You can design and sell loosely fitting coverings for furniture and other surfaces of the house for pets to lie on. These smaller washable surfaces will be more inexpensive for the average pet owner and easier to maintain than a full size custom created cover for a piece of furniture (or for instance, a rug). This will prevent any hair and/or fur from sticking to the surface of a piece of furniture or carpet. It can also prevent those annoying smells, which seem to penetrate the fibers of a piece of furniture, that never seem to come out! Your covers will also offer the added benefit of keeping a home cleaner and overall more sanitary. This wouldn't just be a wonderful easy option for pet owners, but also for pet sitters, groomers, or kennels as well!
Over a hundred million furry pets are owned in the United States alone. Now, imagine how much cat and dog hair is covering each-and-every piece of furniture across each of these pet owning countries. There is no denying it. That's a LOT of furry furniture! While completely covering every piece of furniture with a washable, removable cover may be an option for some households, most people do not have the time or resources to do this. It just isn't a practical option. This is where you come in.
According to the U.S. Humane Society, there are more than 78 million dogs owned as pets in the United States. Twenty-five percent of these pet owners owned two dogs. This same study said that there were more than 90 million cats owned as pets in the United States also. Fifty-six percent of these pet owners own more than one cat. There are over five million cat owners in the UK and of these, 38 percent have more than one cat. France and Germany also maintain high pet ownership statistics. In Japan, one in three households has a pet.
Depending on the size of the cover, you could charge $20 – $60 per cover. You should offer them in a range of sizes and fabrics. You can create them in many colors and designs. You should also offer some covers with elaborate ribbons and fancy embellishments for the pet owners who like to make the animal members of their family's feel like royalty. Keep in mind also the wide range of surfaces that dogs and cats like to make their favorite napping spots. Cats love high places like the back of a couch or on top of a television. Dogs generally like large fluffy couches or surfaces like beanbag chairs. Animals also like to lie across the back section of a car or perch on the edge of a vehicle seat, or balanced out a truck window. Some pets prefer the seat of a rocking chair or making themselves comfortable sprawled across the foot of a bed.
Be sure to keep in mind the range of sizes that people will need for different breeds of dogs. You will need to make these covers durable and able to resist frequent washings and the occasional animal chewing on them. You could even offer personalized covers with the names, or initials, of the pet on them for a little dash of personality and charm!
Next, you will need to find a way for your many potential customers to find you! You will likely want to advertise your services by running a visible advertisement in your local phone directory, list your business with an online business directory, and also by printing up flyers and posting them in places where people who would benefit from your services are likely to visit; like vet offices and pet stores. Be sure to include elementary schools, grocery stores, popular lunch places, and coffee shops! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on with your business information. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find people who are looking for you and your services. In no time at all, you will have built up a large clientele base, many by word of mouth as they receive items with you and tell their friends!
Resources:
http://www.hsus.org
http://www.hunterk9.com
http://www.slipcovershop.com
http://www.barkslope.com
http://www.barkslope.com/dog-car-accessories.html
July 19, 2009
