Earlier this summer, PetSmart® opened its first ever Pet Spa Store™ in Oceanside, NY. Sure, it’s still a PetSmart, but this new retail experience is more like a modern spa with upscale grooming services, a self-service dog wash… and some amenities for those of us with two legs, too.
“In order to innovate at retail, you have to try new concepts and that’s really what the PetSmart Pet Spa in Oceanside, New York, is all about,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Like any spa, our Pet Spa store is intended to provide the amenities and comforts to enhance one’s lifestyle, but this time with your pet. This first-of-its-kind PetSmart store allows pet parents to bond with their dog using our unique self-service dog wash or hang out in the comfort of the coffee bar, while pets are being groomed by our talented associates.”
The first thing customers will notice when they walk in the door of the PetSmart Pet Spa is that it’s smaller and more intimate than the chain’s regular stores, and features a circular “concierge” desk with a bakery case chock full of baked dog treats.
Three self-service dog wash bays — with wall-mounted washing and drying equipment and an array of complimentary shampoos and conditioners — allow pet parents an easy place to bathe and bond with their pet, especially after a day at the beach, which is just a few miles away. But if you don’t want to groom Fido yourself, there’s the option to choose from a range of grooming services at the fully observable Salon.
A coffee bar/lounge area provides comfy seating and complimentary tea, cappuccinos and lattes while you’re on a break from perusing the high-end collars, leashes, beds, toys, wholesome pinnacle pet food, and great gift ideas.
And since wellness is paramount, a Banfield Pet Hospital is adjacent to the Spa space.
We predict this concept will be quite popular. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent more than $60 billion on their pets last year.
Images credit Diane Bondareff/AP Images for PetSmart, Inc.
