Pet shop franchises have been booming during the pandemic, and EarthWise is riding the growth wave

The pandemic has been tough on most businesses, especially in retail, but the pet sector overall is really booming. Since the pandemic started, Entrepreneur.com writes, “animal adoption rates skyrocketed more than 110 percent and fostering grew 197 percent comparatively year-over-year, according to Pethealth Inc.” 

The huge increase both in adoption and fostering as well as the larger numbers of people working at home and spending more time with their pets has sent demand for pet supply products soaring, too. EarthWise franchisees have been working hard to meet the increased demands. That includes not only our existing franchisees, but our newest franchise owners as well.

We’ve recently opened EarthWise Pet franchises in:

• Cottage Grove, WI
• Simpsonville, SC
• Bloomfield Hills, MI
• Allen, TX

We have more stores in development, too. Our next locations are planned to open in several cities, including Oklahoma City; Cleveland, OH; and Syracuse, NY. 

Increased demand for sustainable, natural pet products

A recent Pet Product News article noted that, “Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers. According to Nielsen, sustainable product sales in the U.S. jumped from $107 billion in 2014 to $128 billion in 2018—and continues to rise. Sustainable products are taking more and more share of total sales, with Nielsen forecasting that 25 percent of total store sales will be sustainable products in 2021 (bold emphasis ours).”

Another article noted that changes in consumer behavior prompted by the pandemic have increased interest in natural, sustainable products. That report continued, “With many people spending more time at home, they have more time to read, to learn about new products and to make more conscious decisions,” Jean Broders, senior brand manager for Muscatine, Iowa-based Kent Pet Group, maker of World’s Best Cat Litter, told Pet Product News.

EarthWise Pet Supply has never been the kind of pet shop franchise that sells pets. Instead, we are a 40-year-old legacy brand whose focus is on all-natural pet food, eco-friendly toys and supplies, grooming services and helping improve the bond between pets and their humans.

The right industry at the right time

Pets are more important now than ever. This year has been a challenge for everyone, but being able to spend more quality time with their furry family members has made people aware how much pets add to their lives. They want to invest in their pets. We want to be the go-to resource for all their pet-related needs.

With our longtime focus on the all-natural, eco-friendly and sustainable pet foods and pet products markets, EarthWise Pet has created a unique niche in the booming $75 billion pet care industry. Combined with our experienced leadership and close-knit franchise family, as well as the recent surge in demand for pet products, EarthWise is looking forward to a continued season of growth. 

We congratulate our franchisees and the whole EarthWise Pet team for keeping on top of demand and helping to fuel that growth. We invite you to join us in expanding our brand across the country.

Find out what EarthWise franchise has to offer

If you’re a pet-loving entrepreneur, we’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below to get a Free Franchise Information Report and to start a conversation with one of our recruiters.