Nowadays, a majority of pet owners consider their pets as part of their households. You’ll find them shopping for their pets online just as frequently as they do their own shopping. According to Pet Products Manufacturers Association, in 2014 alone, Americans spent $34.5 billion on pets. APPMA predicted the figure to jump by several billion in the next 10 years. This is good news for aspiring pet business owners. So, if you are planning to venture into eCommerce for pet products, the prospects for success are excellent.

However, before you can break into the pet supplies online market, there are a number of things that you should do.

1.      Have a Business Plan

Every startup business needs an effective business plan. It’s what gives your pet products brand direction. Your business plan should feature the following:

• An executive summary that shows what your pet products brand is all about.
• The marketing strategy that you’ll use to drive traffic to your site and to encourage conversions.
• A list of your main competitors and how you are planning to compete with them.
• Your prospective customers and their shopping habits.
• The number of employees you are expecting to hire and the cost that you are likely to incur
• The shopping cart software you’ll be using once your e-commerce store is launched.

2.      Identify Your Market Niche

From pet bedding supplies to pet foods and from pet toys to e-collars, there are so many things that you can sell. You should find a market niche that you can fully exploit. This means selling products that most pet owners are always looking for. For more information on trendy pet products, click here. What’s more, to get bigger margins, you can talk directly to manufacturers to supply you with the pet products.

3.      Seek Financing

From your business plan, you can tell how much you’ll need to set up the e-commerce store—until the business is sustainable. If you don’t have all the money needed for the startup, you should consider getting a loan. You can start with your local bank. Ask them for a business loan. It’s likely that they’ll grant you if you have a good credit score and your business plan is convincing. You can also consider a going for Small Business Administration loan, especially if you have a retirement account.

4.      Take Advantage of Established E-Commerce Sites

Before you build a standalone e-commerce store, you may find it necessary to start with established e-commerce platforms such as Etsy and Amazon. The idea is to see how your pet products will perform in the online market before you go big. For Etsy, it’s a great platform if you are planning to sell handmade pet products such as pet toys and pet furniture. With Amazon, your options are not limited. The other advantage is that you don’t pay anything until you make a sale. Both sites offer you an easy-to-use interface and incredible support.

5.      Design a User-Friendly E-Commerce Site

Once you have established that your pet supplies are able to sell on Etsy or Amazon, the next thing is to build a standalone website. You’ll need the help of an e-commerce web designer to help you create the site. It should:

• Be linked to your social media accounts
• Have an option for newsletter subscription
• Provide the delivery service option
• Show online payment options

6.      Pick a Memorable Name

You need a simple but attractive domain name to go with your website. Of course, it has to relate to what you are selling. You’ll find that a majority of great domain names are taken, so you have to be creative. Start by searching pet supplies that are similar to what you are selling to identify the domain names that rank higher. Then, you should think along the same line when coming up with your domain name. Lastly, your domain name should be short, sweet, and memorable.

7.      Invest in a Mobile App

Since most pet owners search for pet products using their smartphones, it’s a great idea to have a mobile app that they can use. The app is a great addition to your website when it comes to improving conversions and driving sales.

Final Thoughts:

It’s not difficult to break into the e-commerce for pet products when you plan yourself well. You should take time to study your target niche and the audience before you can commit resources. Hopefully, the above ideas will help you get started.