American pet giant Petco has opened a ‘first-of-its-kind’ store in California that offers a new way for pet owners to provide complete care for their animals. Unlike regular Petco stores, the PetCoach concept has no registers or dedicated cashiers. 

PetCoach offers customers a membership option that includes high-value perks like free vet visits and discounted products and services.

According to the company, PetCoach provides the highest quality suite of personalised pet services, products and experiences – all designed through a veterinary lens – to address total pet health and wellness.

"Pet parents tell us they want expert advice they can trust and easy, seamless access to everything they need to take the best possible care of the pets they love," said Petco CEO Ron Coughlin, who took the helm on June 18.

"With PetCoach, we're reinventing the idea of a traditional 'pet store' by providing complete care experiences – from grooming, training and day care to full-service veterinary care.”

The new model brings Petco's previously online-only, veterinary-led PetCoach platform to life in a retail setting, enhanced by digital and mobile tools, so pet owners have 24/7 access to the support they need – whenever and wherever they need it.

On-site services include grooming, training, veterinary care, nutrition consultations, day care, self-wash, mobile vet house calls and dog walking – all in one place.

The store design highlights the experiences offered, with clear visibility into each service area and casual gathering spaces for personal interactions and educational events.

Digitally, owners can create custom pet profiles; book in-store service appointments and get tailored reminders; access immediate professional pet health advice from licensed veterinarians; order from a vet-vetted selection of pet food and supplies; and search an extensive library of content relevant to their pet, including their own health and vaccination records, service history and more.

Whether online or in store, an integrated team of highly-trained ‘pet coaches’ work together to get to know every pet and help owners make the best choices for theie animals. Every service and product PetCoach offers – including a limited selection of top natural pet nutrition brands – has been hand-selected and approved by licensed veterinarians to make life healthier, happier and easier for pets and their owners.

"The new PetCoach location serves as an innovation lab where we can test and learn more about what pet parents want and need to live their best lives with their pets," said Petco EVP, Strategic Innovation & Digital Experience Brock Weatherup.

"The concept allows us to continue creating new, differentiated and personalised pet care experiences, all backed by our extensive veterinary expertise and support."