When you're running a pet store, your point-of-sale system can't just be "good enough." You're juggling way more than just transactions. You've got shelves to stock, loyal customers to keep happy, and a million moving pieces behind the scenes. If your POS can't keep up, you're wasting time you don't have.
Here are a few common mistakes to watch out for — and what you really need instead.
We've seen a lot of stores try to make do with a big-name, one-size-fits-all POS. And yeah, it might check the basic boxes. But pet retail isn't like other industries. You've got perishable goods, specialized products, and vendor quirks that most systems just aren't built for.
What happens? You end up cobbling together extra tools, tracking stuff in spreadsheets, and hoping nothing slips through the cracks. That's no way to run a business.
You're better off with a POS that actually understands pet retail — one that's built for how you work and flexible enough to grow with you.
2. Ignoring Inventory Complexity
Pet inventory gets messy fast. You've got bags of food in every size, flavor, and formula. Supplements with expiration dates. Seasonal toys. Frozen products. It's a lot.
If your POS can't track all those moving parts, you're either overstocked with things you can't sell or understocked and disappointing your regulars.
What you need is a system that helps you see what's moving, forecast what you need, and reorder with confidence. No more guessing. No more scrambling.
Above: Pet retail involves a lot of SKUs. Not every point-of-sale can handle that type of specialized catalog.
Pet parents love their routines — and they love rewards. But when your loyalty program is separate from your POS, things get messy. Customers don't know what they have, staff can’t find the info, and checkout takes longer than it should.
Your POS should handle all that automatically. The best ones track and apply rewards across channels, making the whole process seamless for both staff and customers.
You don’t have time to babysit your POS system or train new hires for days just to make a sale. And your staff shouldn't feel like they need a tech background just to ring up a bag of kibble.
The system should be simple, clean, and intuitive — whether you're behind the counter, doing a stock check, or pulling up a customer’s purchase history. When it's easy to use, everything runs smoother.
Guessing is fine when you're picking a treat for your dog. It's not great when you're placing a vendor order or trying to understand what’s working in your store.
A solid POS gives you the numbers you need, when you need them. What’s selling? What’s not? What days are busiest? You shouldn't have to guess.
Real-time insights and reports help you stay ahead, not play catch-up.
Above: Without real-time data, avoiding overstocks and out-of-stocks can be a real challenge.
Tech is great — until it isn’t. When something isn't working right, you need help. Fast.
You don't want to be stuck on hold or stuck with a chatbot that doesn't get it. You want to talk to a real person who understands your store, your setup, and how important it is to get back online.
Choose a provider that picks up the phone and stands behind their product.
Shopping habits have changed. People want options. They might buy online, pick up curbside, or browse in-store and order later from their phone.
Your POS needs to handle all of it. That means one system that connects your online shop, your in-store sales, your loyalty program — the whole thing.
When everything works together, your customers get a better experience, and your team doesn't have to double-handle everything.
But here’s the thing, just because your customers can shop across channels doesn’t mean your systems are actually connected. That’s where unified commerce comes in.
Check out this post to learn more about unified commerce and how it helps retailers step up their omnichannel game.
You're not running a big box store — you're running a business people count on. Your customers trust you to help them care for their pets. And your time? It's always in short supply.
The right POS system saves you time, builds trust with your customers, and helps you grow in a way that fits your store. It's not just about making sales. It's about building something that lasts.
Want to see what a unified commerce platform and POS built for pet retail actually looks like? Learn more about FieldStack for pet retail.
Focused on growing your indie pet store? Check out PetStack (coming soon!) — our smart POS built just for this industry.