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Diving brief:
- Continuing its campaign of products and services for pets, Walmart opens its first pet service center in Dallas, Georgia, the retailer announced Wednesday. The company is testing the concept of pet services at that location before potentially expanding it to other stores.
- The center will offer pet services such as vaccinations, wellness exams, minor medical services, baths, teeth cleaning, ear cleaning and nail trimming, and will also have a pet toilet. self-service dogs. PetIQ will provide veterinary and grooming services at the center, which will be performed by trained professionals. The company also announced plans to add an online pet pharmacy experience to its website and mobile app.
- The retailer currently has in-store veterinary clinics in more than 65 stores nationwide. The new pet center in Dallas, Georgia, will have a separate entrance, according to the press release.
Dive overview:
Walmart’s dedicated pet center is part of the retailer’s broader efforts to meet the needs of pet owners. In 2019, the company expanded its in-store veterinary clinics, with the intention of reaching 100 sites. In addition to its upcoming online pet pharmacy and new pet service center, the company has been promoting other pet offerings for Walmart+ subscribers, including virtual access to veterinarians through a free one-year subscription to Pawp and a $30 discount on Rover.
“While the Walmart Pet Services Center is a key next step in how we continue to innovate the category and deliver industry-leading solutions to our customers, we are also evolving our assortment to provide affordable, on-trend offerings to our customers. clients. pet customers across the country,” Kaitlyn Shadiow, vice president of pet merchandising at Walmart US, wrote in a statement. “We are excited to bring the Walmart Pet Services Center to residents of Dallas, Georgia to improve access to affordable, quality pet care and look forward to introducing this model to other communities throughout the world. ‘future.”
Meanwhile, other major retailers are expanding their pet and livestock offerings. Supply of tractors, for example, brought pet prescription services online in 2021 and announced plans to open more of its self-service pet wash services and pet wellness centers. Some of the pet services Tractor Supply customers can access include vaccinations, deworming, ear and eye care, microchipping and testing, according to its website.
Likewise, pet retailers are also expanding into pet healthcare and pet insurance. Last year, Chewy expands its insurance and wellness offerings with the launch of CarePlus, a collection of pet wellness and insurance plans. Petco also has looked into the welfare of pets to attract pet owners who are spending more and more on pet care.