Question:
Purebred Hotbed
A group of IKEA and Gap veterans are trying their hand with puppies. Woof & Co. has opened two stores in Boston malls, with plans to add six stores in 2004 and roll national in 2005. The chain sells purebred puppies and upscale accessories, a distinct niche in the $30 billion-plus U.S. pet industry. It competes with private breeders, not big-box chains like PetsMart or Petco. “We're not interested in going head-to-head selling dog food,” says Linda Povey, partner at consultancy Kanter International, which created Woof & Co. “Their strategy is high volume, low prices. We're a lifestyle store.”
The Edison, NJ-based start-up gets its puppies from Hunte Corp., a Goodman, MO-based broker for U.S. breeders. Prices range from $750 to $1,800, comparable to private breeders, with a 50%-plus profit margin. Each pup has a three-year warranty against congenital and hereditary defects. Puppies travel by air-conditioned truck to stores, where they get 75% of retail space (for 80% of sales); high-end accessories get 15%; basics get 10%.
Former IKEA U.S. president Steen Kanter took a request from Meridian Venture Partners to save nine Family Pet Centers from Chapter 11 in 2002. IKEA and Gap veteran Don Jones became Woof & Co. CEO in October; Baby Gap alum Karen Oden took on operations in November.
Woof & Co. is building a database on owners and their puppies. For now, marketing is in-store only, with grand opening info mailed to pet owners within five miles. Marketing will ramp up when markets get a critical mass of stores.
From: http://www.promomagazine.com/ar/mark...ck_small_print


Answer:
who are they kidding? They are buying from puppy mills When the pups get ill from stress and start experience congenital and hereditary defects within their 3 year guarantee, they'll change their tune real quick! or hopefully be out of business.


Answer:
Sad sad sad: puppies as "lifestyle accessories".
What happens when the dog loses her/his appeal?


Answer:
That does sound like a puppy mill.


Answer:
Yep, a posh, upscale puppymill.
GET YOUR DOG FROM YOUR LOCAL SPCA/SHELTER!!


Answer:
what will they think of next???


Answer:
What gets me is that puppies are given 75% of the retail space, the whole store is going to focus on selling puppies rather than accessories.