Despite the hiccup of COVID in 2020, the grooming sector is booming, thanks in part to more pet parents discovering that the proper treatment of their companion animal’s skin and coat has an enormous impact on its well-being.
A 2024 Globe Newswire Research and Markets report, “U.S. Pet Grooming and Boarding Market,” notes that the U.S. pet grooming and boarding market is expected to reach $15.8 billion in 2029, at a CAGR of 7.54 percent. In addition, the U.S. pet grooming products market size was estimated at $4.94 billion in 2023, according to a 2024 Grandview Research report, and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4 percent from 2024 to 2030.
This growth will be fueled by a heightened focus on pet health, hygiene and appearance. As pet owners increasingly view their furry friends as family members, the demand for stylish, creative and health-promoting grooming styles is rising.
According to the 2024 Grandview Research report, brick-and-mortar sales of pet grooming products in the U.S. accounted for a revenue share of 74.4 percent in 2023. Physical retail establishments – which include pet stores, convenience stores and supermarkets – are finding success in the pet grooming product market due to consumers seeing the physical display of grooming products and the chance to verify their qualities.
Sustainability is not just a human trend; it has also made its way into the pet grooming world. Eco-friendly grooming products – including shampoos, conditioners and grooming tools made from sustainable materials – are becoming increasingly popular. These products are not only good for the environment but also gentle on your pet’s skin and coat.
The pet grooming market is constantly evolving, with plenty of innovative and exciting trends to explore. Millennial pet parents, in addition to the shift of companion animals becoming permanent family members, have been a boon to the grooming industry. Grooming products have become an essential part of pet care as they improve skin, prevent infections and clean the fur coat. The mouth, eyes and ears of pets are vulnerable areas that are prone to infection; hence, keeping them clean can help in preventing ailments.
There’s a growing emphasis on grooming styles that don’t just look good but also promote canine health. This includes styles tailored to a dog’s specific breed, skin condition and lifestyle, ensuring that grooming supports overall well-being. As people become more breed-conscious, there’s an increased demand for breed-specific grooming styles. Whether it’s the classic poodle cut or the distinctive Schnauzer trim, groomers are refining their techniques to cater to specific breed standards and characteristics.
For some owners, seeing lather on their pet when using a shampoo product is a sign that it is working. However, innovations in the grooming sector include reduced lather options and, sometimes, water isn’t needed in the process. Waterless shampoos offer a quick and easy solution for pet parents whether at home or on the go.
With a passion for organic pet wellness and grooming, Pure and Natural Pet has formulated its Waterless Foaming Shampoo for Dogs as well as a version for cats. The no-rinse hypoallergenic formula is massaged directly on the coat then wiped away leaving the skin moisturized and clean. For animals that are not fond of baths, waterless options offer an alternative solution with less stress. Made in the U.S.A., these products are cruelty-free and are free of chemicals, parabens, sulfates and formaldehydes.
As the humanization of pet products continues to take hold in the grooming sector, David Campanella of Best Shot notes that human attributes do not exactly cross into pet shampoo. Campanella, the national sales and marketing director for Best Shot, has more than 30 years of pet industry knowledge and experience. He’s seen the push for natural ingredients crossing over from the human shampoo and food industries but, while “more natural” and “ingredient disclosure” are very good for the pet industry, he also has noticed some marketers pandering to “fear, doubt and ignorance” when it comes to shampoo ingredients.
According to Campanella, marketing pet shampoo shouldn’t be what the consumer wants to hear. Instead, it should be the truth of the matter. Best Shot has campaigned to advise others on the importance of a quality product, integrity and ingredient transparency. The brand has stated its mission of full ingredient disclosure on its website, where it appeals to consumer desire for transparency and fact-based education. Customers can ask questions about the ingredients and performance, and Best Shot is more than happy to explain with substantive facts backed by science.
As for Best Shot, Campanella is proud that it sources the finest natural, organic and human-grade ingredients available in all its lines of products, including Scentament Spa and ONE SHOT, and it uses ingredients from sustainable, earth-derived botanical and mineral origins, including advanced silicone technologies working in unison with various natural extracts and proteins. All Best Shot products are safe for humans and animals, pH balanced for their specific task, environmentally friendly and cruelty-free.
Another grooming brand Buddha Bubbles, by Barking Buddha Pet, was developed by Lucy Calamari Caprez in 2016 to be organic shampoo and conditioner with the most complete formula in the market. Made with certified organic ingredients and botanicals, these products provide a safe and natural way to clean your dog’s sensitive skin and coat.
“We wanted a formula that had all the solutions in one bottle because our dogs had multiple skin issues and we found ourselves buying different bottles of shampoo to solve these issues,” said Caprez, marketing director for Natural Cravings Pet Treats, maker of Buddha Bubbles. “After researching the market, we realized that shampoo companies sell different solutions in different bottles. We are not a shampoo company, we are an holistic pet product company. We sell products that help dogs get healthy, so why not share our perfect formula created for our pups with our customers and let them enjoy all the benefits that come in one bottle?”
Safe for puppies, adult dogs and seniors, the Buddha Bubbles Shampoo is made with organic rosemary, a natural anti-inflammatory, shea butter, organic oats and eucalyptus to help soothe irritated skin as well as methylene blue, known to be a safe and effective antiseptic and antifungal. Meanwhile, Buddha Bubbles Conditioner contains everything that needs to stay in the coat, including argan oil, organic chamomile, organic aloe vera, vitamin E, Omega 3, 6 and 9, as well as organic neem and rosemary, which act as bug repellants.
As the DIY grooming trend continues to grow, more pet owners are opting to groom their dogs at home. The Barking Buddha Pet website offers a blog post, “A Guide to Your Dog’s At-Home Spa Day,” which explains how DIY grooming isn’t as daunting as one might believe. The article goes into detail about the supplies needed for a “doggy spa day” and includes pro tips on what to do and what to avoid.
“Brushing, shampooing, and drying your dog can be a lot of work. But if you don’t want to send them off for grooming or you just want to bond with them, there are ways that you can easily do these tasks at home,” notes the Barking Buddha article.
At-home grooming kits, complete with professional-grade tools and easy-to-follow instructions, are becoming widely available. These kits allow pet parents to maintain their dogs’ grooming between professional appointments. For consumers looking for convenient and efficient ways to tend to their pet’s grooming needs at home, there is the furMe five-tool grooming vacuum kit, which launched in 2023 year. Created by Matt Homa, the innovative vacuum kit features several tools for everything from touch-ups between grooming sessions to a complete at-home groom.
According to Homa, many animals not only tolerate the whisper quiet noise level, but thoroughly enjoy the soft suction feeling of the vacuum on their coat like a massage at the spa. The device emits half of the noise level of a modern vacuum at only 48 decibels, making it ideal for sensitive, shy or skittish pets.
This cutting-edge product captures 99 percent of bio-waste, including dust, mites, hair, fur, allergens and more. The pet hair being trimmed or brushed goes into the vacuum’s one-liter container simply by pressing cleaning levers on the brushes to release the hair.
Successful groomers can identify what a specific dog needs to deliver a pleasant, stress-free experience. Therefore, it’s important for pet retailers to stay informed, as not every grooming product is “one size-fits-all,” and varying dog breeds can have vastly differing coat and skin types that require different grooming techniques and product. In fact, the American Kennel Club (AKC) offers expert advice on its website for proper grooming of different dog breeds. The list of articles includes instructions on grooming double-coated dogs, show dog tips and even caring for hairless dogs.
The same attitude is needed when it comes to health issues. Retailers and groomers should be observant, as it’s vital to know what may be going on below the surface when it comes to an animal’s skin health; just because a dog is itchy doesn’t mean an oatmeal shampoo will keep it from itching after one bath.
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