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I Learn Something New Every Day

By Melanie Dallas

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One of the things that I like most about owning my own business is how much of a learning experience it can be, especially when your gut instinct doesn’t always lead you in the right direction. A case in point has to do with stocking Thundershirts. 

Up until a few months ago, I didn’t stock this innovative product for dog anxiety. With a $40 price point, I didn’t think I could sell enough of them to justify the cost of stocking a full-size run in both of my dog boutiques. Instead, I ordered them for my customers on a special request basis, and I did sell a couple Thundershirts per week over the course of a few months.

However, as time went on, I had more and more customers inquire about the product but not take the extra step of ordering it from me.  The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was when one of my regular customers, who I had talked about the product with and recommended it for their anxious pooch, ended up buying it at a big box pet store during a recent dog food run. 

I started small and only stocked a full-size run of the heather gray Thundershirt. With the product now in-stock, I’ve probably sold three times the number of Thundershirts than I did when I was special ordering them. In fact, they’ve sold so well that I plan to stock both the pink and blue rugby version of the Thundershirt along side the heather gray. Boy, was I wrong about the Thundershirts…and it isn’t even thunderstorm season yet in Upstate New York. 

What pet product(s) have you been hesitant to order because your gut instinct is telling you no? While it is usually good to follow your gut, there are always exceptions. Go ahead and try something new…it may end up being profitable for you.   

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We are so glad to hear you are seeing success with the Thundershirt, thanks so much for sharing your awesome story!! Thundershirt, Durham, NC Posted: 4/25/2012 5:18:42 AM We have been selling the Thundershirts now for a couple of years. We are not a retail store, we are an Aquatic Rehab Center for Dogs. Our own dog suffered from Thunder anxiety, we purchased one for him after everything else failed. We even tried to drug him, what we ended up with was a large 155lb. drugged afraid dog. Not a good combination. The Thundershirt Works, it is an excellent product. We also sell Nzymes, for the same reason. They work! We sell enough of both products to justify carrying a full stock of them. The Dog Swimmerer, Spencerport, NY Posted: 4/24/2012 10:26:26 AM