Even in these turbulent economic times, independent pet retailers in the pet industry are thriving. We know because these Indies, as I call them, are a core part of Kyjen’s success and we are seeing the growth.

I visit Indies in person on a regular basis, I’ve seen their successes first hand and I’ve observed some simple and straight forward reasons why I think they survive and thrive.

1. They sell the top-quality Super-Premium pet foods that are simply not available in the pet superstore chains or grocery stores.

2. They don’t just stock Super-Premium foods, they educate the buying public and sell them. When McMoose is having an issue (skin problems, putting on extra weight, etc), I  just head over to one of my local dealers for a quick consultation on what food or supplements they suggest and why.

3. The best Indies present the new and unique products first to the consumer.  They are vigilant about finding and researching what’s new, hot and different. They pass this knowledge on to the consumer.

There are many other things the Indies do to survive and thrive in the shadows of their competitors in their own unique ways.

Tell us about your favorite Indie store in the comments. (Indie stores tell us about yourself!)