Pet product inventors get chance to pitch to major retailer
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Pets at Home will be holding two Innovation Speed Dating days in 2017 where inventors get the chance to pitch pet-friendly product ideas to a panel of expert judges.
The Speed Dating Day on Wednesday 1 March will focus on Food & Treat Innovations and the second day, on Wednesday 15 March, will focus on non-food and accessory innovations.
These two dates offer the chance for aspiring inventors, incumbent suppliers, entrepreneurs and pet owners to pitch pet-friendly product ideas to a panel of expert judges from the UK’s largest and most successful pet specialty retailer.
On previous Innovation days, Pets at Home has seen more than 150 inventors - from across the globe - pitch their product ideas to key decision makers in the business who are excitedly searching for new products and concepts to bring to the pet industry.
Claire Gavin, Head of Private Brands & Innovation at Pets at Home, said: “The Innovation Days offer a rare and exciting opportunity for people to share great ideas and work with us to turn those ideas into real products.
“From aquatic accessories and fish food to rabbit runs and puppy pens, if you have an idea we want to hear from you!”
The Innovation Days, held at the Pets at Home Support Office in Handforth, Manchester will give potential product creators a chance to gain advice from sourcing, buying and technical experts on how to make a good concept into a great and very commercial one.
Claire continues: “We spend our time searching the four corners of the globe for fantastic product ideas and concepts. However, nothing comes close to those ideas born from necessity. By that I mean the passionate pet owners who have been unable to find solutions and then spend time, creative thought, tenacity and determination to create their very own answer to a problem – that’s innovation.”
Pets at Home has seen a number of product ideas forged from Innovation Days go on to be huge success stories. In the past few years many product ideas pitched to the panel have been stocked in Pets at Home stores across the country. These include the Cardboard Castle for rabbits and the fantastic Woofins from The Barking Bakery.
We know that pitching to a large retailer can be a daunting prospect so here are some top-tips from Claire to help you create a really compelling presentation of your idea:
1. Make sure you know your product inside out
2. Ensure you understand the unique selling points of your product, why customers would want it and why Pets at Home should stock it
3. Visit Pets at Home stores before you pitch to demonstrate your understanding of the existing range and price structure and how your products adds a different and credible dimension to that
4. Understand your competition and be prepared to talk about what gives your product a competitive advantage verses long established existing products
5. Try to ensure your product is commercially viable by researching costs and volume potential
6. Prepare a mock up (ideally a full prototype) to bring your product to life – props and visuals don’t have to cost very much but can make all the difference
7. Ensure your pitch presentation follows a logical journey, tells your story concisely and clearly outlines your product’s USPs
8. Be creative! Products conceived because you’ve needed to find a solution for something the market can’t satisfy are often winners
9. Don’t be too scared to ask for feedback or advice
10. Preparation, preparation, preparation! Practice your pitch, believe in your product and deliver with confidence!
Remember that well thought through pitches that are commercially viable are the ones that are most likely to succeed.
If you have a fully developed and prototyped product for the team to consider please send through a presentation of your design concept to productdesign@petsathome.co.uk and state which innovation day you are submitting your products in to.
Pets at Home will then contact anyone whose concept grabs their attention and give them the opportunity to deliver a 30 minute pitch to the panel of trading experts on Wednesday 1 March for food or Wednesday 15 March for accessories at the Pets at Home’s head office.
The deadline for responses is Sunday 19 February for food and Sunday 2 March for accessories.
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