Report: Online U.S. Pet Product Sales at $2 Billion

Packaged Facts research finds internet sales of pet products account for 4% of the overall pet market

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Mar 16, 2015, 03:20 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet sales of pet products are on the upswing. Market research publisher Packaged Facts estimates that online sales account for approximately 4% of the $44 billion U.S. market for pet products in 2014—around $2 billion at retail. Internet sales of pet products are projected to grow between 10% and 15% annually through 2018, substantially outpacing Packaged Facts' projections for overall pet product retail sales growth.

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The findings were published in the Packaged Facts report, Pet Product Retailing in the U.S.: Channel Competition and Consumer Shopping Trends, 2nd Edition, which can be obtained by visiting: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Pet-Product-Retailing-8773345/.

Driving internet sales of pet products is the trend whereby more retailers and marketers are turning to the Internet as a sales medium beyond brick-and-mortar; competition for the pet medication business; and the surge in social networking websites and online advertising aimed at pet owners. In addition, the success of the Internet in the pet arena is due in part to the tendency of pet owners to be Internet friendly notes David Sprinkle, Packaged Facts research director. The Internet is especially well-suited to "info-centric" pet products, including premium and niche items, offering myriad opportunities to communicate detailed product information via websites, email, chat groups, blogs, social networking, and online advertising.

According to Packaged Facts' April/May 2014 pet owner survey, 41% of pet product buyers agree they use the Internet to find information about pet care services, and 39% agree they use the Internet to help choose which pet foods to buy. Another way pet owners use the Internet: according to the survey, 16% of pet owners used an online pet finding service for their most recent dog acquisition, and 10% for their most recent cat acquisition. Overall, more than 5 million dog or cat owners use the internet to purchase pet products, up 77% from 3 million owners in 2010.

Pet Product Retailing in the U.S.: Channel Competition and Consumer Shopping Trends, 2nd Edition provides an in-depth analysis of consumer shopping behavior and attitudes across channels, and puts in context industry-wide developments that impact where pet owners shop. Coverage includes breakouts of pet product sales by retail channel; trended rates of channel usage and loyalty; cross-channel trends including impact of recession and ongoing economic sluggishness; role of channel exclusivity or expansion among major marketers and brands; private-label impact; and the role of premium products in the New Normal economy. For more information on this and other reports in Packaged Facts' industry-leading pet market research catalog, please visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/.

About Packaged Facts – Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer demographics and shopper insights, consumer financial products and services, consumer goods and retailing, consumer packaged goods, and pet products and services. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services.

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SOURCE Packaged Facts