Consumer preferences in the booming grooming sector

A new survey by PETS International and Yummypets concludes that 25% of pet parents in the US, Canada, the UK, France and Belgium visit a grooming service at least once a month.

Frequency

Just over 2 out of 10 (21%) respondents take their dogs to the groomer twice a month or more. The survey found this amount jumps to 40% among American pet parents, while only 8% of French and 10% of Belgian dog owners visit a groomer with that frequency.

Of the 500 respondents, 37% visit a grooming service every 2–3 months. Occasional visits – once or twice a year – account for 14%. Only 2% of respondents say they never take their dogs to the groomer.

Price and inflation

When pet parents consider a grooming service, price is the most important factor for nearly half of the respondents (47%). This factor is very important for Canadian dog owners (62%), while only 39% of pet owners in France consider price a determinant for their decision-making.

When asked if they had reduced the frequency of their visits because of inflation, the vast majority (59%) admitted they did not. Only 41% of respondents had reduced the use of grooming services in the last few months, with Americans and Canadians accounting for more than half (51% each).

Just over 7 out of 10 Belgians admitted they have not reduced their visits to the groomer due to price hikes, followed by 67% of French dog owners.

Other factors

When it comes to choosing the right groomer for their companion animals, half of the respondents look for friendliness and expertise.

The hygiene and cleanliness of the establishment are important to 40% of pet owners when making a decision. This is followed by the range of services offered (32%), the reputation and review (32%), and the location and convenience (31%).

Most survey respondents value a groomer’s qualifications. As much as 69% of pet parents – most of them regular users of these services – consider this very important or important. 

Certifications seem to be most important to dog owners living in the UK and the US, with 79% of pet parents in the US and 78% in the UK considering this important when choosing a groomer. 8% of French respondents do not think this is important.

Local groomers

Local groomers are by far the most popular choice, with over half (54%) of the respondents saying they were their preference. Other options include grooming services offered by pet stores (22%) and mobile groomers (5%).

The data suggests that younger pet parents are more likely to use pet stores as their grooming provider. The older generation of pet parents (those aged 60 and over) are least likely to take their dogs to be groomed.