Ralph Lauren Dog Accessories

More than four years after introducing a popular dog polo shirt and cashmere sweater, Ralph Lauren now boasts 16 different dog accessories, including a wider range of trendy shirts, a hoodie, a trench coat, and leather collars and leashes.

Catering to the broad swath of American consumers that own dogs, every retail store allows dogs. And the company's website has vastly improved since I last blogged about it three years ago.

It seems to be a solid strategy to appeal to certain pet parents, with dog products and marketing co-ordinated at the retail level and online. This picture, for instance, is for a human tote bag sold on a Mother's Day page.
 

Pet Owner Spending Trends in the U.S.

A new report has just been published on nationwide pet owner spending trends.

The aging population, childless consumers and the ascendancy of high-income baby boomers are analyzed by their pet spending habits. Charts and tables are included using data from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics that highlight core trends in U.S. consumer spending by income, age, general region, and family composition.

The Pet Industry 2008 Strategic Outlook is our annual report, written for businesses marketing to pet owners.
 

Handmade Leather Dog Collars

A small company poised for growth is Paco Collars. Run by leather artisans and dog owners, they create and sell custom and handmade leather dog collars. These collars are beautiful but also highly functional, with tapered neck widths for smaller dogs and multiple sturdy leash attachments. Each order is handmade to each dog's specifications and takes 6-8 weeks for delivery. The company also sells leashes that match the collar in color, leather and brass or silver hardware.

The depth of commitment to the human-animal bond (and to the customer) is on display, from the initial order process to a lifetime guarantee on parts. When the dog passes the company can make the collar into a bracelet for the owner.

When asked who's buying these expensive collars, founder Ana Poe responded, "The one really interesting trend that we've found in our sales is that there is no one demographic that's buying. When we think we've got the consumer pegged, there's a whole new crop of people that surprise us.  Rich, poor, young, old, you name it and they're buying."

Maybe this widespread appeal is why a Paco Collar was recently spotted in a television ad for Proctor & Gamble's Febreze air fresheners.

It seems Paco Collars is well-positioned in the pet industry as it moves forward. By offering premium, well-designed, custom products to pet parents across demographic groups, the company is aligned with core trends in spending and consumer behavior.

Coach pet accessories in 2006

New for the 2006 holiday season from Coach is a private label pet carrier costing $398. This continues a relatively slow expansion into pet supplies for the company.

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Aug 2007 Paco Collars - Handmade Leather Dog Collars
Sep 2005: Coach dog collars and leashes online
Jun 2005: Coach pet accessories in 2005

Coach dog collars and leashes online

Well in advance of the holiday season, Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) has begun selling a new line of dog collars and leashes on its website.

Costing between $42 to $68 may seem expensive for dog collars, but these high-end pet accessories should appeal to the existing Coach customer, who might be used to paying the same amount for a keyring.

Related Posts:
Paco Collars - Handmade Leather Dog Collars
Coach dog carrier for 2006
Coach pet accessories in 2005
Polo Ralph Lauren dog apparel
Isaac Mizrahi and Michael Graves at Target.

Coach pet accessories in 2005

Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) is gearing up for another holiday season full of innovative marketing strategies by once again taking advantage of the $35 billion pet industry. While not currently available, Coach pet accessories will be re-introduced during the critical holiday shopping season in 2005.

"For the holiday period, Coach's popular core assortment of collars and leashes will be back again, both online and in-store through the company's Coach by Special Request gift guide," said Andrea Shaw Resnick, vice president of investor relations at Coach, in an interview with Dillon Media.

Visitors to the website and the store will have 24 hour shipping options available, no doubt in order to quickly raise their pet up to their own fashion standards.

Related Posts:
Paco Collars - Handmade Leather Dog Collars
Coach dog carrier for 2006
Coach dog collars and leashes available online
Polo Ralph Lauren Dog Apparel
Isaac Mizrahi and Michael Graves at Target