Nigel Baker has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Pet Care Trade Association and the Pet Care Trust.

Nigel has more than 30 years’ experience in the pet trade and possesses considerable commercial experience from the senior positions he has held in pet food manufacturing and supplier companies. 

Most recently, he has acted as a consultant to a number of businesses, advising them on a range of issues to help them develop commercially.

“I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the PCTA and Pet Care Trust," he said. "The Association will continue to ensure that the needs of its members are understood at both government level, and across the whole pet industry.

"The PCTA provides a united voice for everyone involved in the pet industry, from retailers and groomers, to kennels & catteries, from suppliers and professional services to manufacturers.

"My vision is for the PCTA to offer its members a wide range of information, training, assistance and benefits that have a direct relevance to their business, so that its members are reputable, qualified and trustworthy and deliver exceptional service to pet owners in the UK.”

Commenting on the appointment, Keith Aldis, Chairman of the PCTA, said: “I am delighted that the PCTA has been able to engage Nigel. His 30 years’ experience in the industry and knowledge of commercial management will help to bring us closer to our members as well as help them meet the economic and political challenges facing our industry over the coming years. 

"We are an industry with a £6bn annual turnover and Nigel is the right person to ensure that both the public and Government take pet ownership more seriously."

Nigel takes up the role on Monday, December 3.

Nigel Baker talks exclusively to Pet Trade Xtra about his hopes and ambitions for the pet industry after his appointment as PCTA Chief Executive.

How do feel about your new appointment?

Really excited! There’s a lot of work to do, but as the only membership organisation for pet industry specialists in the UK, there is real potential to grow and improve what we currently offer our members. I’m very much looking forward to getting started.

What was it about the role that tempted you?

Having spent 30 years in the pet industry in various manufacturing roles, I felt it was time to give something back into the trade that I had gained so much from.

What is your employment background?

I originally trained as an engineer and then moved into pet foods, starting with the family business, Edward Baker Ltd. I then set up Supreme Petfoods (Russel Rabbit etc.). I was Managing Director of Laughing Dog, and was part of the team that set up ‘Betty Miller’. More recently I have been working in consultancy for businesses in and out of the pet industry.

What are the major issues facing the pet industry?

The industry is facing tough challenges at the moment. There is a decline in some areas of pet ownership and a difficult economic climate which squeezes everyone’s profit margins, as well as a move from traditional wholesaling to direct supply which has created a shift in the dynamics of the pet industry.

In light of the recent PAW report how can the pet industry help to educate owners better about responsible pet care?

There’s a huge amount of detail in the PAW report, and I will be fully digesting it with my new hat on to come up with answers to that question. Needless to say it raises some important issues, which as an association, whose members have direct contact with pet owners, we will need to address.

How would you like to see the PCTA develop over the next few years?

Over the next few years, my aim is to grow membership. We need to listen to our members, to understand exactly what they want from us as their trade association, so that we can provide an excellent range of relevant benefits that will help their businesses succeed. I also want to develop our online presence, and further cultivate our training and qualifications packages.

Do you have a clear vision for the organisation?

I would like to see the PCTA develop into the foremost pet industry association in the UK – a gold-standard for membership associations and a recognisable brand, so that the pet-owning public are assured by that hallmark of quality. The PCTA needs to promote the best in care for companion animals by ensuring its members are reputable, qualified and trustworthy to deliver exceptional service to pet owners in the UK.

What advice would you give pet retailers in today's challenging market?

Pet retailers should be looking for new ways to keep the competitive edge in these challenging times. Embracing new technologies, getting themselves qualified and taking advantage of the opportunities available to them – especially through the PCTA – as well as continuing to offer first-class customer service and advice to their customers will help ensure that they weather the storm and survive.

Have you got pets yourself?

I don’t currently have any pets, but over the years I’ve owned many types of animals: from dogs and cats, to rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters and rats.  

What are your hobbies?

A total of 102 exhibitors have already snapped up their stands for PATS Sandown, which takes place in March next year.

There will be an impressive line-up of new faces, as 12 companies so far have signed up to exhibit at Sandown for the first time with a further two returning after a year’s break.

Newcomers to the Southern show, taking place on March 19-20, are CSY Retail Systems, Hungry Hector, Scruffs, Pero Foods Ltd, Pet Care Trade Association, Pet London, Phileas Dogg, Simpsons Premium, The Paws Pet Supplies, Town & Country Petfoods, Unipet and Vegusto UK & Eire Ltd, while returning companies include Pet Revolution and PJ Pet Products.

Hungry Hector exhibited at PATS Harrogate for the first time in September, using the exhibition to start their export drive, and they are hopeful that Sandown will be just as successful in driving overseas business. Managing Director Kevin Collins says it’s crucial his company have a presence at both events.

“We have approaching 300 retailers throughout the UK, and that figure is growing by over 20 a month. Many are based in the South of England, so Sandown will be a great opportunity to meet up with existing retailers and to attract new ones too,” comments Kevin. “We have one of the most innovative dog treats on the market and our sales are growing strongly. Sandown will help us to continue to develop and meet our 2013-14 targets.”

Town & Country Petfoods are currently undergoing their biggest new product development programme in the history of the company, and they have lots of new products to showcase at Sandown.

Antoon Jansen, Town & Country’s Sector Sales Manager, comments: “Over the past 12 months we have developed our first pet trade exclusive ranges and are investing heavily in supporting the trade. PATS is a great platform through which to access and present our developments to key decision-makers within the industry.

“We are aiming to attract new customers and give potential and existing customers a better insight into Town & Country Petfoods and the HiLife brand. PATS provides us with an opportunity for increased direct interaction with customers so that we can continue to develop the lines that they want and need to help grow their business.”

Phileas Dogg hold exclusive import and distribution rights to some unique new brands that are sourced globally, and the company have chosen to exhibit at PATS Sandown as the show provides the perfect opportunity to launch their new products.

“We will be launching our new range in February 2013,” says Annette Sprake, of Phileas Dogg. “PATS Sandown will provide the ideal platform for retailers and wholesalers to view our product range. The show date falls at the right time to coincide with the launch of our new products. We are hoping to reach out to the retail and wholesale market, showcase our fantastic new products, introduce Phileas Dogg as a brand, and ultimately achieve pre-orders.”

CSY Retail Systems, who provide EPOS systems to retailers, are exhibiting at PATS Sandown for the first time on the strength of recommendations from existing customers.

“Our customers range from pet shops within garden centres through to animal feeds stores, many of whom are regular visitors to PATS. They felt our solution should be promoted and beneficial to those attending the exhibition,” said Deanna Vine, of CSY Retail Systems, who will be celebrating their 25^th anniversary in 2013.

“At Sandown we hope to increase our profile within this sector, raise awareness of the solutions we offer and ultimately secure some new business. Retail requirements have changed in recent times and we have changed to meet this, by embracing multi-channel retailing and offering integrated e-commerce to all our customers.”

PATS regulars TopLife are one of the many companies to have re-booked their stand space for Sandown, and their Brand Manager Simon Mayne says: “PATS is a key event in our exhibition calendar in 2013. We have an exciting year ahead planned for TopLife Formula and the Sandown show provides us with a great opportunity to talk to our customers.

“We are seeing more consumers demanding natural, healthy products and the PATS forum will allow us to showcase our existing range as well as our new and exciting products we plan to launch at the show.”

With PATS Sandown well on the way to becoming a sell-out, the two halls at Sandown Park – Surrey and Esher – are set to be a hive of activity for visitors. Both halls have their own entrances and registration points, with visitors benefitting from free show entry, free parking, a free catalogue, a free programme of seminars and dog grooming demonstrations and many special offers.

The PATS website can be found at www.patshow.co.uk and the PATS hotline is +44 (0) 1892 862848. Companies wishing to exhibit should call Annie Dyke on the same number.

An experienced dog trainer is behind the launch of new pet modeling agency Animal Direction, which provides animals to appear in photo and video shoots to help businesses with marketing and promotional work.

Suzanne Holding, a dog trainer with 25 years of experience working with animals, explains why she has decided to launch Animal Direction:

“I have been approached on a number of occasions by marketing agencies and photographers to help provide dogs and other animals for advertising purposes. I realised there was demand for kind, fair and effective animal handling whilst, importantly, making the day enjoyable for the animals.”

Animal Direction provides all kinds of animals for modeling contracts and works closely with their clients to achieve the best results whilst on set and within affordable budgets.

“We understand that photography and video production can be an expensive exercise and working with animals can sometimes be a challenge," said Suzanne. "By providing expert handling we can help make shoot days run as effectively and efficiently as possible making sure the best possible outcome is achieved.”

The agency has signed over 100 pets as members already, including dogs, cats, horses, chickens and an array of reptiles. There has been a lot of interest from the pet trade along with their advertising agencies, photographers and video producers and Animal Direction has already provided animals for shoots during September and October.

And most recently, Animal Direction has signed a high profile model to its books and is now the acting agent for semi finalist ‘Sparky’ from ITV2’s Top Dog Model programme!

For more information, contact Animal Direction on 07583 341362, email enquiries@animaldirection.com or visit www.animaldirection.com

A Birmingham pet shop owner has written a Frank Sinatra-style farewell to his customers – after being forced out of business by larger rivals.

Simon Woodroffe is shutting up shop at the Yew Tree centre in Yardley, marking the end of his family-run Pets And Gardens chain, which once boasted six outlets.

He said competition from bigger stores, the opening of a nearby shopping centre, and the loss of customers to the internet had forced him to throw in the towel after more than 30 years.

But he was going out in style – after writing a tribute to his loyal customers inspired by Sinatra’s classic My Way.

“All the stores are struggling around here,” said the 45-year-old. “It is a classic case of the big fish eating the little fish. Retail is really struggling and the internet is another factor – people are going online to buy pet food.

"We needed the new shopping centre down the road like a hole in the head – it was the last straw. All our customers agree. I have had customers turn up crying; they do not want us to go.”

In his Sinatra tribute, attached to his shop front, Simon wrote:

 “And now, the end is near, so I face the final forecourt. My friends I will say it clear, and state my case of which I am certain.

“We had some great displays and at times it went up the highway. But more, more than this, I did it my way.

"Regrets, I have had a few but then again too few to mention. I did what I had to do, and without prosecution.

“There were times, I am sure you knew, when I bought too much to sell to you. But through it all, when there were doubts, I sold it cheap and you cleared me out.

"I faced it all, and stood tall, and did it my way.”

Over 40 leading manufacturers, suppliers and distributors have booked exhibitor stands for AQUA 2013, the biennial trade show for the aquatics, water gardening and reptilian industry, taking place next October.

Leading the way with larger stands are Bermuda Aquatics, Kusuri, Red Sea, Star Fisheries and Tropical Marine Centre.

Stephen Thornton, the director responsible for Bermuda Aquatics at Solus Garden and Leisure, is looking forward to the event. He said: “We are taking more space because of the success of the last AQUA. Undoubtedly the show is now the premier event for the aquatics trade and it’s the place we want to be at.

“The feedback we are getting is that although many of the traditional garden centres may not have yet attended the show, they have picked up the good news that it is a show they must attend.”

Speaking for Tropical Marine Centre, marketing manager Jayne Robb explained: “AQUA has quickly established itself as the key tradeshow on the aquatics calendar and we are happy to be exhibiting at the show for the third time.

“Attending a purely aquatics show means we are able to maximise our investment and get in front of customers who are 100 per cent from our target market."

AQUA 2013 takes place on October 9-10 at Telford’s International Centre. The tradition of free tea and coffee and lunch bags for all visitors continues, as does the free- by-invitation International Buffet on the opening evening.

A full retailer-focussed seminar programme over the two days is being developed and the New Products display with its associated awards will again be a major draw for visiting buyers. The awards will be presented during the International Buffet .

Commenting on the prospects for AQUA 2013, show organiser Annie Dyke said: “In these difficult times I’m really encouraged by the early response we have had. I am in no doubt AQUA 2013 will be an exciting exhibition and I can foresee a host of new companies exhibiting alongside they that have featured so prominently in 2010 and 2011.”

The latest details of AQUA 2013 can be found on the show’s dedicated website www.aquatelford.co.uk.

For more information please contact Annie Dyke at OATA Impact Exhibitions Ltd on 01892 862848.

A new pet accessories boutique called Dougal's Den has opened its doors in Leek, Staffordshire...

Lynn Haigh (pictured) has been selling ‘unusual’ pet accessories for cats and dogs online for two years. The business has grown so fast that she has now decided to open up a shop in her home town.

“I sell a range of dog and cat toys, treats and accessories that are a little bit different as well as pet related gifts such as tea towels," said Lynn, who has two dogs and two cats herself.

“I have done a few retail trials in Leek by having a stall on market days, as well as having a stand at Leek Show. These were successful so I thought why not try a shop in Leek. I do hope to eventually have a chain of shops.”

For further information about Dougal’s Den visit www.dougalsden.co.uk

The RSPCA is appealing for London animal lovers to foster a homeless pet for Christmas...

The organisation's Central and North East London branch is looking for volunteers who will be staying at home over Christmas and be willing to take in a cat or rabbit to care for over the festive period.

The branch is already inundated with unwanted cats and is expecting even more to be abandoned over Christmas.

Branch manager Jenny Eden said: "We want to hear from people who would like to do something special and help an unwanted animal over Christmas.

"We take in so many cats that have been unloved, abused and dumped on the street and desperately want some comfort and some care.

"You could give a cat its best Christmas ever and help it get a new home in the New Year.

"The animals are all looking for new permanent homes so fosterers would only be asked to keep them for a couple of weeks over the festive period. As well as cats the branch is also looking for foster homes for rabbits."

Scientists have reversed paralysis in dogs after injecting them with cells grown from the lining of their nose.

The pets had all suffered spinal injuries which prevented them from using their back legs.

The Cambridge University team is cautiously optimistic the technique could eventually have a role in the treatment of human patients.

The study is the first to test the transplant in 'real-life' injuries rather than laboratory animals.

Professor Robin Franklin, a regeneration biologist and report co-author, said: "Our findings are extremely exciting because they show for the first time that transplanting these types of cell into a severely damaged spinal cord can bring about significant improvement.

"We're confident that the technique might be able to restore at least a small amount of movement in human patients with spinal cord injuries but that's a long way from saying they might be able to regain all lost function."

Prof Franklin said the procedure might be used alongside drug treatments to promote nerve fibre regeneration and bioengineering to substitute damaged neural networks.

A high-flying city trader, who used to broker £120m deals for an asset management company in the City of London, has quit the rat race to Wales to start a website dubbed 'Facebook for pets'.

Martin Bowen left life in the City to work on creating his website A4Animals, which recently went live and enjoyed 8,000-page turns in its first 10 days.

The inspiration for the site was Martin’s loyal black labrador Ben – who tragically died due to a suspected case of anti-freeze poisoning three years ago.

While A4Animals does not let animals 'like' or 'poke' each other yet, it allows pet owners to feature their favourite animal in words and photographs and link with other owners via a range of social networking pages.

It is something akin to what Martin says he desperately searched for but could not find in the wake of Ben’s death.

The seeds of Martin’s career change were sown after a tragic episode out walking with his black labrador Ben near his home in Bridgend in 2009.

The regular route the pair walked was often a dumping ground for joyriders and after Ben took a drink from water in a nearby ditch he died within seven days.

It was only afterwards that Martin, who was a police officer and captain of South Wales Police Life Saving Team before his career in property finance, suspected the water may have been polluted with leaked chemicals or anti-freeze.

And he said Ben’s death was more upsetting than any bereavement he had ever experienced.

It is anticipated the website will soon secure some £78,000 of advertising revenue, increasing to a potential £600,000 per annum by year five.

To visit the site click here

A quarter of women would dump a man if their pet didn’t like him, a study has found – and a third would leave their own bed and sleep on the floor next to their pet if it was ill.

Half claim they say ‘hello’ to their dog or cat before anyone else when they get home.

Men, however, seem to be a little less devoted. Only 12% said they would split up with their partner if their pet didn’t take to her.

The study, carried out by an animal health organisation, found that 40% of the 1,094 pet owners surveyed would risk their own life to save their animal if it were in danger.

Half insisted they would spare no expense on treatment if their pet was ill – although a similar number forget to keep their vaccines up to date.

The study by the National Office of Animal Health shows just how important pets are to Britain's animal lovers.

NOAH's new 'I heart my pet' campaign encourages caring owners to seek expert advice on preventative healthcare measures to ensure their animals stay fit and well all year round.

It seems that not only do we look to our pets for advice on dating, but many confess to discussing other matters with them.

One in five regularly chat to their animal about the weather. And 60% celebrate special occasions together, such as birthdays and even Valentine's, Mother's and Father's days.

NOAH Chief Executive, Philip Sketchley said: “The vast majority of pet owners agree being a responsible pet owner means caring for your pet, feeding it, exercising it and giving it attention.

”While we wouldn't advocate heroics that could put their own lives at risk, it's important people ensure they're fully informed on how to look after animals.”

Generous Brits will shell out £595 million on gifts for their pampered pets this Christmas.

Half of pet owners will buy their beloved family pet at least two presents, spending an average of £26.53 in the process, according to research from VoucherCodes.co.uk.

The study of 2,000 Brits revealed animal lovers prioritise their furry friends over other family members. Half splash out on presents for their pets compared to just over a quarter (29%) who will buy their aunt or uncle a Christmas gift.

In fact, one in 10 will treat their pooch or kitty to four or more presents this Christmas and spend over £50.

Nothing is too good for the posh pets of Oxford with their owners spoiling them rotten with an average of £101.78 worth of treats. Meanwhile, the animal-loving residents of Brighton & Hove spend over double the national average on presents for their pets.

Duncan Jennings, co-founder of VoucherCodes.co.uk said:“They say a dog is man’s best friend and our research confirms just that, with Brits making their pets as much a part of Christmas Day as any other family member.

"With many families planning to tighten their purse strings this festive season, savvy shoppers looking to pamper their pets for less should look out for the big deals and discounts we can expect to see appearing on pet products in the run up to Christmas.”