Millennials take pet parenting seriously

Already the biggest segment in the pet market, Millennials will keep raising the bar as their spending power and influence grow.

Millennials have been the subject of numerous market studies bent on understanding their spending habits and connecting with them. Now young professionals, they continue to shape the retail industry and are expected to make the most impact in 2020, when their buying power is projected to hit the trillion-dollar mark.

If there is one area where this digitally driven and always-on pack is making a dent, it is the pet industry. Jeff Fromm of FutureCast, a marketing consultancy specializing in Millennials trends, said in his blog, "There is one milestone they are reaching at a vastly greater rate than the rest of the population: pet ownership." For this generation, pets are not only furry companions but are also considered starter children if not the only children to have.

In a New York Post article, fur babies, as pets are sometimes called, have even become the subject of custody battles and this, in turn, has given rise to "pet pre-nups." There are also more pet insurance policies being sold.

So, as Fromm puts it, pets "hold a special place in their hearts – and their wallets." In fact, the pet care industry has been experiencing explosive growth, thanks to its biggest customer base, the Millennials. By 2025, the global market will reach $202.6 billion from $31.7 billion in 2016, according to Grand View Research. This includes the pet food and the boarding and grooming services segments. The first has seen rising demand for healthy options such as natural and organic products over traditional ones. The latter benefits from greater access to pet transportation, hotels, salons and even end-of-life facilities, and through technology, smart devices and mobile apps.

To make the most of this booming market, Global Sources presents opportunities to source a wide variety of pet supplies for brick-and-mortar and online stores – from novelty aquariums and pet backpack carriers to smart pet feeders, and pet GPS trackers and smart collars.

Check out the products in this gallery, which are among the thousands of choices from Global Sources verified suppliers.

1.5L, USB power supply

Company: General Pets Co. Ltd

General Pets Co. Ltd's model 16655 cat drinking fountain features a 5-layer filter, which kills 99.99 percent of germs, and removes chlorine, heavy metals and odors. It is made of BPA-free plastic, and has a 1.5L reservoir and quiet pump. This USB-powered unit consumes 4.8kW per year. It bears CE and KC approval.

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Nylon, custom color & size

Company: Wuhan Good Pets Pet Products Co. Ltd

Made of nylon, the GP-BP2 model from Wuhan Good Pets Pet Products Co. Ltd is a dog backpack for carrying pet treats, toys and supplies. Each of its two satchels has a zippered compartment and a front pouch with a loop fastener. Color and size can be customized and a logo added.

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Clear acrylic

Company: Jinjiang Jiaxing Home Co. Ltd

From Jinjiang Jiaxing Home Co. Ltd, this wall-mount aquarium, Aquarium products-AC8D model, uses 5mm-thick clear acrylic.It has a precut hole for hanging. Shape and material thickness can be customized.

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GPS, LBS, Wi-Fi

Company: Holytachi Co. Ltd

This mini tracking device from Holytachi Co. Ltd, the Pet Mini Global Locator model, can be attached to the collar. It supports GPS, LBS and Wi-Fi, and has geofencing, SOS alarm, voice monitoring and two-way communication functions. Power comes from a 450mAh battery, which can run for 50 hours when in use or 160 hours on standby mode. Water resistance rating is IP54. The product is CE-approved and RoHS-compliant.

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GPS, 200-hour battery

Company: Jinjiang Jiaxing Group Co. Ltd

Jinjiang Jiaxing Group Co. Ltd offers the Pet GPS and Smart Collar-P1 model with 128MB built-in memory. The device has GPS accuracy of 5 to 15m. It runs on a Li-polymer battery with a 200-hour life span. Charging is via a USB port. Product dimensions are 53x29x23mm.

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Large window view

Company: Pinghu Sinotex Yijia Co. Ltd

Pinghu Sinotex Yijia Co. Ltd’s model BP1736 pet backpack carrier has a large hole as viewing window. It is made of polyester. Custom logos can be silk-screened, embroidered, or heat transfer- or offset-printed. Dimensions are 30x42x17cm.

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4 feeding modes, Wi-Fi, HD camcorder

Company: Shenzhen Laishixing Technology Co. Ltd

A smart pet feeder, the CW108-06P model from Shenzhen Laishixing Technology Co. Ltd includes two food trays and a water bottle, and has auto, manual, scheduled and remote feeding modes. It integrates a camera with a 100-degree viewing angle, night vision and 1080p 25fps video recording. The 4L device allows two-way audio and saves 10sec files via a TransFlash slot for an up to 64GB card. Wi-Fi function is supported, while the IR range is 5m. The product comes with free iOS and Android apps. It sources power from the mains through a 5V, 2A adapter and has three D batteries as backup supply. The latter supports 60 feeding times.

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PC & Oxford cloth, bubble window

Company: Fuzhou Haomin Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd

The HM-0088-71 model from Fuzhou Haomin Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd is a pet backpack carrier with a small bubble window to allow a good view, and ventilation holes on the side of the bag. It is made of PC and Oxford cloth. Versions in other colors are available. Dimensions are 32x29x42cm.

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5.5L, audio reminder

Company: Shenzhen Ruihan Supply Chain Co. Ltd

This large-capacity pet feeder, the 278091401 model from Shenzhen Ruihan Supply Chain Co. Ltd, can serve a preset number of cups per meal and number of meals per day. It holds up to 5.5L. The product allows recording of voice or music, and plays the reminder three times to prompt the pet to eat. It is made of ABS, measures 38.5x21x38.5cm and weighs 1.8kg. Power source is three D batteries.

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Millennials take pet parenting seriously

The trend in eCom selling: L.N.S.

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