When we moved here two years ago, there was a local slightly upscale feed store that I never went to - it mostly catered to horse folks. It sold Wellness and Nutro (including Ultra), but nothing else that was better than Purina Pro Plan.
There was also a small pet store which sold puppies, but also sold a few brands of holistic food. Obviously I never went there either. Instead, my husband picked up foods at a store that was sort of kind of on his way home when he commuted to the office.
About two months later, PetSmart opened. The best thing they carried was Breeder's Choice.
At the same time, the small feed store began to stock several more holistic brands. Basically, if you requested it, they'd get it. The owner, to whom I talked a few months later, said that they found out that a lot of people in the area were driving all the way to the same store we were getting our dog food, an hour away! They recognized a niche and went after it aggressively. They also made the decision to start discontinuing most of their lower end brands. They still stock a couple, but most of their foods are all-natural, holistic brands now.
The people who were driving an hour to get their dog food were not shopping at the puppy store for obvious reasons. They continued to do business as they always had, selling puppies, and got none of the holistic pet food business. Meanwhile, the folks who came to them for pet supplies, got better prices at PetSmart and stopped shopping there.
The puppy store closed within a few months of PetSmart opening. And the villagers rejoiced.
So PetSmart did one good thing here! And really, it was great that its arrival got the owner of the feed store looking for a new way to attract customers. Needless to say, I try to give whatever business I can to him!
Becca Shouse: Irena Farm, Semora, NC
Cord, Ted, Gus, Zhi, Maggie, Lynn, Lu, Min and Tully
Waiting: Bubo & Ben
"We didn't have a phone, and we couldn't call you!" Helen, AIDS orphan. Don't let them die of ignorance - WorldHelp.net
"I-Dog Biggest Loser" Official Cheerleader/Mascot
Start 09/15/08: 186.4 lbs Current 185.5 lbs