Insight: Insta-pooches responsible for pet spending surge
UK pet owners seeking Instagram fame for their cats and dogs are responsible for a rise in sales of animal grooming products and accessories, according to Argos.
The retailer said sales of its premium grooming products have surged by 163% compared to the same period last year.
Popular products include items such as top-of-the-range hair clippers and luxury water fountains. The Wahl Super Groom Premium Rechargeable Pet Clipper, priced at £109.99, is currently Argos’s best-selling premium pet grooming product.
Meanwhile, sales of pet accessories have risen by 13% with dog accessories accounting for the largest total spend although cat accessories have seen the biggest growth in sales at 19% over the last twelve months.
Dog beds have also performed well with sales up 18%
Argos said the sales rise is mainly due to the growing ‘pet-working’ trend, where social media channels are created by owners on behalf of their pets. On Instagram, the hashtag #dogsofinstagram has attracted over 70 million posts, whilst #catsofinstagram boasts over 60 million.
Emma Carter, pet care buyer at Argos, said: “Whilst the UK has always been a nation of pet lovers, the rise of social media has really taken our obsession to another level. This is reflected in the huge increase we’ve seen in pet product purchases over the last twelve months alone.
“It’s great to see so many people documenting the antics of their beloved pets and sharing these moments on their social channels. With pets now dominating newer social networks such as Snapchat, the ‘pet-working’ trend isn’t slowing down any time soon.”
