Independent pet stores and regional chains alike are navigating a complex and fast-changing retail landscape. While the pet industry remains resilient — even during economic downturns — today's retailers are under growing pressure from supply chain disruptions, shifting customer expectations, and operational inefficiencies.
We spoke with Brett Wickard, founder and CEO of FieldStack, about the core challenges facing pet retailers today and how thoughtful strategies and the right tools can help businesses stay competitive.
1. Disrupted Supply Chains Are Forcing Retailers to Adapt
“Supply chains have been all over the place,” Brett explains. “Retailers are calling multiple vendors just to track down staple items, and in some cases, they still can’t get them.”
Several factors are at play:
The result? Pet stores must adjust their ordering habits constantly. Many retailers now order in smaller quantities more frequently, monitor vendor performance more closely, and spend extra time finding substitute products to fill the gaps on their shelves.
Above: One of the biggest challenges in pet retail is keeping your shelves stocked.
2. Economic Pressures Are Shifting Customer Behavior
While pet spending remains strong, economic uncertainty is reshaping how customers shop. Some pet parents are sticking with premium brands, while others are choosing more affordable options for food, treats, and accessories.
Retailers must strike a careful balance:
Loyalty matters more than ever, but it’s also more fragile. If a store frequently runs out of a customer’s go-to brand, that shopper may not just switch products — they may switch stores.
3. Shrink and Waste Are Cutting into Margins
Inventory forecasting isn’t just about convenience. In pet retail, it directly affects the bottom line. Unlike general merchandise, pet food and supplements expire and often can’t be returned.
“In other verticals like music or books, you can return unsold inventory,” Brett notes. “In pet, if you miss the mark, you’re throwing that product out.”
Above: Pet retailers need to keep their customers' favorites on hand, but overstocks can mean throwing out expired pet food.
For small and mid-sized stores, those losses add up quickly. And with the cost of goods rising, even minor forecasting missteps can impact margins.
4. Disconnected Technology Is Holding Retailers Back
Many independent pet stores still rely on outdated or disconnected systems — one tool for inventory, another for loyalty, another for eCommerce, etc. The lack of integration creates friction in day-to-day operations.
The impact includes:
As customer expectations increase, retailers need systems that can keep up — and help them make smarter decisions, faster.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but modern technology can ease many of these challenges — when it's built with pet retail in mind.
Here are a few capabilities that make a difference:
The goal isn’t just to modernize your tools — it’s to give you back time, improve your margins, and help you stay focused on the pets and people who keep your business going.
Whether you're running a regional chain or a single neighborhood shop, your business deserves retail technology that’s built for the way pet stores really work.
Streamline operations across your business — from POS and loyalty to warehouse and forecasting — with our unified commerce platform.
Learn more about FieldStack for pet retail.
Coming soon: PetStack, a streamlined POS and retail management software solution built just for indie pet retailers.
Get early access to PetStack for indie pet.