Pet Industry Retailers (PIR) was founded as a Yahoo group in May 2005 by Susie
Atherton, Owner/Operator of
Canine Creek Pet Wash & Boutique, to provide an easy and
effective way for independent pet retailers to network with other business
owners, discuss products and vendors, exchange merchandise, share business
ideas, and provide moral support to one another.
The PIR online peer networking group helps
smaller independent pet business owners remain competitive with "big box"
retailers. And, through the strength of our numbers, PIR is able to leverage special
discount offers
for its members from wholesalers, as it costs the vendor nothing to reach our
members.
And the best part about PIR?PIR Gathering @ Backer 2007,
Hosted by Espree
Membership is free
for qualified pet industry retailers!
Who Can Join
Membership to PIR is limited to the owners and partners of existing independent
pet retail-related businesses, either physical or online. There is no cost
to join PIR if you meet the membership criteria. Access to our Yahoo group
message board is not available to the general public, so members are free to
discuss their business practices in detail with one another.
Vendor Testimonial
Following is a
statement from a PIR Vendor Sponsor and display advertiser, explaining how his
affiliation with PIR has helped his manufacturing business:
Mendota Products became familiar with PIR
in 2008 and became a sponsor of PIR early in 2009. Since that time I have
received many calls requesting information for our product line and sell many of
the retail stores and online sites that found us through the PIR web
site/network and I have had the pleasure to speak with a number of PIR Members.
From the PIR members I have spoke with, it would appear that Mendota Products is
receiving high marks through the network with regard to our product line and
customer service. This is an excellent group of sophisticated retailers and they
have a very solid communication network. I would not be able to reach this many
suitable retail accounts as cost effectively as I am right now through PIR and I
will absolutely be renewing Mendota Products sponsorship. In Addition, the
Founder Susie Atherton, I had the pleasure to be introduced to and visit with at
Global Pet Expo, she has been wonderful to work with as well as the rest of the
group of people that have various responsibilities within this group from first
contact to follow up. I would recommend, that if you are a manufacturer,
distributor or wholesaler in the Pet Industry that you contact PIR and get
associated with them, you will definitely see a rise in your sales.
Retailers: Visit the
Members page for more information, and to
join the PIR peer networking group. Vendors:
See the Vendors
page, and learn how you can benefit from affiliation with PIR.
What is PIR?