Pets join in on the holiday festivities
From the Charlotte Observer
THEY'RE `OUR CHILDREN'
Pets join in on
the holiday festivities
Retailers say a growing portion of billions spent on animals goes for gifts
NICHOLE MONROE BELL
nbell@charlotteobserver.com
In Stacie Radcliff's family, pets are family.
That's why on Christmas day, when everyone is opening gifts, the dogs won't be left out. Each will get its own Christmas stocking custom-filled with tennis balls, rawhide and stuffed animals.
Radcliff, 33, said she lavishes attention on her 10-year-old dog Lilly in part because she is single and doesn't have children.
There's also a practical reason.
"We found that on Christmas morning, the dogs would see us unwrapping things and they'd want something to chew on," said Radcliff, a 33-year-old merchandise planner. "We didn't want them to be left out."
America loves its pets, and this year total spending on fido and fluffy is expected to reach $40 billion, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association. Retailers say a growing portion of that spending is going to holiday gifts.
The spending is being fueled by consumers like Radcliff, who don't want their animals to feel left out of the holidays festivities.
Others are leaving expensive treats with kennels to assuage the guilt of excluding the pet from the family trip, store owners say. Stores are offering increasingly elaborate gifts, including faux-fur clothing and home-baked treats.
About 56 percent of dog owners plan to buy gifts for their pets this year, along with 42 percent of cat owners, according to the pet product association.
That compares to 55 percent of dog owners and 37 percent of cat owners last year.
Barbara Burg, owner of Canine Cafe on South Tryon, said her fresh-baked dog treats are popular among pet owners who are leaving their animals in kennels during the holidays.
She said the store also sells a fair number of Christmas stockings, toys and collars.
"Pets … are our children, they're our best friends," Burg said. "It makes us feel good to give them something nice for the holidays."
Pets have even become the objects of gift giving among some owners. Donna Foster, a Charlotte photographer who specializes in pet pictures, said she does about 45 percent of her business during the holidays.
"These days a lot of pets are owned by empty nesters — the dogs have become their children … or they're owned by singles and the dog is their entire family," she said.
Stephen Painter opened City Paws, a pet boutique, in Carolina Place mall this year to tap in to that holiday spending. Painter, whose main store is in Huntersville, will keep the mall store open through January.
On Tuesday, a steady stream of shoppers browsed the store. Among them was Kimberly Giammattei, who purchased an "I believe in Santa" bandana for her brother's dog, Venus.
Giammattei and her 11-year-old daughter Giannina, said they regularly wrap presents for their two cats, Pepper and Sonic, to open on Christmas day.
"The cats sleep with (Giannina) and protect her, so Santa definitely gets them cat treats and toys for Christmas," Giammattei said.
The pampered pet movement
1997: Down-filled dog beds and natural pet foods begin to emerge.
2002: Cultural observers notice the emergence of veterinary insurance, holistic pet care, all-day pet spas and animal trust funds.
2003: Retailers begin referring to pet owners as "pet guardians" and "pet parents." Bloomingdales opens its Bark Avenue boutique, and "Throw Me A Bone Cookbook" introduces gourmet cooking to canine diets.
2004: Dogs join the social networking movement with Dogster.com. Poochie sushi and doggie Kimonos emerge, and The Meow Mix café, the first feline-friendly restaurant, opens in Los Angeles.
2005: Pets officially have an unprecedented status in American consumer culture. Key observations include Bark Mitzvahs, animal acupuncture, pet travel agents, dog yoga and expanded animal healthcare programs.
2006: Pampered pets reach a cultural tipping point. Pet Fashion Week debuts in New York City, high-end pet beds go mainstream and air conditioning and heat elevate the doghouse to posh new heights.
2007: Pet pampering is a full-blown consumer segment, resonating across categories and accounting for $40 billion in consumer spending. Pet passports, pet car seats, pet chauffeur services, doggie wineglasses and a new designer pet fragrance, Juicy Crittoure.
SOURCE: Iconoculture
