An East Sussex pet shop owner claims he’s losing almost half his trade because traffic wardens don't enforce parking restrictions outside his store.

Garry Sanders has called on traffic wardens to enforce one hour limits outside his pet shop in Hangleton Lane, Hove, because motorists are flouting the rules.

The pet shop owner said some drivers were leaving their cars all day while they went to work without being punished with a ticket.

He said the full parking spaces meant trade was being lost to nearby national pet chains.

However, council officials said wardens had been to the trouble spot in response to Mr Sanders' complaint but could find no examples of illegal parking.

Mr Sanders said: “We need to see more traffic wardens in Hangleton.

“Drivers can overstay in bays and they don't get checked but if my customers then double park they get done by the police.

“We normally serve about 100 customers a day but get a couple of cars parked all day in the lay-by and we might only get 60.

“The problem in our trade is people buy in bulk and you are not going to buy a 20kg bag of dog food and walk half a mile with it.”

Hangleton and Knoll Councillor Dawn Barnett said: “Motorists are double-parking, parking in disabled bays and in the cycle lane, so people who use the shops can't park near to go to them.

“If people can't get into the local shops they will go elsewhere which can cause big problems for the smaller shops.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “The council received a complaint last week about vehicles parking for longer than allowed in the bays outside Hangleton shops.

“A civil enforcement officer went out immediately to log vehicles in the area.

“A follow-up check was made an hour later by which time all the logged vehicles had left the bays so no Penalty Charge Notices were issued on that occasion.”

Dog collars and leads made in America from recycled bicycle inner tubes are proving to be a big hit for UK pet accessory company Collarways... 

The collars and leads are produced by Cycle Dog and are hand-sewn in Oregon. The inner tubes, which would normally end up in landfill sites, are re-fashioned into collars and leads, overlaid with vibrant patterns and finished with quality metal hardware and a Pup Top Bottle Opener

The collar is available in three widths: Fatty at one-and-a-half inches is great for greyhounds, lurchers and large dogs; Regular at one-inch suits a wide range of breeds from pugs to labradors; and Skinny at five-eighths-of-an-inch is a sweet little collar for small breeds and puppies. 

The bicycle inner tubes are soft with some elasticity, making the lead handle comfortable for owners and the collar gentle on a dog's neck.

The material is quick-drying, odour free and resistant to mould and mildew.

The Regular Collar also features the Cycle Dog Latch-Lock airline-style metal buckle. The Latch-Lock buckle is not only stylish but with its stainless steel internals is also extremely strong with a pull strength of over 750lb. A safety bar prevents accidental opening.

Collarways is delighted to have been assigned the distributor for this exciting new range of product that also includes a travel bowl that folds to pocket size and some funky new dog toys.

More info: www.collarways.com, email info@collarways.com  or call 0845 4568395.

As an increasing number of consumers buy products on line, retail outlets like pet shops need to be clever about how they grow their business. One way is to become the centre of the local pet-owning community, according to Pooch & Mutt director Guy Blaskey...

Guy will share his views on how pet stores can thrive in the internet age at this year’s PATS Harrogate seminars, sponsored by Pedigree Wholesale, on September 15 and 16.

Here we catch up with Guy for a 60-second interview to get a taster of what’s to come during his seminar at 12.50pm on Monday, September 16.

Q. Why should people come to your seminars?

Guy says: This is the third year I have done seminars at PATS and they have consistently been some of the most popular talks there. I have a passion for marketing and am constantly learning new things. Some of what I learn is very useful for Pooch & Mutt, but a lot is more useful for other types of businesses. PATS is a great opportunity to share this information with people who will hopefully not only find it useful but will also find it profitable...and the better the stores do the more of our product they will sell.

Q. What does the future hold for the independent pet retailer?

Guy says: If an independent retailer is willing to adapt, the future is bright for them. If independents try to take on the likes of Amazon and Tesco at their own game then they will lose, but if they offer something that these organisations can't offer then they can win. My seminar is all about adding service and becoming a centre of the local pet-owning community.

Q. How can a small pet shop embrace the digital world of websites and social media?

Guy says: There are many ways. I would always suggest that shop owners start by thinking of who their customers are, what they want and what they do, then try and integrate with this. The online world is not just about being online. If an independent pet store aims to become a hub for the local pet-owning community they can use online tools to bring this community together both online and more importantly offline. A simple example is organising a big dog walk through Facebook.

Q. What advice would you give a retailer wanting to set up a website?

Guy says: Come to my talk at PATS in Harrogate. As well as my seminar there are lots of other experts to help and advise. 

Visit the Seminar Theatre at PATS Harrogate, sponsored by Pedigree Wholesale, to be inspired and motivated by fantastic speakers. Register to attend the show now at www.patshow.co.uk

PATS Harrogate takes place on Sunday, September 15, and Monday, September 16, at Harrogate International Centre.

After substantial investment, Bestpets re-launched its newly extended Glasgow Hub Depot on Sunday, and the opening ceremony was supported by pet product suppliers from all over the UK...

Despite the glorious weather and a Wimbledon final featuring a certain Scot called Andy Murray, there was a great turnout on the day, thanks to a canvassing campaign by Regional Sales Development Managers Angela Paterson and Hazel Nish.

Retailers were treated to a tour of the new facility, which boasts just less than 70,000 square feet of sales space and over 9,000 listed products. On offer throughout the day was the opportunity to speak to specialist suppliers, the Bestpets team, as well as food and refreshments and those exclusive deals which were too good to miss.

Depot Hub Manager, Dolina Mutch, was quick to thank the support of the pet retail trade, and those retailers who travelled from all over Scotland to visit on the day.

“We had an excellent day, and it was great to meet old and new retailers alike and to show them the work that has been going on behind the scenes for the last six months to put ourselves in a position to offer the best service and range throughout Scotland. The feedback we received was tremendous and we look forward now to working even more closely with both retailers and suppliers."

UK and export key account manager for Natures Menu Sallie-Ann King, who attended the event, said: “ We were delighted to be invited to come along and support the re-opening of the Glasgow depot.

"It really needs to be seen to be believed. It’s a fantastic outlet for any retailer as they literally have everything under one roof.

"The area dedicated for RAW food has been heavily invested in by Bestpets and reinforces our knowledge of the growth in this sector as more consumers turn to a more natural diet for their pets.”

The categories of the awards will be:

1. UK Pet Retailer of the Year
2. International Pet Retailer of the Year
3. Groomer of the Year
4. Supplier of the Year
5. Wholesaler of the Year
6. Pet Product Innovation of the Year
7. Pet Product Exporter of the Year

Entry into the awards is free of charge and entrants can submit nominations in as many of the categories as they wish. Nominations can come direct from the entrant or be submitted by another party. The application needs to provide full contact details of the entrant and stipulate which category is being entered. Applications need to include brief information on the reason for the entry and why the particular company or person qualifies for an award.  Nominations need to be emailed to Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s trade association manager at pat@petquip.com by July 29.

The entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges during August, and the winners will be announced on September 15 at the awards and party night in the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. Tickets will include dinner, wine, and a short professional awards ceremony followed by dancing to a live band. Email pat@petquip.com for a ticket booking form.

Commenting on the awards, Pat Flynn said: “Awards are a marvellous way of raising the awareness of a product or service and creating creditability for their future success. The pet sector is a vibrant industry with many successful operators, so recognition of these in the awards ceremony promises to be one of the highlights of the year for anyone involved”. 

Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions, the organisers of PATS, said: "It's great that PetQuip has decided to stage these new awards alongside our Harrogate exhibition. PATS Harrogate promises to be a brilliant show for the industry, a fact that can only help to enhance these awards."

Top dog model Simba and the world's ugliest dog Mugly are the stars of a new video made by Natures Menu.

Both Simba, the winner of ITV2's Top Dog Model, and Mugly, holder of dubious title of 'The World's Ugliest Dog' accolade, are fed on a Natures Menu raw diet.

Now the company has produced a three-and-a-half minute video featuring both stars, and uploaded it onto YouTube.

You can view the video by clicking here

Once you have the right type of person it is then essential to get them working as part of a strong team. Putting the new member of staff with an experienced person, as a mentor, who they can learn from, is a good idea. Give them a clear role and guidelines on the job they are doing and you are likely to find that they quite quickly build up confidence in the job, become part of the team, and feel happy serving customers. 

Being clear about what you want staff to do is essential in any business. The clearer you are about what is expected of them, the more confident they become in doing what is asked and the more their abilities will improve.

As a manager, it is essential that you are not seen to be taking all the best jobs, which often means getting your hands dirty on the less interesting tasks. If staff see that you are prepared to do a whole range of jobs then delegation becomes easier and everyone will muck in together as part of the team. 

If the managers become picky about their work, then you can be sure that the staff will follow suit and the team spirit will disappear. This may mean taking on quite menial tasks at times but it’s a good way of keeping your hand in and understanding what is reasonable to expect from your team.

By employing people with a passion for fishkeeping, staff automatically have something in common which means that, on the whole, they are more likely to bond and get on well. This also helps with sharing knowledge. Their passion means that they are likely to exchange ideas and information on both a formal and informal basis.

In terms of getting the teams to work effectively towards business goals, incentive schemes can be very effective but these must have a direct relevance to the business. For example, you could encourage staff to set up a tank of their own at home and they can chose which type of tank depending on their specific interest; whether it’s for coldwater, tropical or marine fish. They can get equipment at a discount and order in the type of fish they want to keep. This way you feed their enthusiasm and they increase their knowledge, which benefits the staff, the company and the customer. You could also allow them to borrow the books they want to help build on that knowledge.

Working with livestock means that a delicate balance has to be maintained when investing incentive schemes. You don’t want to encourage staff to sell too many fish or the wrong type, as this leads to problems for the consumer. An incentive scheme which directly relates to, and builds on, the existing enthusiasm of the staff benefits everyone.

It’s also important never to throw staff in at the deep end. This would not only risk the health of the livestock, but also potentially destroy the confidence of the staff. Start them off with an experienced member of staff. This way they can start learn about the different types of fish and their nutritional and environmental needs, while under close supervision. It should be a gradual process of learning which is helped by the team working closely together and sharing their experiences and what they know.

We would always therefore recommend that where possible staff should take additional qualifications in their area of interest, but having said that, there is no substitute for learning from direct experience and other team members who already have knowledge. There is no substitution for having worked through a problem yourself so you understand all the complexities that your customers face.  

For further information visit www.tetra.net

The new Repti-Home range from Vivexotic is the latest development on the reptile housing market, providing enthusiasts with versatile, affordable and stackable vivariums in five different sizes and three colours...

After listening to reptile keepers, the range was developed. Vivexotic have introduced two new sizes – Medium Tall and Large Tall – to give the reptile 33% living space. They also have the added benefit of being able to safely house an interior lighting fixture.

The enhanced colour offerings of beech, oak and walnut ensure that these vivariums work in harmony with any home and decor, giving a living space an exquisite focal point.

The vivarium is without doubt the most important aspect of successful reptile keeping. Many species have different requirements, so a versatile and easily adaptable vivarium is essential.

The front sliding doors allow easy access for maintenance and feeding. Ventilation slots in the rear panel ensure a steady flow of air throughout each vivarium and all the glass used in Repti-Home vivariums is toughened to BS6206A kite marked standards. This means it has up to five times its original strength, and if broken, the glass breaks into small blunt fragments, creating a safe environment for the owner and reptile.

The environmentally friendly wood material comes from recycled sources or FSC sustainable forests and is not only great insulator for desert dwelling reptiles but it also creates a warm, dry habitat, making these vivariums perfect for bearded dragons, corn snakes and leopard geckos.

This space-saving Repti-Home concept also allows owners to stack the vivariums in a number of different ways, making them ideal for any size environment.

Hagen offer a valuable support system to ensure retailers can effectively sell the range in store and online.

Offering a wide array of POS materials, Hagen help you to create inspirational product displays that fully showcase Vivexotic vivs.

For more information visit www.hagen.com

CSJ are giving away free clickers to visitors to their stand at the Kennel Club Agility Festival.

The festival, sponsored by CSJ, is to be held at Rockingham Castle, Leicestershire on August 9-11.

CSJ, at stand number 1, will also donate £1 to Pet Blood Bank UK (the canine blood bank service for vets that saves thousands of dogs’ lives every year) from every sale of a 2.5kg bag of food.

For more information visit www.csjk9.com

Danish Design has announced the launch of its new website www.danishdesign.co.uk

Visitors to the site will find all the up-to-date product ranges and information from the company.

"We are extremely pleased with the new look website," said a spokesperson. "It now matches all other marketing material, reflecting the look of the company's branding and products."

For further information email info@danishdesign.co.uk

Dog owners who let their pets off their leads in a village near Lincoln could now face a big fine.

A long standing law has been updated meaning it can once again start being enforced.

It is in response to complaints about dog waste not being picked up and anyone who repeatedly flouts the rules could be fined up to £1,000.

To see the full report click here

Cheryl Cole is heartbroken after her oldest pet dog Kiera has become seriously unwell.

The 30-year-old told her Instagram followers that the Jack Russell is having to go to the vet for treatment.

Cheryl posted a picture of her pet, and wrote: “This is my dog Kiera. I have had her since she was 2 months and I was 16.

“Tomorrow she has radiotherapy and will be in doggy hospital for 2-3 weeks."

The singer asked her fans to send good thoughts about Kiera’s treatment and Cheryl said that she hopes the dog will make a full recovery.

She wrote: “will u help me send her happy vibes and pray for her with me please? She's my oldest baby and its breaking my heart.”

Cheryl has three other dogs.