Reporter Ethan D. Mizer of Pet Product News, the N.Y. industry resource on animal-associated retail trends, included two Montgomery County observations from those in the know in its summation of trending market activity.
The report on aquarium sales described the sharp incline in sales of nano-aquariums, small-scale watery habitats that require less space.
Claus Frenken, North American sales manager for Sera — a German aquarium manufacturer with U.S. operations in Montgomeryville — said, “Nanos are still very popular. This is true for both new hobbyists and experienced hobbyists.
“New hobbyists use these smaller setups to get into the hobby, and the experienced hobbyists use them to add more tanks in their home,” he concluded.
The second industry trend noted by a county expert concerns rawhide dog chews.
Warnings from humane societies and the SPCA, noting the product’s danger as a choking hazard, have tamped down sales.
Tom Herron, owner of Fins Feathers Paws & Claws in Harleysville, corroborates both the market response and the logic behind it. He then described the tack he is taking to counter concerns: stocking more natural alternatives instead.
“We’re definitely going that direction as opposed to the traditional rawhide products,” he said.
More on these locally noted national pet trends is at Pet Product News.
