The COVID-19 pandemic crisis and efforts to address it have had a profound and painful impact on brick and mortar retailers. Even though pet retail has been deemed an essential business across the country, most pet owners are limiting how often they visit stores and what they buy when they do. Additionally, non-retail services like grooming, training and pet sitting are being restricted and prohibited in many places, further hurting bottom lines.  What can all of us, from pet product manufacturers and distributors to pet retailers and service providers, do to help the pet care community’s public face weather this storm and rebound when the crisis is over? This interactive town-hall style group conversation will feature prominent manufacturer, distributor and retailer panelists to lead the conversation and welcomes input from attendees from across the supply chain.  Discussion topics include:

• Steps that retailers can take today to help pet owners feel safe when shopping for their pet supplies
• How can pet product manufacturers help retailers win back customers they have lost due to stay-at-home restrictions during the crisis?
• What is the role of distributors in helping their customers get back on their feet now and post-crisis?

We will discuss these and other topics of critical importance as coronavirus response efforts change rapidly. In this free-flowing discussion, we encourage you to bring your ideas and learn from others as we negotiate this crisis together. We hope you can join us.

Presented free of charge as a service of the Pet Industry Leadership Summit and Summit co-sponsors APPA, PIDA, PIJAC and WPA.