want to get firmly established in the U.S. Pet Industry, you “must” do GPE. Every year, a major focus of Global Pet Expo is on “new”…both in products and in exhibitors.

A word of caution: These are specially targeted sections. However, if you “do the math” you see that there are large numbers of exhibitors in the “regular” floor space who would qualify for inclusion in these sections. You need to “work” the whole show to insure that you get a full view of the product categories of interest to you.

Once again I will be creating a GPE Exhibitor Visit Planner that allows attendees to plan out their floor time by targeting the exhibitors with products that they are interested in seeing. Up to 5 product category searches can be run concurrently and the results are available in alpha or booth# order. The GPE 2018 SuperSearch will be made available on February 27th. Now, let’s take a look at the results from this year’s research on exhibitors’ product offerings.

First We’ll Compare Exhibitor Types – By function: By Animal type (Numbers are based on assigned booths as of 2/20/18)

  • Dogs Still Rule – 84% (5 out of every 6 booths) are selling dog products.
  • Cats continue to move upIn 2018, Cat Products were offered by 54% of exhibitors. Up from 40% in 2014.
  • Fish/Aquatic – This category took a down turn after 3 years of increases.
  • Other Animals – Reptiles came back after a bad 2017. However, the other animals are showing a slow decline.
  • Business Services – From POS systems to private label manufacturing, the continued growth reflects the growing business needs of attendees.
  • Distributors – A big lift, reflecting GPE’s increasing appeal to independents.
  • Gift/Gen Mdse – The drop in this category reflects the increasing priority of health & wellness over boutique.

Dogs and Cats are the undisputed royalty of Pet. Because of their huge impact on the industry. I have divided the products designed for them into 32 subcategories. Let’s see how this year’s GPE Top Ten (by booth count) are doing.

  • Treats are still #1 and expanding their lead. 1 in 3 booths offers treats. (Many supplements are in treat form.)
  • OTC Meds/Supplements/Devices continue strong growth. 241 Booths: Up 128 (113%) from 2014.
  • Food and Feeding Accessories both flattened out. While still strong, they may have plateaued.
  • Toys – It’s not all about health and nutrition. There is still room for fun. Toys maintained the #2 spot.
  • Apparel – The growth in this category is being driven, not by fashion but by therapeutic devices like vests.
  • Collars, Leads & Harnesses – Gaining a little ground. The numbers are actually buoyed up by wellness products.
  • Beds/Mats are still a strong #6, but their growth seems to be on hold.
  • Grooming Tools and Shampoos – You see the growing strength of the Grooming Segment as Shampoos knocked Crates and Carriers out of the top 10.

The health benefits of Super Premium Foods brought that category to the forefront of the industry. Pet Parents’ concern for the overall health and wellness of their “pet children” is also behind the current biggest trend. It is helping to drive the growth of 4 top 10 categories – apparel, C&L/Harnesses, treats and Meds/Supp/Devices – and it’s not slowing down.

The last chart details the specifics for all 32 of the Dog/Cat product categories that I defined. Of note: All the data inputs for this report and the SuperSearch tool come from  a review of the GPE online exhibitor product listings AND visits to over 1100 websites. They’re not 100% accurate, but pretty close.

Which categories are of interest to your business?

GPE 2018 does have it “All Under One Roof”, including enhanced educational offerings and of course…the New Product Showcase. However, to reap the benefits, you need a plan. Exhibitors need to effectively showcase the “right” items. Attendees need to strategically analyze their data, determine what they need to improve their business and develop a plan to find the products to fulfill their business needs. Then…execute the plan. This is hard work and if they do nothing else at GPE, attendees have a “whopping” 1 minute and 13 seconds to spend with each exhibitor. The GPE 2018 SuperSearch tool will be released in next week’s post. I believe that it can help. Try it out and…Good luck in Orlando!

 

 

Attending SuperZoo 2017? – It’s a sure winner! But….You Need a Plan!

There are actually fewer exhibitors at SuperZoo 2017 than in 2016. However, it’s not due to the show losing favor. In fact, it’s because the exhibitors chose to make an even stronger commitment by upgrading the size of their booths…by almost 20%. The staff did everything that they could and found 17,000 more square feet of booth space. However, they needed more overall floor space, which simply wasn’t available. This created an extraordinarily long and unfulfilled wait list. They have found a remedy for 2018 by moving the show dates.

This year’s show is still huge with a full array of exhibitors in every product category. Consider these 2017 SuperZoo facts:

  • 1079 exhibitors
  • 262,000+ sq ft of exhibitor booths (Plus a 20,000 sq ft New Product Showcase – with over 820 new items)
  • Over 25,000 attendees with more than 12,000 buyers.
  • SuperZoo University: Seminars on Retail, Grooming and Animal Health – 90+ hours; 70 separate sessions/topics
  • Over 4 miles of aisles – just to walk the exhibit floor

Whew! This show is huge. The show floor is open for 22 hours so…Let’s “Do the Math!”

If you don’t attend any seminars, visit the New Product Showcase, stop to chat with anyone in the aisles or for food, a drink or to go to the bathroom and maintain a walking speed of 2.5 mph…

[box]This year you can spend….68 Seconds….with each exhibitor…. 6 more seconds than last year!….Perhaps, you still need a plan?

[/box]

With a higher concentration of Pet retailer attendees and a commitment to groomers, there are subtle differences between SuperZoo and GPE.  However, like GPE, SuperZoo has attendees from every major retail channel and attracts both exhibitors and attendees from around the globe.

Despite the variety of offerings to fill an attendee’s time, SuperZoo is still primarily about Pet Products. New Products are a critical to maintaining and growing any business so you must take the time to visit the new product area. Knowledge is power so you should also sign up for any relevant classes. Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know that matters most. This makes networking with other industry professionals a priority. “Leave no stone unturned” in your quest for success. This means you need to walk the whole show. SuperZoo is about gathering information and making decisions to improve your business – whether they are made on the spot or put on your “must do” list.

Every business can improve in terms of products. If you are a retailer, what sections of your store are not doing as well as you hoped and need a “facelift” or conversely, what areas are growing and need products to fill additional space? Category managers for distributors and retail chains may only be interested in targeted visits to exhibitors relevant to their “categories”. Representatives may be looking for new manufacturers…in specific product categories. Manufacturers could be looking to find distributors to handle their products or just looking to “check out” the competition. In regard to products, there is always something to see…for everyone!

And SuperZoo is a great place to see it. Plus, there are 481 Exhibitors at SZ 2017 that weren’t at GPE 2017. Your only real limitation is time. How do you make the most effective use of your time on the show floor? Here’s a suggestion.

Use the Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner to make SuperZoo easier and more productive. I initially designed it in 2014 and have updated the data and produced a new version for every GPE and SuperZoo since then…including SZ 2017.

The “update” is not just exhibitor lists but also to the product category offerings for every exhibitor. I reviewed every exhibitor profile on the show site but I also visited over 1000 websites and conducted separate internet searches to “validate” the offerings. It is not 100% accurate, but it is close.

What does the Super Search do?…It searches for and produces a list of Exhibitors by product categories.

  • From the simplest – “give me a list that I can look at on my phone or tablet in either Booth # order or alphabetically”
  • To the most complex…”can do a simultaneous search for multiple specific product categories, allowing you to personally narrow down the initial results and see the “final” alphabetically or by booth number.

”The SuperZoo Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner does both…and more…and does it quickly! Take a look at the New Quick Start Guide. You will see that it looks complex but is really quite simple.

SUPERZOO 2017 Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner – Quick Start Guide

The SuperZoo Super Search Exhibitor visit planner is designed to make your time on the show floor more efficient and more productive. With the Super Search you can conduct up to 5 separate and distinct product category searches simultaneously with consolidated results produced in booth # order to facilitate your “journey”. There are detailed instructions for reference and to help you understand the nuances of the tool. However, it is really very simple so let’s get started. Here is the Dashboard where you set up your searches.

On the dashboard, the first things to note are the numerous category columns. There are 5 different floor sections, 11 different Exhibitor or Animal Types and 32 Dog and/or Cat Product categories. You can search exhibitors for any combination of these.

Let’s take a specific example: running 3 simultaneous searches for several Dog/Cat categories:

  •  Toys     •   Treats     •   Catnip & Litter (Must have both)

#1. This column is where you activate each search. Type in a “Y” (Cells C3>C7 will auto-capitalize) This search “line” becomes active.(cell turns green) In our example we are running 3 searches so we have 3 “Y”s.

#2. Now we enter a 1 in the correct column for each search line. Search Line 1: Toys; Search Line 2: Treats.

#3. In Search Line 3 we want exhibitors that sell both Catnip and Litter so we put a 1 in both of these columns.

#4. Now we just “click” the Execute Search Button. The searches are done simultaneously and the results combined into a single list in alphabetical order.

#5. If you would like to view the list in Booth # order, just click the Booth # Sort.

#6. You can switch the list back to an alpha view by clicking the Alpha Sort Button.

#7. To Clear all your search categories and start a new search, Click the Clear Criteria Button. Then click Execute (#4) again and you will be back to the full list

Note: Any Search Line with a Y and no 1’s in any column will always deliver the entire list regardless of what is selected in other lines. Change the Y back to an N in unused search lines. Now a sample of the results:

Company A – Has Toys Only; Company B has Dog Treats Only and is also a 1st Time Exhibitor at SuperZoo; Company C is on the list for Treats and also has Catnip, but no Litter. This is not unusual as Catnip is often a Treat; Company D has Treats & Toys. Company E has both Catnip and Litter and in fact, actually has it all!

Note: The Super Search highlights your search categories so you know “why you are there”. However, it also shows all categories that are available. Some might “pique” your interest while you are visiting the booth.

You can review the exhibitors alphabetically then put the list in Booth # order to make it easier to “work”. The Super Search also allows you to “cut down” the list during your review. (Pg 2; Point #11 – “U Pick ‘em” in Detailed Instructions) But First, I suggest that you “play” with the Super Search to get a “feel” for the tool, and then review the Detailed Instructions. With your “play” experience, the detailed instructions will become a “quick read” and a valuable reference. You’ll soon be “up to speed” on the full capabilities of Super Search. Good Luck and Good “Hunting” at SuperZoo 2017.

Ready to Start Planning?

Use the links below to download The Super Search (Be Sure to Enable editing/macros/content), the Quick Start Guide and the Detailed Instructions. Then GET STARTED!

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SZ2017-QuickStartGuideSUPERSEARCHExhibitorVisitPlanner.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Quick Start Guide (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SZ2017-SUPERSEARCH-ExhibitorVisitPlannerDETAILED1-Instructions.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Detailed Instructions (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SZ2017-SuperSearch-7-19.xlsm” type=”icon” newwindow=”no”] Download SZ 2017 Super Search 7-19-17 (Excel)[/button]

(For the Excel file to work on your computer, be sure to enable macros/editing/content if asked.)

Super Search has been updated with STILL more changes as of 7/19/17. The new exhibitors and booth number changes since the 7/17 update are highlighted in pink.b

SuperZoo 2017 is not a gamble…. It’s a Sure Winner!

SuperZoo 2017 is only a month away. While it is held in Las Vegas, attending or exhibiting at SuperZoo is no gamble. It’s a sure winner. Along with Global Pet Expo, SuperZoo is a “must do” if you want to be a player in the U.S. Pet Market.

As we have noted before, there are slight differences in the two shows. GPE essentially started the U.S. Pet Industry 59 years ago with their first trade show put on with 17 exhibitors and 30 total booths. It still definitely has a larger worldwide following with over 200 exhibitors from outside the U.S. Of course, the “big guys” all attend but so do the “little guys” as it has welcomed a huge number of Independent pet store attendees into the fold.

SuperZoo has grown tremendously from its roots as a regional trade show for independent Pet Stores. Independents are still its largest share of attendees, but it has also broadened its scope with an emphasis on the fast growing grooming services segment. However, make no mistake. All the “big guys” will be there too and its worldwide impact is also growing as over 100 exhibitors are from outside the U.S.

Let’s take a closer look at what you will see at SuperZoo 2017 compared to last year. Before we get started we need to take note of a “behind the scenes” trend that had an impact on the exhibitor count at this year’s show. As we all know, both GPE and SZ are now huge. Apparently, the SuperZoo exhibitors felt that they needed bigger booths to capture the attention of attendees so they upgraded in size…by almost 20%. The SuperZoo staff managed to add 17,000 more square feet of booth space but that was not enough. They needed floor space which simply was not available in the convention center. This resulted in a drop in exhibitor count and a big unfulfilled waiting list. They have remedied this situation for 2018 by moving the show to a different date when additional floor space is available. However, when we look at the various exhibitor categories we should place greater emphasis on changes in share of space rather than just count. This will give us a better read on trends. Let’s start with some overview numbers then a look at floor sections:

  • Exhibitors: 1079; Down 123 (10.2%) from 2016
  • Booths: 1034; Down 130 (11.1%) from 2016
  • Booth Sq Ft: 262,000; Up 17,000 (6.9%) from 2016
  • 432 SZ 2016 Exhibitors (35.9%) aren’t at SZ 2017
  • 309 (28.6%) are new. They didn’t do SZ 2016
  • 481 SZ Exhibitors weren’t at GPE 2017

  • The key number to remember in this chart and others is -10.2%. Any drop in exhibitor count less than -10.2% and of course, any increase in count will actually result in an increased “share” of SuperZoo Space.
  • The drop in number of booths came from booths under 400 sq ft and especially those 10 x 10 or smaller – down 108.
  • The Special Sections absorbed the entire loss and more. Last year they were the biggest driver of growth with an additional 140 booths and passed 50% of the floor space for the first time. In 2017 they gave it all back. Smaller companies took the brunt of the “hit” as they typically occupy booths that are 10×10 or less.
  • Every special section lost exhibitors. However, the two most impacted were Rodeo Drive and Critter Alley/Aquatic.
  • The Natural Section lost 43 exhibitors but still reflected the strength of this segment maintaining almost a 20% share
  • Groomers and 1st timers lost a few booths but actually gained share which also reflects the priorities of the show.

Now let’s look at the Exhibitors by type, including animal.

  • All segments loss exhibitors but most were relatively stable in share considering the overall drop in exhibitors.
  • There is one exception, Gifts and General Merchandise. There are 45 fewer exhibitors (-32.4%) resulting in a 2.9% drop in share. This is undoubtedly related to the decrease in Rodeo Drive exhibitors.
  • Exhibitors featuring Reptile or Equine Products also decreased but the loss in Share was not severe.
  • Dogs and Cats are the Royalty of the Industry and even with reduced numbers; they gained in share – especially cats.

Let’s take a closer look at the “royalty”. Here are the top 10 Dog and/or Cat Categories at SuperZoo 2017.

  • You see the strength of Cat and Dog products as 6 of 10 had an increase in exhibitors despite the 10% overall drop.
  • Treats are still #1 and growing stronger. They now have 33% more exhibitors than #2, Collars & Leads.
  • Collars & Leads showed surprising growth. Much of this was due to special function products rather than fashion.
  • Food had the biggest growth which is undoubtedly related to the strong movement to super premium foods.
  • Meds/Supplements also remains strong and is pushing Collars & Leads for the #2 Spot.
  • Grooming tools is a surprise, but the drop comes 1 year after a spectacular 34% increase so it may just be stabilizing.
  • With the show’s emphasis on grooming, Shampoos is not a surprise. They edged out carriers for the #10 spot.

Make no mistake. SuperZoo 2017 is still huge and offers a wide choice of exhibitors across all the Product Categories. Remember just 2 years ago the Exhibitor count was under 1000. The impact from the decrease in small booth exhibitors was born by the Special Floor Sections, especially Rodeo Drive and Critter Alley/Aquarium Terrace. The exhibitor types and product categories actually remained relatively stable in share. The biggest gainers were Dog and Cat Products, especially Food , treats and Meds/Supplements. However, only 5 of 32 Dog and Cat Product Categories lost any share and those losses were minor. The most significant loser in the exhibitor type section was Gifts/General Merchandise.

Finally, there are a few Dog/Cat categories outside the Top 10 with significant movement in Exhibitor count.

  • Electronic – Up 34.6%. This long anticipated trend in “electric” products may be taking off and helping to drive:
    • Containment – Up 11.1%
    • Collars – Up 2.5% (Remember, the overall exhibitor count was down 10.2% so up 2.5% is significant)
  • Waste Pick up – Up 10.6%; The number of exhibitors in this category is up 35.9% in 2 years.
  • Outside Houses/Kennels – This category had a big decrease in exhibitors – Down 26.3%.

The chart below details the specifics for all 32 of the Dog/Cat product categories that I defined for the Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner.  (Note: The SZ 2017 Super Search will be released in early July.) All the data inputs for this report and the Super Search were derived from reviewing the SuperZoo online exhibitor product listings AND then validated by visits to over 1000 websites and numerous separate internet searches. They’re not 100% accurate, but pretty close.

Changes of special note from 2016 are highlighted. Which categories are of interest to your business?

TAKE A LOOK. I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN VEGAS!

Attending Global Pet Expo 2017?…It’s the Show that Means Business and…You Need a Plan!

Global Pet Expo has come a long way from that first show in 1958 with 17 exhibitors and 30 booths. In 2017 attendees will see and experience:

  • 1172 separate exhibitor booths
  • Over 350,000 square feet of booths (Plus 30,000 sq ft for the New Product Showcase) Global Pet Expo 2017 actually occupies almost 18 acres of prime Florida “real estate”.
  • 1000 new items in the New Product Showcase plus 3000 more launched on the exhibit floor
  • Sharing the aisles with 16,000+ attendees, more than 6000 “buyers”.
  • The opportunity to choose from 31 different educational seminars (plus 1 repeat) – 33 hours of classes
  • 5 miles of aisles – just to walk the exhibit floor

The show floor is open for 26 hours so let’s put this in perspective and… “Do the Math!”

If you don’t attend any seminars, visit the New Product Showcase, stop to chat with anyone in the aisles or for food, a drink or to go to the bathroom and maintain a walking speed of 2.5 mph…

[box]you can spend 1 minute and 14 seconds with each exhibitor.      You definitely need a plan!

[/box]

The theme of Global is the Show that Means Business. That is totally appropriate. Attendees and Exhibitors better “tend to business” if they want to get the most out of the wealth of opportunities presented at the show.

First and foremost, Global is about Pet Products – Food, treats and a vast array of Supply categories. A regular flow of New Products is always critical to keep businesses and the whole industry strong and growing. Obviously, you must take the time to visit the New Product Showcase. You should also sign up for any relevant classes, network with other industry professionals and…walk the whole show.  There are 3 times as many new products being “launched” on the show floor as there are on display in the New Product Showcase. Plus, 1 of every 3 exhibitors was not at Global 2016. Global is about gathering information and making decisions to improve your business – whether they are made on the spot or put on your “must do” list.

Every business can improve in terms of products. If you are a retailer, what sections of your store are not doing as well as you hoped and need a “facelift” or conversely, what areas are growing and need products to fill additional space? Category managers for distributors and retail chains may only be interested in targeted visits to exhibitors relevant to their “categories”. Representatives may be looking for new manufacturers…in specific product categories. Manufacturers could be looking to find distributors to handle their products or just looking to “check out” the competition. In regard to products, there is always something to see…for everyone!

And Global is the place to see it. It is the show that Means Business and in Business, Time is Money. At Global, Time is perhaps the most valuable commodity. How do you make the most of your time on the show floor? Here’s an idea.

In 2014 I first designed a tool in Excel, the Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner to make “working Global & SuperZoo easier and more productive for ALL attendees – retailers, distributors, reps, groomers, vets…even exhibitors. I have updated the data and produced a tool for every GPE and SuperZoo since then…including GPE 2017.

The “update” is not just to exhibitor lists, but also to the product category offerings for every exhibitor. I reviewed every exhibitor profile on the show site but I also visited over 1100 websites and conducted separate internet searches to “validate” the offerings. It is not 100% accurate, but it is close.

What does the SuperSearch do?…It searches for and produces a list of Exhibitors by product categories.

  • From the simplest – “give me a list that I can look at on my phone or tablet in either Booth # order or alphabetically”
  • To the most complex…”can do a simultaneous search for multiple specific product categories, allowing me to personally narrow down the initial results and see the “final” alphabetically or by booth number”

The GPE Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner does both…and more…and does it quickly! Take a look at the New Quick Start Guide. You will see that it looks complex but is really quite simple.

GPE 2017 Super Search Exhibitor Visit Planner – Quick Start Guide

The GPE Super Search Exhibitor visit planner is designed to make your time on the show floor more efficient and more productive. With the Super Search you can conduct up to 5 separate and distinct product category searches simultaneously with consolidated results produced in booth # order to facilitate your “journey”. There are also detailed instructions for reference and to help you understand the nuances of the tool. However, it is really very simple so let’s get started. Here is the Dashboard where you set up your searches.

On the dashboard, the first things to note are the numerous category columns. There are 5 different floor sections, 11 different Exhibitor or Animal Types and 32 Dog and/or Cat Product categories. You can search exhibitors for any combination of these.

Let’s take a specific example running 3 simultaneous searches for several Dog/Cat categories:

  • Toys
  • Treats
  • Catnip & Litter (Must have both)

Now referring to the Dashboard, let’s take it by the numbers:

#1. This column is where you activate each search. Type in a “Y” (Cells C3>C7 will auto-capitalize) This search “line” becomes active.(cell turns green) In our example we are running 3 searches so we have 3 green “Y”s

#2. Now we enter a 1 in the correct column for each search line. Search Line 1: Toys; Search Line 2: Treats.

#3. In Search Line 3 we want exhibitors that sell both Catnip and Litter so we put a 1 in both of these columns.

#4. Now we just “click” the Execute Search Button. The searches are done simultaneously and the results combined into 1 list in alphabetical order.

#5. If you would like the list in Booth # order, just click the Booth # Sort.

#6. You can switch back to an alpha list by clicking the Alpha Sort Button.

#7. To Clear all your search categories and start a new search, Click the Clear Criteria Button. Then click Execute (#4) again and you will be back to the full list

Note: Any Search Line with a Y and no 1’s in any column will always deliver the entire list regardless of what is selected in other lines. Change the Y back to an N in unused search lines. Now a sample of the results:

Company A – Has Toys Only; Company B has Dog Treats Only and is also a 1st Time Exhibitor at GPE; Company C is on the list for Treats and also has Catnip, but no Litter. This is not unusual as Catnip is often a Treat; Company D has Treats & Toys. Company E has both Catnip and Litter and in fact, actually has it all!

Note: The Super Search highlights your search categories so you know “why you are there”. However, it also shows all categories that are available. Some might “pique” your interest while you are visiting the booth.

You can review the exhibitors alphabetically then put the list in Booth # order to make it easier to “work”. Super Search also allows you to “cut down” the list with a “U pick ‘em” feature. (pg 2; Point #11 in Detailed Instructions) However, first I suggest that you “play” with the Super Search to get a “feel” for the tool, and then review the Detailed Instructions. With your “play” experience, the detailed instructions will become a “quick read” and a valuable reference. You will soon be “up to speed” on the full capabilities of Super Search.

Ready to Start Planning?

Use the links below to download the Super Search Tool (Be Sure to Enable Editing/Macros/Content if asked by your computer), the Quick Start Guide and the Detailed Instructions. Then GET STARTED!

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GPE-2017-QuickStartGuideSUPERSEARCHExhibitorVisitPlannerFINAL.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Quick Start Guide (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-GPE-SUPERSEARCH-ExhibitorVisitPlannerDETAILED-Instructions-2-28.pdf” type=”icon” newwindow=”yes”] Download Detailed Instructions (PDF)[/button]

(To save the PDF to your computer Right Click the download link and select “Save Link As…”)

[button link=”https://pmud8a.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GPE2017-SuperSearch-FINAL.xlsm” type=”icon” newwindow=”no”] Download GPE 2017 Super Search FINAL (Excel)[/button]

(For the Excel file to work on your computer, be sure to enable macros/editing/content if asked.)

 

GLOBAL PET EXPO 2017: “The Show that means Business” is coming soon!

Every Pet Parent knows the joy and fulfillment that comes as a result of their companion animals. Plus, the folks at HABRI have taken this a step further. They continue to compile mounds of evidence that definitively proves that companion animals do improve our physical and mental health. We are all extremely lucky to be involved in an industry that works to improve the quality of life of both companion animals and people.

However, as this year’s GPE so rightly points out, the Pet Industry is also about business. The GPE evolved from the APPMA. That first show took place in 1958, with 17 exhibitors occupying 30 booths. This year’s GPE will showcase the wares of over 1158 exhibitors occupying more than 1164 separate booths. If that increase seems impressive, consider this. The US BLS dug into their archives and I was able to calculate that Total Pet Spending (All 4 Segments) in 1960 was $1.08B. In 2015 it reached $67.75B. Let’s put this huge increase in perspective. Adjusted for inflation, Pet Spending has increased at an annual rate that is 78% faster than Total U.S. Income and twice as fast as Total Consumer Spending..

This growth has attracted some attention and a “little” competition. Pet Products are now sold in over 200,000 U.S. retail outlets, plus the internet. Moreover, the combined exhibitor list from GPE 2016-17 and SuperZoo 2016 totals over 1900 different companies. About 25% of all show exhibitors don’t return the following year and every year they are replaced with new “entrants”. Without a strategic plan and a strong business focus , pet companies can and do fail. This rule extends beyond “startups”. Existing companies – manufacturers, distributors and retailers are not immune. So… TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS! And the place to do that is… GPE 2017. Let’s take a look at what awaits you in Orlando.

First, some 2017 GPE “booth” facts: (As of 2/20/17, 99+% of the booths were taken. A handful await final commitment.)

  • Over 1164 booths – up 3.9% from 2015
  • 350,000 sq ft of exhibit floor booth space (Not counting the new product area) – up 5% from 2015
  • 10 x 10 is still the most popular size – with 422, in fact 70% of the booths are 20 x 10 or less.
  • But Booths are 2% larger than 2016 – the “average” booth is over 300 sq ft (30×10)
  • Size matters – Booths 300 to 800 sq ft (25%) occupy 41% of the space. Those over 1000 sq ft (4%) cover 26%.

Will you see any new exhibitors or is it the usual group? The “usual” group is definitely there (773 from 2016) but…

  • 391 (34%) of the GPE 2017 Exhibitors did not exhibit at GPE 2016 (1 in every 3 Exhibitors this year was not at GPE 2016!)
    • In fact, 325 (28%) of this year’s GPE exhibitors didn’t exhibit at either GPE 2016 or SZ 2016

There are Specially Designated “Floor Sections” at GPE. Here is a brief review.

  • International – Now separate pavilions for 4 countries – China, Taiwan, Great Britain and Canada, Total: 78 This is up 50% but is only about 1/3 of the 200+ exhibitors from outside the U.S. GPE is truly GLOBAL!
  • Natural – 151 Booths: Up 29 (24%) “Natural” is still a “magic” word to the “ultimate” buyers – the consumers.
  • Boutique – 52 Booths: Up 1 (2%) The section is “stable”, but down 20% from 2014. It is also much smaller than SuperZoo’s Rodeo Drive. A big factor may be the higher percentage of Retail Pet Stores among SZ attendees.
  • Aquatic – 51 Booths: No Change. GPE has a long standing commitment to be the “go to” show for Aquatics.
  • 1st Time Exhibitors – 136 Booths: The Section is full but only includes about half of the 265+ 1st Time exhibitors at the show. If you want to get firmly established in the U.S. Pet Industry, you “must” do GPE. Every year, a major focus of Global Pet Expo is on “new”…both in products and in exhibitors.

A word of caution: These are specially targeted sections. However, as we have seen, there are large numbers of exhibitors in the “regular” floor space who would qualify for inclusion in these sections. You need to “work” the whole show to insure that you get a full view of the product categories of interest to you.

To facilitate show planning for attendees, in 2015 I developed a search tool for GPE and SuperZoo . Using Super Search, attendees are able to plan out their floor time by targeting the exhibitors with products that they are interested in seeing. Up to 5 product category searches can be run concurrently and the results are available in alpha or booth# order. The GPE 2017 Super Search will be published on 2/28. Now, let’s take a look at the results from this year’s research on exhibitors’ product offerings.

First We’ll Compare Exhibitor Types – By function: By Animal type

  • Dogs Rule – 84% (5 out of every 6 booths) are selling dog products.
  • Cats are making a moveIn 2017, Cat Products surpassed 50% of exhibitors. Up from 40% in 2014.
  • Fish/Aquatic is still positive. The other animals, especially reptiles and small animals are losing space.
  • Business Services – This can range from POS systems to private label manufacturing. The growth is huge and reflects the growing business needs of attendees.
  • Distributors – The count is less than half of SZ, but growth reflects GPE’s increasing appeal to independents.

Dogs and Cats are the undisputed royalty of Pet. Because of their huge impact on the industry. I have divided the products designed for them into 32 subcategories. Let’s see how this year’s GPE Top Ten (by booth count) are doing.

  • Treats are still #1 and expanding their lead. Nearly 1 of every 3 GPE booths is selling dog and/or cat treats.
  • OTC Meds/Supplements continue strong growth. 212 Booths: Up 99 (88%) from 2014. Many are in treat form.
  • Food and even Feeding Accessories both showed strong growth, gaining in both Booth Count and share.
  • Toys – It’s not all about health and nutrition. There is still room for fun. Toys moved into a tie for the #2 spot.
  • Apparel fell 2 spots in rank and is losing exhibitors. The count is down 10% from the peak in 2015
  • Collars & Leads – Stable in count but losing share. The numbers are actually buoyed up by wellness products.
  • Beds/Mats gained slightly in count but fell in rank and slightly in share.
  • Carriers – Took advantage of the drop in Clothes to move up in rank. Soft-sided carriers were a big factor.
  • Grooming Tools – The Service Segment is strong. Tools entered the top 10 last year and continue to grow.

U.S. Consumers are more nutritionally focused and are transferring this attention to their companion animals. Super Premium Foods and Treats, Health & Wellness related products from Supplements to specialty feeders and even health related collars are filling the internet, more and more retail shelves, consumers homes…and of course, GPE Booths. Except for the strong, “fun” move by Toys, in 2017 the trend is function over fashion.

The last chart details the specifics for all 32 of the Dog/Cat product categories that I defined. Of note: All the data inputs for this report and the SuperSearch tool come from  a review of the GPE online exhibitor product listings AND visits to over 1100 websites. They’re not 100% accurate, but pretty close. Changes of special note from 2016 are highlighted.

Which categories are of interest to your business?

In addition to being bigger, the show staff works hard to make each GPE better, including enhanced educational offerings and of course…the New Product Showcase. In combination with the excellent work being done on SuperZoo, we have 2 “must attend” U.S. Pet Industry Shows. Thank you, APPA, PIDA and WPA!

Taking Care of Business – Time is Money. If they do nothing else, attendees can spend 1 minute and 14 seconds with each exhibitor. To have a successful show, everyone needs a plan. Exhibitors must provide accurate, advance information on their product offerings and showcase the “right” items in an impactful manner. Attendees need to Strategically Analyze their data, determine what they need to improve their business and develop a plan to find the products to fulfill their business needs. Then…execute the plan. Taking Care of Business requires planning and hard work. The GPE Super Search tool will be released in my upcoming post on 2/28/17. I believe that it can help. Good luck and I hope to see you in Orlando!

Global Pet Expo & SuperZoo 2016 – Compared from the attendees’ point of view!

Both shows are all about Pets so there are shared features but there are also definite differences. In this report we’ll compare the two shows in terms of exhibitor type and product offerings – the attendees’ view.

The history and focus of SuperZoo is the independent pet retailer. It always has been. If you remember the old days in Long Beach, you appreciate the great job that the WPA has done in building this “retailer” show from a regional event to a national “happening”. The influx of attendees from other major retail channels and foreign countries is largely due to the spectacular growth and allure of the U.S. Pet Industry. People from around the U.S. and around the world are interested in what’s happening…right now, in the U.S. Pet Market.

Global Pet Expo obviously is the foundation of the entire U.S. Pet Industry and quite frankly, the World of Pet, so it is aptly named. It has only been in recent years that independent pet retailers were invited to attend. The show has also developed such a large international following in attendees and exhibitors because of the spectacular success of the U.S. Pet industry. Everyone wants a “piece of the action” or to emulate the success in their own country…or both! It is the “major leagues” and the show of the U.S. Pet Industry.

While both shows are the “best” at what they do, they are evolving and in many ways moving towards one another. With 200,000 outlets in the U.S. and the internet selling pet products, the number of independent pet stores is not growing. SuperZoo sought to broaden their reach by appealing to the fast growing service segments, especially groomers and also welcomed all retail channels to their party.

With corporate consolidation a way of life in the U.S., GPE welcomed the independent pet stores into the GPE fold and further enhanced their international mix. This significantly increased the participation at the show, in both attendees and exhibitors. GPE is “the” Pet Party. If you’re anybody in the U.S. Pet Industry or want to be…then you better be in Orlando!

Now, let’s take a look at some specific comparisons. The first chart is about exhibitor booth count and special themed floor sections. Both shows have 5 “themes”. You will immediately note the similarities and differences. 3 – Shared; 1 – Similar; 1 – Completely different.

SZ-GPE16-1

Observations

  • SuperZoo has more exhibitor listings. However, much of the difference is due to policy. SuperZoo guidelines allow large corporations and even some smaller folks to list their brands/divisions separately because they once were separate companies. This adds almost 40 to the SZ exhibitor total. This seems to be a good idea and benefits the attendees. Consolidations have bundled many companies/brands under 1 corporate banner. However, the retailer still strongly relates to the originals. Doing it this way helps the attendees find familiar “faces” at a huge show. Since all roads lead to the corporate booth, it also helps the exhibitors. Of Note:
    • 650 exhibitors did both shows.
    • 550 are at SZ, but didn’t do GPE.
    • 500 exhibited at GPE but passed on SuperZoo
    • The Total Pet Exhibitor “Universe” for 2016 was 1700 companies
  • SuperZoo was larger in terms of exhibitor booth count, but GPE had 36% more occupied booth space – 90,000 sq ft
    • GPE: 335,000 sq ft; SZ: 245,000 sq ft.
  • The 10×10’ booth was the most popular size at both shows but GPE had only 400 of this size while SZ had 600 booths that were less than 200 sq ft. The GPE had a significantly higher percentage of larger booths. The “average” booth size was:
    • SuperZoo – 200 sq ft (20×10).
    • GPE – 300 sq ft (30×10) GPE booths are 50% larger on average.
  • “Themed” sections have become more popular at both shows, but especially at SuperZoo where, for the first time they represented more than half of the total number of booths. As both shows have gotten so large, the themed sections may help the attendees in “general” product/exhibitor category searches. However, many exhibitors on the open floor have products which would fit into a “themed” section so an attendee shouldn’t limit their efforts to only “themed” sections.
  • Two of the “themes” reflect a major difference in the shows. SZ has a special Groomers Court, which shows their emphasis on this Service segment of the industry. Grooming is also often a major element of a Pet Retailer’s business and SZ is “the” show for retail pet stores. On the other hand, GPE has a special International Section which reflects the “Global” appeal of this show. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story as 20+% of GPE exhibitors are from outside the U.S.

Now, let’s compare the shows by exhibitor “type”, including the type of products by animal.

SZ-GPE16-2

Observations

  • You immediately see the impact of SuperZoo’s target audience – Pet Retail Stores. SZ has:
    • Three times as many Pet Distributors – 30 vs 11 at GPE
    • 50% more exhibitors in the gift/general merchandise category
    • Four times as many Business service exhibitors – 125 vs 30. Although it should be noted that some of these exhibitors’ efforts are also directed towards manufacturers.
  • While the gift and business service exhibitor products have a pet “theme” or are designed to help a pet business, they are “human” products and not designed to help in the care of our companion animals. The large number of these type exhibitors at SZ contributes to a lower percentage of exhibitors with actual “pet” products.
  • Dogs and Cats are the “royalty” at both shows, but as always, Dogs “rule”. The exhibitor count at both shows is remarkably close.
  • The big difference comes in the “specialty” animals – Fish, Birds, Reptiles, Small Animals and Horses. Except for Equine, GPE has 30 to 60% more exhibitors with products focused on these pets. This seems a bit surprising as pet retailers are a major consumer source of both products and live animals for these “specialty” pets…and SZ’s focus is Pet Retailers.

Next we’ll look closer at Dog and Cat. The top 10 product categories in terms of number of exhibitors are the same for both shows. There are just a couple of differences in rankings.

SZ-GPE16-3

Observations

  • SuperZoo has 46 more exhibitors offering Meds/Supplements, moving it into the #3 spot and challenging Collars & Leads for #2. This is not totally surprising as there is an incredible surge in this category, with new vendors arriving almost daily. I’m sure that GPE will reflect this trend by show time in 2017.
  • With SuperZoo’s commitment to the Groomer’s segment, the higher ranking of Grooming Tools is to be expected.
  • Clothes, Costumes ranking higher at GPE is a bit of a surprise with SZ’s long time commitment and the popularity of “Rodeo Drive”. However, when you look closer, the difference is only 8 exhibitors. The strength of this category at both shows is a reflection of one aspect of the “humanization” of our companion animals.
  • Dog and Cats are the royalty of the Pet Industry. Although the shows have a slightly different focus, the top 10 categories are the same. To be successful the shows still must ultimately reflect the needs of the true industry “drivers” – the consumers.

Next is a chart comparing the 2 shows in 32 Dog & Cat Product Categories. Categories with more than a 2% difference in share of booths are highlighted.

SZ-GPE16-4

  • Both shows have an overwhelming commitment to dog and cat products – as they should. The category numbers for both shows are generally very close. The biggest differences, in Meds/Supplements and Grooming Tools, showed up in our discussion of the “Top 10” and reflect a current “red hot” trend, which is growing daily as well as the emphasis on Groomers at SuperZoo.

Summary

Although there is a “core” group of attendees at both shows, the shows do have a slightly different focus, which they clearly state – upfront. SuperZoo is “The National Show for Pet Retailers” and GPE is “Global” Pet Expo. This affects both the type of exhibitors and the audience that attends. Because Pet Retailers are the largest share of their audience, SZ booths have a higher number of distributors as well as exhibitors with business services, gift products, or items relating to grooming services.

Global Pet Expo – the name says it all. Exhibitors and attendees flock to Orlando from around the world.

Both shows are filled with people trying to get a bigger share of the consumers’ Pet Spending $. Over 650 “key” pet companies do both shows. This means that every pet product category is extremely well represented in Las Vegas and Orlando. However, new products, new companies and new ideas happen almost every day in the Pet Industry. Over 1000 of the total exhibitors only did one of the shows! This is why, despite their differences, both shows draw attendees from every retail channel and from around the world.

Global Pet Expo is only 7 months away. See you in Orlando!