Ideas for you .....

[brandy pup]

To pet shop owners and future pet shop owners - I had a thought (OH OH )

In your store set up a kiosk or desk with a internet computer. That way when people come in looking for a pet you can direct them to www.petfinder.com or local rescues and shelters in your area. You can keep a printer or paper handy for them to write numbers of prospective adoptees. Or a printer so they can print an adoption application for a pet. (keep printer behind counter or something)

This will also keep them in your store a bit longer and make them feel more welcome.

[ninaninalove]

To pet shop owners and future pet shop owners - I had a thought (OH OH )

In your store set up a kiosk or desk with a internet computer. That way when people come in looking for a pet you can direct them to www.petfinder.com or local rescues and shelters in your area. You can keep a printer or paper handy for them to write numbers of prospective adoptees. Or a printer so they can print an adoption application for a pet. (keep printer behind counter or something)

This will also keep them in your store a bit longer and make them feel more welcome.

It's an awsome idea but I don't think anyone wanting to start a pet store will do it because they'd be losing money. I would if I had a pet store, but I don't know anyone else that would.

[Moosley]

i agree with Ninaninalove, it's a good idea and im sure even petshop owners would agree, but it just isnt practical...

As well as the loss of sales and customers, there is also the fact that you need to be able to set up and use the computer, if not... people could use it like a computer cafe and surf the net for any old thing... plus i bet there would be issues with insurance too. Plus there will forever be damage = replacements or thieving = replacements, would be a huge loss for the company or owner.

[Rhondakbt]

I agree with Brandypup! Great idea! I go to a Pet Shop here in Houston that sells zero pets & has been in business for a very long time! They speacialize in the high end fancy dogs beds, leashes, collars, jewlery, clothes for dogs & people, high quality pet food etc. They are making money that's for certain. :D That's the way to go if you truely love pets! :)

[Rhondakbt]

Oops! Double post!

[Songbird]

I also think it's a great idea and the only bit that would really be the problem would be as said, making sure the computer was used for "proper" research and not abused in anyway. Although i'm sure many of the good shops would support this idea fully. My old work place didn't have the internet but if people were looking for something (rescue, info etc) I would give them the addresses of websites to have a look themselves or i'd take their number and look it up for them and phone them back at work and let them know. It's got nothing to do with "losing business" or customers because if they are looking for a rescue specifically they are still not going to buy an animal from your shop (and if you don't help potentially lose dry goods sales too) and at least you are showing willing to help them find their animal and not just cutting off your nose to spite your face (so to speak) and also leaving another rescue animal sitting in a shelter when someone is searching for it. We had many people (and i'm sure we will at the new place) who had rescues but would come to us for accessories and advice as they knew we actually cared about the animals regardless of where they came from and would advise people because of that (and go out of our way to help too). It's practical business sense to know that a bad reputation is easily gained and hard to recover, so it's best to start as you mean to go on - the more helpful you are, the more you put yourself out for the customers and their animals, the better your reputation becomes and you will gain more custom because of this - this is basic management knowledge. It costs much more to lose one customer because what they wanted didn't suit your needs then it does to go out of your way for them, find information out and pass it on. I keep a list of local rescues anyway so I have them at hand to pass them on people.

[brandy pup]

You could have very limited internet as well as placing in a very visual place on the counter. Or have it so the employee is operating it from behind the counter but have the monitor for public. They wont lose any buisness and will keep people in the store longer which usally = more buisness.