True Pet Bosses know that staying ahead of emerging trends in the pet industry is pretty much essential for survival in an increasingly competitive landscape. This August, SUPERZOO 2025 returns to Las Vegas as your ultimate resource for navigating what’s next in our industry and how to keep things fresh, exciting, and relevant in your pet business!
So if you’re headed to SUPERZOO, you’ll want to keep some trends in mind to make the most of your time there. And of course we put together a list for you to make it easy!
These trends are going to keep making a big splash in the pet industry for the rest of 2025 (and even beyond that), so it’s important to be strategic about how to plan for them or incorporate them into your pet business.
Plus , we’ll show you exactly how SUPERZOO will equip you with the knowledge, connections, and resources to capitalize on these trends and strengthen your business for whatever comes next. 💪
Trend #1: Navigating the Changing Tariff Landscape
The tariff situation continues to be fluid and evolving, which is challenging to keep up with. While specific rates and policies may shift between now and SUPERZOO, that doesn’t change the need for supply chain resilience and strategic sourcing.
Pet business owners might be experiencing:
👉Price fluctuations from distributors and manufacturers
👉Uncertainty around holiday inventory planning
👉Shipping timeline disruptions affecting seasonal product availability
👉The need for transparent customer communication about pricing
SUPERZOO 2025 will give you the opportunity to have in-depth, face-to-face conversations with manufacturers about all of your concerns.
How will holiday shipping timelines and potential delays with your key vendors affect you? Ask them so you can plan more effectively!
Network with manufacturers who have diversified their production locations, giving you answers for more resilient supply options.
And don’t forget the education! Michael Johnson, Principal of Consumer Strategy at BSM Partners, will be speaking specifically about how to navigate the tariff landscape. Plus, attend workshops like “Fetching Efficiency: Supply Chain Optimization” with industry experts who’ll provide actionable advice for protecting your margins. (And this session is with Pet Boss Nation’s very own Profit Clinic Expert, Lynn Switanowski!)
So start making your Q4 must-have inventory needs list and prioritize conversations with those vendors to make sure they’ll be able to meet them! Come prepared with specific questions about supply chain reliability for the upcoming holiday season.
Trend #2: The Pet Tech Takeover
Gone are the days when a collar and food bowl were all a pet needed! Today’s pet parents want helpful gadgets and gizmos that promise to make their pets happier, healthier, and (let’s be honest) more Instagram-worthy.
The pet tech boom is EXPLODING with:
📲Smart collars that track everything from steps to sleep quality
📲Interactive toys that keep pets entertained when home alone
📲Automated feeders that portion out food based on activity levels
📲Health monitors that can detect potential issues before they become serious
📲Apps that connect pet parents with vets, trainers, and other pet pros instantly
And your local customers might be looking to YOU to guide them toward tech solutions that are worth the investment!
At SUPERZOO, you’ll get the opportunity to:
✔️ Find tech that solves real pet parent problems, like anxiety, boredom, portion control, and more,.
✔️ Get hands-on with the latest gadgets so you can give honest recommendations to your customers.
✔️ Find simple starter tech products to more “premium” splurge options. Something for every price point!
✔️ Find tech you can easily showcase in your store and doesn’t require a 20-minute explanation.
Before SUPERZOO, pay attention to what your customers are already asking about. Are they mentioning pet cameras? Asking about activity trackers? Wondering about smart feeders? These conversations are your best clues about which tech products could be hot sellers in your store.
🌟Pro SUPERZOO Tip: Browse the New Product Showcase for the newest pet tech products right in your SUPERZOO mobile app! Search for SUPERZOO by WPA in your app store.
Trend #3: Go Green or Go Home with Sustainable Pet Products
Sustainability is quickly going from niche to necessary! So what’s hot in the world of pet sustainability?
♻️ Packaging that doesn’t stick around for 500 years in a landfill (goodbye, plastic!)
♻️ Brands that are transparent about where their ingredients come from
♻️ Products that give waste materials a second life (one person’s trash = your dog’s treasure!)
♻️ Companies offsetting their carbon footprint (because shipping dog food across the country adds up!)
At SUPERZOO, you’ll find exhibitors with products that make Mother Earth happy so you don’t have to choose between quality and eco-friendly. Plus, you’ll be sure to mingle with pet business owners who have embraced some of these sustainable products and have seen success!
So before you hit SUPERZOO, take a quick peek around your store. Where are the plastic bags, excess packaging, and non-eco-friendly products hiding? Do you want to find a more sustainable alternative? What eco-questions are your customers asking most often? Think green, then find solutions that both the planet AND your customers will thank you for!
🌟Pro SUPERZOO Tip: Don’t forget about the SUPERZOO mobile app we mentioned! You’re sure to find the latest in sustainable pet products in the New Products Showcase section!
Trend #4: Older Pets Need New Tricks… and Products!
The humanization of pets has been trending for quite awhile now, and that means…
Many of those pets who are treated like kids are seniors now!
But pet parents want the same attention to quality care… but now, senior edition.
Talk about an opportunity that’s hiding in plain sight!
When their pup starts slowing down on walks or their cat needs a step stool to reach their favorite perch, pet parents aren’t cutting back on spending. They’re doubling down on comfort, care, and quality of life!
This might look like innovation in beds, steps, ramps, and harnesses for pets to make getting around easier, or cognitive support, like supplements or puzzle toys aimed specifically at seniors. You might also see more specialized foods catered to the senior pet’s belly needs.
Before SUPERZOO, take a quick senior pet census in your store. How many gray muzzles come through your doors? Are your team members comfortable discussing age-related needs with customers? Do you get requests for senior-specific products? These observations will help you spot the senior solutions that’ll work specifically for your customers.
Trend #5 Gen Z Pet Ownership Still Rising
Gen Z’s are ALL IN on pet ownership, and your pet business should be ready to not only capture their attention, but also cater to their preferences and spending habits.
The Gen Z pet owner numbers shown in this chart are pretty mind-blowing:
- A whopping 86% of Gen Z pet owners have dogs (that’s WAY higher than Millennials at 66% and Boomers at just 50%)
- 81% have cats (cat people, rejoice!)
- But here’s where it gets crazy… 46% of Gen Z pet owners have BIRDS! (When was the last time you stepped up your bird game?)
- 30% have pocket pets like hamsters and guinea pigs
- 28% have bunnies hopping around
- And nearly a quarter have reptiles (are scales the new fur?)
SUPERZOO can help start to capture more Gen Z attention than ever before! You’ll find exhibitors who are already turning heads with the Gen Z crowd, plus helpful educational sessions that will up your game, like “Cracking the Code: Scaling Amazon and TikTok Shops.”
Before SUPERZOO, take a scroll through your social media and honestly ask yourself:
“Would a 22-year-old with a dog, a bearded dragon, and two bunnies think we’re cool?”
If the answer is “probably not,” then head to SUPERZOO with this in mind. And don’t worry, you don’t have to do any TikTok dances (unless you want to!)
Ready to register for SUPERZOO 2025 and lean into these trends?
SUPERZOO 2025 takes place August 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. There’s still time to register (and you’ll be entered into their 75th anniversary giveaway if you register before June 20th!)
Feeling ready to transform these trends into opportunities for the remainder of 2025? We hope so, and Pet Boss Nation® will be attending, so stay tuned for where to find us!
More resources you’ll find helpful:
📍 Tariff Talk for Pet Bosses Who Need Answers NOW
📍 Why Should an Independent Pet Business Owner Attend SUPERZOO?
📍The Ultimate Guide for Pet Retailers Buying Pet Products To Resell
