The desire to spoil a pet that provides unconditional love is a strong motivation when it comes to consumers parting with their money. Given all this,  it appears pet products have the ability to weather a tough economic storm.

Think about it:  Even in these economic times people continue to spend money on their pets. A leading box-mart pet store boasted a six percent increase in sales, amid U.S. economic struggles. Such a large increase when the economy is in strife clearly shows that pet products may be recession-proof.

What does that mean for you?
Maybe now is the time to collar the pet product market. Where do you begin? The majority of pets are dogs and cats, and as a result, most of the pet products purchased are for dogs and cats. But, what else do you need to know to come out ahead of the pack?

Who's Buying  For Their Pets?

Research has shown that baby boomers and empty nesters are the most common purchasers of pet products. Boomers love to dote on their pets, which, in turn, creates a need and a opportunity for dog accessories, cat toys, pet clothing and other pet-oriented products.

Empty-nesters with stable, disposable incomes are buying upscale collars, dogs beds and even doggie pools.Young professionals who are delaying the start of a family and opting for raising a pet are also jumping on the pet accessory bandwagon. A versatile customer base from all segments of life is what makes pet products a tremendous sales opportunity.

Selling Pet Products

As a retailer, what sales strategy should you take when about selling pet products? You need a clear starting point, whether expanding the pet products you offer or adding them to your existing product mix.  Take stock of what you already have and how pet products relate to your existing merchandise.

Do you offer gourmet foods? Gourmet pet foods maybe the perfect way to dive into the pet industry. If you carry jewelry, try adding dog or cat-inspired jewelry and upscale leashes and collars. New products are best introduced when you associate it with a product you already sell.

When you take time to work new products into your sales mix, you will have a greater success rate. One of the biggest mistakes a retailer can make is adding a product that is too different from their normal product mix.

Think about it:  It is far easier to sell a customer a dogie tee shirt, if they normally buy your line of human tees. The combining of human tees with dog tees is not at all far fetched.

The tee shirt example is just one example of how “cross selling” can help you integrate pet products into your store. “Cross selling” is an easy marketing tool that any shop can utilize. Just remember items like jewelry can lead to selling dog collars and pet charms, while gourmet food can lead to selling gourmet pet food. Adding a product that is different from what you currently sell, yet compliments or parallels your current mix, is a great way to slowly introduce a new product.

FGmarket has several great pet product suppliers below who can help you ease into a recession-proof pet product market.

Puppy Potty Training Aid

Traveling with you pet a problem? Not with this potty training aid, it can easily travel with you. When traveling hang it on your hotel room door and your pet will be able to signal her need to go potty.

Housebreaking a puppy can be frustrating. Communicating with your puppy can be difficult. But, Potty Time Charms give you and your puppy a way to communicate — alleviating scratching, barking and accidents.  Pet products like these make living with our four-legged furry friends a breeze.

If your a retailer looking to include Potty Time Charms in your shop please visit their pet potty training specials and promotions page.

Castlemere Pet Accessories

More than just dog bowls, Castlemere also has many wholesale pet bowls, pet feeders, great trays to catch spills and overflows from the feeders, leashes and collars and more! Matching sets are available and will get tails wagging over the fun designs and convenience of these pet accessories.

You're stocked up with great wholesale pet accessories when you shop with Castlemere. Plus, you know that your customers are going to return because these pet accessories are so helpful that just one will never do!

Are your customers looking for a matching set of dog bowls, trays and feeders? Are they wanting to leave your store with pet accessories that are functional, practical, and creative enough to match almost any decor? Then what your customers are looking for are wholesale pet accessories from Castlemere. With enough appeal to make customers stop in their tracks for a second look, Castlemere's wholesale pet accessories are a great boon to your customers and to your store.

Soothing Music to Calm Nervous Dogs!

Car rides are equally strenuous for many pet owners. If the dog has not grown used to traveling, his or her first ride will be a bear. Subsequent rides may get easier but some dogs remain skiddish even as an adult dog. Not anymore! There's no need to endure difficult trips with the pooch when Canine Lullabies exist. Even if the dog doesn't sleep, he or she will rest long enough to give you a chance to relax between bathroom breaks. Calming music for dogs is a dream come true for pet owners who travel a lot!

If your customers are dog owners, they know the hassles of calming a hyper or nervous dog. In the mind of a dog owner, it's part of being a "parent" but it's one that no one wants to deal with often!Rest their minds and calm their nerves while Canine Lullabies from audio-Therapy Innovations do the same for their dogs. Once your customers see that you are ahead of the game and offer innovative pet products, they'll return to you for more wholesale pet products that make their lives easier!

Dog Bowls For Every Dog

These are just a few of the basics. There are many more styles that attract the attention of every kind of pet owner. Lab lovers have their own style. Mardi Gras enthusiasts can celebrate the festival with their pets. Sassy pups have many styles to themselves. Whether a puppy or a full-grown dog, dogs of every kind and every personality type are represented in the fun styles of dog bowls from PetRageous Designs.

Truth be told, the fun styles are more for the pet owners but that's where your store comes in! It's easy to attract the popular pet owner niche with great pet products like these. A wide assortment of dog bowls will keep your store at the top of the barking order with dog lovers everywhere! (There's even some for kitty.)

It's A Dog Collar!

Reason Two: The Co-Leash is easy for pets to wear. Many dogs aren't fans of collars and certainly don't take to leashes. The Co-Leash is a great way to get pets used to being on a leash and wearing a collar. For first time pet owners who aren't used to training dogs, the Co-Leash is a convenient way to keep collar and leash together in a sturdy, reliable pet collar that can be worn in the rain, snow, sleet and shine!

Wait! It's A Dog Leash Too!

Reason Four: Several states have leash laws that require dogs to wear a collars and leashes at all times. Keeping a dog collared and leashed (or either/or) at all times can be an arduous task for pet owners without the Co-Leash. Pet owners with the Co-Leash get to relax when animal control drives by because they know their pets are wearing both!

Just one visit to the Co-Leash website is enough to make responsible pet owners want to click the "buy now" button. Why not bring that ready-to-buy attitude to your store instead by offering your customers these amazing two-in-one wholesale dog collars?

A pet owner who really loves their pet is willing to splurge on the best products for their pets. Whether it's wholesale pet shampoos or gourmet pet treats, all it takes is the appearance of higher quality and pet owners jump! This is what makes carrying HG Pet Products so profitable. They ARE quality pet shampoos that leave behind a shiny, healthy coat with a delicious smell. More than this, they are also appealing to a wide variety of pet owners, especially those who treat their pets as if Fluffy or Fido were a real person.

Pet Shampoos from HG Pet Products

Give pet owners an even better reason to nuzzle their pets.  Pet shampoos from HG Pet Products bring the sensuous smells of coconut, lavender, oatmeal, Moroccan mint, and rosemary/cucumber to bath time. There is even a hypoallergenic option!

Want to get pets running to the bath from now on? Pet owners often struggle to get their pets into the bathtub but not after a bath or two with aromatic pet shampoos from HG Pet Products!

Experience Fun Wholesale Pet Products!

Years of providing wholesale pet products to all of these very different markets produces expertise you can't find elsewhere. And that's just one of the reasons RetailPets.com has pet owners barking up their tree for all of their pet toys, dog treats, cat treats and other pet supplies.

Pet owners want to know that their pets will enjoy the products that they bring home to little Fido or Fifi. That means the dog toys and cat toys that they buy have to be made of quality materials and look as fun as they are. They also have to be appropriate for that specific breed and size of dog.

RetailPets.com makes it easy to find pet products for many different dogs and cats. Just to repeat for emphasis, RetailPets.com makes it easy, fast, interesting and convenient to order wholesale pet products. They have pet products just for puppies, a "shop by breed" option, a whole section of catnip stuffed toys, and even developmental toys for pets. There is simply no way to go wrong when you buy wholesale pet products like these from RetailPets.com. It just isn't happening.

Get Your Share of the Billion Dollar Pet Industry!

Nothing evokes more passion and sentiment these days than children…and the family pet. Over 74 million dogs and 90 million cats are pets in U.S. households and nearly half of all owners consider their pets to be family members. As a result, over 34 billion dollars were spent on pet products, pet supplies and pet accessories in recent years. Pets have experienced an increase in popularity as celebrities as well as the middle class have invested more and more money in carrying, clothing and caring for Fido and Fluffy.

As a retailer, claim your piece of the pie in this billion dollar industry by offering the latest and greatest items for pets. FG Market is your avenue to the best wholesale pet supplies.

Luxury Items for the Pampered Pooch

VIPoochy Black Biker Bling Jacket

VIPoochy offers "luxury adornments for the cultured canine". Dog lovers will go crazy over the bedtime bath and spa items like bathrobes, bone-shaped spa towels and handmade soaps. Their dog clothes like biker t-shirts are sure to be a hit with motorcycle enthusiasts, as well as their statement tees like "Lucky" and "Spoiled." They also offer seasonal and classic sweaters, party hats, pajamas, poochy pearls, rhinestone bow barrettes, festive dog collars, matching leashes and collars in "lizard, neon and glitter", coats, and dog carriers in Italian leather with fully-lined shearling interiors. These items are for the serious connoisseur of dog clothing and accessories.

Charming Pet Products Dog Party Collar

Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend Fido and Miss Kitty have taken over.

Dog owners truly see their pet as an extension of themselves. Charming Pet Products carries an array of items for dapper dogs and cool cats. They offer dog collars in holiday styles and team colors for several colleges, as well as dog toys, party hats, glitter charms, pooch pearls, faux furs, bow wow baskets, pet throws, and rhinestone dog collars and leashes.

After all a dog's got to look her best when she's out partying with her master. With the wide selection of fashion trendy dog clothes, your customers will be able to dress their pet for success.

For a truly couture collection of elegant, over-the-top dog clothes, Scooter Friends Couture will please even the most pampered pets. For a walk in the park, hoodies, raincoats, t-shirts and tanks will give dogs something to bow-wow about. And for chilly days, trendy reversible coats, puffy coats, and velvet coats will turn canine heads. For that special occasion: a tuxedo or a pink imported wool dress is just the ticket to make a lasting impression.

A novel idea in pet apparel comes from Poochey Shoos. Their designer paw wear is an indoor/outdoor Tenni Shoo which is available in a variety of sizes and colors, and offers "pawsitively fashionable protection" for man's best friend.

Fun and Safe Pet Products for Dogs on the Go

PupCentric's E.B.D. Carry All Doggie Traveling Bag

With owners on the go, dogs aren't staying home. They're packing their bags and experiencing the sights. For the pet parent on the go, PupCentric has an all-in-one pet travel bag that literally carries everything a pet needs when traveling except the dog! What does every traveling dog need? An E.B.D. (everything but the dog) Carry All with a food bowl, water bowl, indoor/outdoor blanket, freezable gel pack and more. This bag has all of that and more including a special waste disposal pocket. They also offer a unique City Dog Guide Book which is a source for pet-centered businesses. Not only does PupCentric make a travel bag for your dog, they generously donate bags to help the Atlanta Humane Society's dog adoption program.

Boating safety doesn't just apply to humans. Paws Aboard makes boating fun and safe for owners and their dogs with their life jackets, doggy boat ladder, dog boat ramp, and their ski rope dog leash.

Rescue Facts provides pet id tags that help pets in cases of accidents and emergencies. Their Rescue ID's provide a method of communicating crucial information in an emergency, such as their medical history, allergies, contact info, breed and age. These pet ID tags attach to seatbelts, motorcycles and pet ID straps to help keep pets safe.

For fun and functional products for the family pooch, Poochie Bells is the innovator of designer doggie doorbells. With this practical way of letting owners know they need outside, Fido won't have "any more accidents by the door!"

For a Wide Range of Pet Accessories

Pet Edge Dog Treats Barksworth Gourmet Cookies

Pet Edge offers a wide range of pet supplies and pet accessories. Their unique dog supplies include bone-shaped braided rugs, welcome mats, pet hair dye, doggie wedding dress and veil, a state-of-the-art GPS Pet Tracking System, and a heated dog bowl. They also carry pet care products, items for pet grooming. Pet edge is a groomer's paradise with the amazing selection of bandannas, hair ribbons, shampoos, shears, apparel and grooming tools available. Pet lovers will delight in the a sundry of pet treats that can be found: cat treats, dog treats, chews, bones and breath freshening treats. Cat lovers will purr over the Zanies Meow Magic Catnip. While dog lovers celebrate their best friend's special day with Barksworth Gourmet Cookies Birthday Platter.

Dwellings for the Purrfect Pet – Cat Lovers Rejoice

Habitat Haven offers outdoor enclosures for cats that are designed to prevent escape. These build-your-own enclosures allow owners to create the "purrfect" home for their cat with tunnels, bridges, stairs, towers, hammocks and awnings. These offer a great alternative to pet cages and fences.

For pet furniture like no other, Kitty High Rise has an all-inclusive center for cats that is also a fine piece of accent furniture. It features a moving air, filtered litter box, an elegant bed in the "Sleeping Chamber," a "Dining Area" with three feeding dishes, a "Recreation Area" with a spinning toy wheel, and even a "Nail Salon." It truly is the cat's meow for the pampered kitty.

Pet owners love their pets but not their flying fur. Sticky Sheets offers a solution to the fur every where problem. Their safe and convenient fur removal sheets will make your customers leap for joy.

With so many pet products and pet accessories to choose from, finding the right fit of items to best appeal to your customers is a walk in the park. Let these pet product suppliers from FG Market help you get your fair share of this billion dollar industry, and you'll be saying "Bow-Wow!" to bigger profits.

Contributor: Jill Evans

Find all your pet fashion accessories here.

Dress your dog or cat in the latest trends with pet clothing found here.