How many years have you had the store?

When did you change the name to Not Just Pets?
We changed the name to Not Just Pets in December of 2011, when we moved the Bath premises, to bring it in line with our online presence and social media. We are about to rename our Frome and Larkhall stores with the same name soon too.

What's the secret of your success?
Hard work; adapting and evolving and listening to customers; attention to detail; trying to go the extra mile and give really good, friendly, knowledgeable customer service.

How do you stand out from the crowd?
By trying to keep everything fresh, sourcing unique, good quality products and providing a range of different services. For example, we are currently collaborating with a local vet and are offering health checks, vaccinations, pet passports and simple consultations twice a week. We support local rescue centres and get involved with our local community and offer free local delivery. We pride ourselves on giving really good customer service. Oh, and we also like to find weird and wacky ways of dressing up for fun 'open days' and fundraising days for local charities  – last year, on May 4 we dressed up as Jedi to 'instruct' our customers on animal care while raising money for Bath Cats and Dogs Home.

Do pet owners travel long distances to visit your store?
Well, we have one lady visiting from America in November - does that count? Seriously, some customers travel from London and Poole because they like us so much.

How much do you depend on the internet today?
The internet has become an integral part of life, both personal and professional. I learned today that Google now uses social search and has started prioritising rankings differently - consumer engagement is key. We tweet, Facebook and blog and we think it helps. We also have a website and have started selling successfully from it - we think it is necessary, even if only as a presence on the internet.

Have you got plans to expand the business?
It is a difficult time to talk of expanding with the economic climate as it is, but we are changing things and working on our total branding. We are also hoping to expand the web side of things. We have recently joined MyHigh.st and hope to bring more companies on board with that to create Bath as a virtual town to drive more people who are looking after hours to shop online, but shop locally, to come to our stores.

How many people work in your stores?
We have three stores. In total, we have 18 staff plus Mike and myself. In Bath, we have seven members of staff plus us two.

For more information about the award-winning Not Just Pets visit  www.notjustpets.co.uk



Janine and Mike after the PetQuip Awards at Harrogate.

"I always start the day by checking and interacting with Facebook, Twitter, webmail, Pinterest and normal emails.

"I usually have quite a bit of admin to do each day and then it depends on what the diary – and the customers – throw at me. I can be on the shop floor serving customers, seeing in deliveries, reorganising window displays, looking at new products, updating our EpoS, training staff or even cleaning out animals.

"As chair of Pet Product Retail Association I also have some other duties too which can keep me busy."

This was Janine's day on Wednesday:

6am – check Facebook, etc while husband walked our dog Luna (I usually like to walk too).

7am – help see in delivery at our Frome store.

8.30am – travel to our Bath store.

9-11am – paperwork. 

11am-12pm – meeting a supplier representative.

12-3pm – PR for our new award and emails, making payments and doing accounts.

3-5pm – discussing new products and developments from PATS with staff and serving.

5-7pm – more paperwork! (Well I had been away for three days).

7-8pm – travel to our Larkhall store and reorganise some stock.

8pm – travel home to Wiltshire.

Tomorrow will be entirely different!

The feeling from the 167 companies exhibiting was very positive, and this year’s show proved to be a real boost for the pet industry.

Suzanne Rothman, of Pet Munchies, summed up the feeling by saying: “This is our fourth PATS and it is by far the best yet. By noon on the first day we had taken the equivalent amount orders of past shows put together. The retailers we spoke to were in a very positive frame of mind because of better trading conditions so we are well pleased with the outcome.”

And Paul Clarke, of CJs Cat Litter admitted: “We’ve had lots of new leads, with many of them coming from overseas and Southern Ireland, which is a real bonus for us.”

PATS newcomer Seahorse Atlantic was another company which attracted interested from overseas buyers with Germany and Finland interested in distribute their range of supplements. “I’m based in Ireland and the trip has certainly proved worthwhile with the amount of leads I’ve got,” said founder Sarah O’Sullivan.

Chris Rudd, of Pet Angel, found PATS to be the ideal place to launch the company’s new grooming product. “It was launched only four days before the show so there was no better place to unveil it. We’ve had lots of positive feedback and professional groomers love it.”

Meanwhile Gerard Lovell, Forthglade said: “It has been an excellent show for us. Our pet food is causing a lot of interest and retailers wanted to find out more. The flow of visitors to our stand has been steady for both days, which we liked, and we are delighted to have grown our number of Northern retailers.”

Despite the serious side of clinching new orders Marriages wanted to inject a bit of fun into their stand. “Visitors seemed to like our approach,” said Lisa Osborne. “We had balloons, a video screen, floor tiles and other devices to entice people to come and see us, and it has worked. We’ve had lots of positive feedback from retailers.”

And visitors were happy too. Lionel Partridge, Jurassic Park Pet Shop, Downham Market, Norfolk, said: “We opened our shop only six weeks ago and this PATS has helped us to decide the products we should be stocking. Seeing everything under one roof is an added bonus.” 

For more information on PATS visit www.patshow.co.uk

“To win three prestigious awards in one day is fantastic, and we’re absolutely delighted. It’s a reward for all the hard work and dedication that has gone into creating a range of pet food that is ethically sourced, using natural ingredients.

“The integrity of our product is so important to us and there can be no higher accolade than to win this PetQuip Industry Award. Our aim is to bring big change to the pet industry and I think this shows we are well on the road to achieving our goals.”

Natures Menu completed an amazing hat-trick of awards on the first day of PATS Harrogate when they won Supplier of the Year at the inaugural PetQuip Industry Awards.

The RAW food specialists had earlier picked up PATS New Product Showcase awards in both the cat and dog categories.

Earlier Sallie-Ann had said about the PATS accolades: “To have won them with so many good entries in the cat and dog categories is just fantastic. So much hard work has gone into these products and it so pleasing to see them with such a prestigious accolade.”



The winners of the PATS awards were chosen by a team of expert pet retail judges, who arrived at the show before 8am on Sunday in order to make their choices from more than 170 new products entered – a PATS record. Their decisions were made taking into account a number of guideline criteria such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging and value for money.

The judges agreed that the New Product Showcase had produced a high calibre of entries with a tremendous amount of innovation. They were pleased to see many British-made products, and felt the majority of products on display were reasonably priced in today’s challenging economic times.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

Bird Product or Service

Winner: Honeyfield’s No Grow (Entered by: Marriages)

Judges’ comments: This wild bird food has good visual appearance with clear packaging. It’s a good quality product and is well priced. The judges felt this product, being launched at the PATS show, will become extremely popular because of its ‘no grow’ properties.

Cat Product or Service

Winner: Natures Menu Frozen (Entered by: Natures Menu)

Judges’ comments: This an innovative and well-designed product from a company that supports the specialist pet trade in a big way. Natures Menu have developed an easy to use, easy to feed and highly nutritious raw cat food, and the judges felt this product was exceptional.

Highly Commended: Green Cat 100% Natural Cat Litter (James & Steel)

Grooming Product or Service

Winner: Pet Therapy Pet Wash Sponge (Entered by: Christies Direct)

Judges’ comments: This product fits both the professional and retail grooming market. It’s kind to the dog, easy to use, and helps to disperse the shampoo easily. It also very well priced.

Highly Commended: Oggy Pets Quickfix Mousse (Entered by: Oggy Pets)

Pet Care Product or Service

Winner: Calming Range for Cats & Dogs (Entered by: Beaphar)

Judges’ comments: It is easy to use with clear instructions. It ticks all the right boxes needed from a practical and efficient pet calming product, and it’s something that has been asked for by customers who are becoming used to spot-on products.


Small Animal Product or Service

Winner: Excel Salad Snacks (Entered by: Burgess Pet Care)

Judges’ comments: At first glance this has the natural look of a natural product. The customer is drawn to this product with good packaging and is instantly re-assured that this product will be good for their pet. Burgess Pet Care is doing a lot of good work for small animal welfare and is supporting the independent pet retailer in an excellent way.

Dog Product or Service

Winner: Country Hunter range (Entered by: Natures Menu)

Judges’ comments: To win this award in such a strong category means that this product has to be exceptional, and the judges agreed that the new Country Hunter range from Natures Menu ticks all the right boxes. This premium range of natural pet foods range contains only the finest ingredients from local farmers, is full innovation and packaged in a strong and appealing way.

Highly Commended: Oscar & Hooch range; Pure Pet Food; Soopa treat range

Speaking for the RWAF, Rae Todd said: "As we know only too well from our contact with rescue shelters and the public, rabbits sold in pet shops are often bought by people who are not aware of the needs of the species. This is a problem that the RWAF tries to tackle on a daily basis, but in the case of the BBC sell-off it is exacerbated, knowing that the rabbits in question have become used to an enriched environment, and yet could end up alone in a hutch.

"We have attempted to contact the BBC and the production company,  to try and work out a practical solution that does not result in the rabbits going through the pet shop system. We know that many individuals have also raised their concerns.

"The BBC - funded by the British public through the license fee – has not even had the courtesy to respond. The RWAF is appalled that the national broadcaster would not even take the trouble to engage with a national charity with only one agenda, to ensure the welfare of defenceless animals.

"It would be a travesty if these animals - that the programme itself showed to be curious, athletic and sociable - become doomed to live a life of solitary confinement without the ability to display their natural behaviours."

Pure Pet Food, who have featured prominently in past editions of Pet Trade Xtra, have won their most prestigious award to date, picking up the Innovation Gold at the PetQuip Industry Awards.

“It’s great to gain expert recognition for our products,” said Mat. “We’re amazed to have won, bearing in mind we’re newcomers to the pet trade.” Dan admitted the PetQuip award would help them to grow their business and encourage more retailers to stock the products.

Mat and Dan exhibited at PATS Harrogate for the first time and their stand was constantly busy throughout the two-day show. As well as receiving many orders and leads, the pair also gained valuable advice from fellow exhibitors.

Pure Pet Food were also Highly Commended in the PATS 2013 New Product Showcase Awards.

"It has been an amazing couple of days," said Mat. "And we're so glad we decided to exhibit at PATS."

Here Pet Trade Xtra reprints an article it carried on Pure Pet Food in May this year...

Two childhood friends from Yorkshire are ready to take on the giants of the pet food industry with their new and innovative products. 

Daniel Eha and Mathew Cockroft are already achieving success with their company Pure Pet Food, selling their products online and achieving orders from as far afield as Scotland and Somerset. And now award-winning natural pet shop Scampers in Cambridgeshire has agreed to stock the company's food. 

To find out why the two friends are attempting to make their fame and fortune in the pet food industry, Pet Trade Xtra spoke to Daniel about their plans. 

What are your backgrounds?
I studied psychology at Newcastle before beginning to work towards a doctorate in clinical psychology at a nearby hospital. I soon realised that working 9 until 5 wasn’t for me. I returned home to start my first business with childhood friend Mat, who was a personal trainer at that time. Using Mat’s qualifications in nutrition and human health, our first business was in the nutritional supplement industry, championing healthy eating. We then started a marketing business which has been successful enough over the last few years to enable us to embark on our latest venture – Pure Pet Food. 

Why did you choose the pet food market?
We grew up together on a small farm in Yorkshire, lucky enough to be brought up on the fresh fruit and vegetables our families produced. Having dogs ourselves made us look at the pet industry and the foods that were available. It made no sense to us that a highly-processed food, containing low quality ingredients, manufactured into small biscuits and fed each and every day could possibly be ideal. Why should our pets be exempt from getting a minimally processed and varied diet, made from quality ingredients, just like humans do? 

What method do you use to produce the food?
Pure makes natural dehydrated, human quality pet food. The main difference with Pure is that our foods are produced using a process called dehydration. This means we avoid the harsh cooking procedures involved in making the wet and dry dog foods currently available to owners. We make Pure from 100% human quality ingredients, becoming the first pet food company in the UK whose manufacturing facility is regulated by the human, rather than animal food authorities. As dog owners are becoming more educated about what is actually in commercial foods, and how they are made, many are turning to feed low processed, raw and home cooked meals, using high quality ingredients. Pure takes away the inconvenience, health risks and costs that raw feeding and home cooking can bring, whilst providing a healthier alternative to those feeding one of the current commercial options. 

How and when did the business start out?
We initially started making the recipes in my kitchen, with a small dehydration machine we saved up to buy. We had friends and family pets try out the foods, which went down a storm. We then worked together with some of the UK’s leading pet nutritionists to further hone our original recipes to ensure they were complete and balanced meals suitable for dogs of all age, breed and size. We were also lucky enough to receive funding through the European Union Innovation fund, which helped launch our online store, that opened at the end of March this year. 

Why did you choose Sampers to sell your products in store?
We were approached by Piers Smart at Scampers, who we connected with on Twitter, shortly after the launch of our online store. We were amazed at his enthusiasm for our products and the help he has given since. His introductions to other retailers and guidance bringing Pure to retail has been invaluable. We were delighted to find someone who shares our vision of independent British manufacturers and pet specialist retailers supporting one another to offer a variety of healthy and natural options to owners. We see our products as perfectly suited to pet specialist retail – the education and advice they can provide is essential. Owners simply don't get that when shopping online or in the supermarket and we feel it's vital in making the right choice for your pet. 

Do you produce the food or is it outsourced?
We produce all of our foods at our human grade facility based just outside our hometown of Halifax. The control that gives us to be able to deliver the highest quality product to our customers and retailers was a must for us. Although it is a lot of extra work and expense, we think it's an important part of the process and wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Is it correct that you've already picked up awards for your products?
We received two awards for both innovation and business growth through the European Union and our local council. We have just been announced as one of the finalist in Shell's Grand Ideas Awards, again for innovation in business. I was also lucky enough to be invited to be guest speaker at the National Youth Enterprise awards in Westminster, where I spoke to the finalists on the importance of innovation in bringing a product to market. 

What are your goals and ambitions?
Our first ambition is for pet lovers all over the UK to be able to feed a Pure food diet to their pets. After that we see huge export opportunities across Europe, and then the world. We get our inspiration from other British businesses such as King of Shaves, who faced very similar challenges to Pure, going up against the giants of the shaving industry. Hopefully, we can have similar success by providing an innovative alternative to the options currently out there.

For more information visit www.purepetfood.co.uk

Beaphar's Calming Range for Cats and Dogs is proving to be spot on the mark with pet lovers and retailers...so much so, it is now winning recognition for its innovation...

The latest accolade for the Calming range came in the PATS New Product Awards at Harrogate where a panel of pet retailers decided it was worthy of top prize in the Pet Care category

The judges said: "It is easy to use with clear instructions. It ticks all the right boxes needed from a practical and efficient pet calming product, and it’s something that has been asked for by customers who are becoming used to spot-on products."

Amy Hepworth, pictured below right, of Beaphar, said: "We launched the Calming range in July and it has been well received by pet owners. I think this product will do particularly well in the next few weeks with Bonfire Night just around the corner."

For more information on the product visit www.beaphar.co.uk

Burgess Pet Care picked up the Small Animal New Product Award at PATS Harrogate with its increasingly popular Excel Snacks range.

A panel of pet retailer judges said: "At first glance this has the natural look of a natural product.

"The customer is drawn to this product with good packaging and is instantly re-assured that this product will be good for their pet.

"Burgess Pet Care is doing a lot of good work for small animal welfare and is supporting the independent pet retailer in an excellent way."

Burgess said they were "extremely pleased" to have won the award with a product that stood for "down to earth goodness".

For more information visit www.burgesspetcare.co.uk

A pet shop based on Telford Forge Retail Park, which fell into administration at the end of August, has closed with the loss of 36 jobs.

Philip Duffy and Sarah Bell, partners of financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, were appointed as joint administrators of J&A Pets Ltd on 27 August 2013. The business traded as Petstop.

Following their appointment, the pair took the decision to close the store and all the employees were made redundant.

Duffy said: "The company had been loss making for some time. After a review of the business the directors chose to voluntarily put the company into administration.

"As part of the administration we have had to unfortunately close the store and make all 36 employees redundant with effect from 28th August as the financial position of the company was such that it could no longer trade.

"We have informed the employees that the store is unlikely to reopen in the immediate future. This situation may, however, change in the instance a buyer is secured."

“These first awards have been a great success,” said Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s trade association manager.  

“We have had a huge amount of high calibre entries and some well deserving winners.  We have also had some great feedback with everyone enjoying themselves at the Gala Dinner and dancing well into the night thanks to a great band, the New Amen Corner.” 

Gordon Thomas, of sponsors PATS, added: “What a great evening – some remarkable achievements have been recognised and it was fantastic to see so many people having fun.”

 The full list of award winners, runners-up and highly commended are as follows: 

Pet Product Innovation of the Year

Gold: Pure Pet Food, Pure Pet Food Ltd

Silver: Fox Poo Shampoo, Animology

Highly Commended: Nature’s Feast, Westland

Supplier of the Year

Gold: Natures Menu (pictured above receiving their award from PetQuip Director General Amanda Sizer-Barrett)

Silver: Burgess Pet Care

Highly Commended: Beaphar UK

Wholesaler of the Year

Gold: Peregrine Livefoods

Silver: Vital Pet Products

Highly Commended: Collarways

Exporter of the Year

Gold: Litter Kwitter, Doogie Stuff Ltd

Silver: Animology, Group 55

Groomer of the Year

Gold: Joanne Angus

Silver: Zoe Duffy

International Pet Retailer of the Year

Gold: Ranzijn Tuin & Dier, The Netherlands

Silver: Animax, Romania

UK Retailer of the Year

Gold: Not Just Pets, Bath (Best Independent Pet Store), Just for Pets (Best Retail Chain)

Highly Commended: Diddy Dapper Dogs

Marriages launched its new Honeyfield's range at PATS Harrogate and then went on to win the Best Bird Product Award in the New Products Showcase.

It was the No Gro variety that caught the judges' attention who said: "This wild bird food has good visual appearance with clear packaging.

"It’s a good quality product and is well priced. We felt this product, being launched at the PATS show, will become extremely popular because of its ‘no grow’ properties."

For more information visit  www.marriagefeeds.co.uk

The winner of the Pet category in this year's Glee New Product Award was the Ultra Plush Snuggle Bed, by Westwoods Global Ltd.

Judge Jane Lancaster said:  "The Ultra Plush Snuggle bed really caught our eye. It’s an easy-clean, top quality product offering luxury and comfort for the family pet, and as it’s elevated it offers draught-free sleeping." 

This range of ultra plush pet furniture is a high quality product with wooden frames and removable/washable cushion covers. 

With 13 designs to choose from, including a Chaise Lounge with underbed storage, this product is perfect for those who want a stylish bed for their pet.

For more information visit www.westwoodsglobal.com

Highly colourful cat and dog characters promoting the new Little PetFace range created a lot of attention during the three-day Glee show at the NEC Birmingham.

The new range from PetFace contains everything to start a kitten or puppy's new life.

From mini chews ideal for puppy teeth to comfort blankets, the range caused a lot of interest with Glee visitors. The Little PetFace range also includes small collars, leads and harnesses to help start the training of young dogs. All merchandise is on a 1.2 metre stand.

For more information visit www.petface.com

Internet celebrity Grumpy Cat, whose first video has been viewed more than 12 million times on YouTube, has landed an endorsement deal with the Friskies cat food brand.

The feline, whose owner lives in Phoenix, Arizona, is now the official "spokescat" of the brand, Nestle Purina PetCare announced on Tuesday.

The US cat food maker is likely to want to capitalise on the social media success of Grumpy Cat, who currently has 111,000 Twitter followers and 1.2 million Facebook likes.

You can watch Grumpy Cat on video by clicking here