Pet business gains momentum in Kunming

Editor's note:

As pet economy thrives in China, new needs of animal lovers are surging. In Kunming, capital city of Yunnan province, various pet-themed cafes have been thus established in recent years. Also, the pet business has given rise to a diversity of new professions: pet dietician, pet photographer, puppy stylist and more. With the growing awareness in pet rearing, the Chinese folks, especially the youngsters, showed increasing approval to pet economy and its related professions. According to statistics released by the Quark app on April 16, the pet-related jobs ranked first among the top five categories of professions favored by the post-2000 generation.

 

Pet business gains momentum in Kunming

Starting in June, the weather in Yunnan is hotter and hotter. On weekends, Deng Ruiting, a white-collar worker in Kunming, would take her puppy to the pet swimming pool. The pool was clean, pet toys were special, and her puppy plunged into the water for swimming as soon as they reached the pool bank. "The dog likes to come to the swimming pool because it has made many friends here,” said Deng. “I’ve also met many dog owners, and I am very happy to share with them ideas on pets rearing.

Deng’s words tell the essence of pet economy, which is thriving, joyful and warm. While bringing us happiness in its rapid development, the new business also has quite a few features worthy of attention.

Novel services

For some time, having both "cats and dogs" has been a hot topic among Chinese netizens, and this is also their expectation for life in the future.

In this context, new business modes related to pet consumption are emerging. For example, various pet-themed cafes are quite visible now, and consumers find happiness therein, giving a strong pull to the development of pet economy.

He Ling, a junior from a university in Yunnan, would relax herself at the cute-rabbit café named NicetomeetU.

        

  

"I usually order a coffee, take photos with rabbits and dress them up in the store. Other consumers do things just like me. The world of animals is simple, and interaction with them is really healing and refreshing."

Since the end of 2020, the Kunming-based Maolulu Puppet Experiencing Store has enjoyed a thriving business thought affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. "We tried to cater for the needs of different customers. We have a massage resting area for parents, petty entertaining items for children, and a pet-dressing and selfie area for other consumers," said Li Tao, the store owner.

Extended business chain

Wangxingke is a popular puppy-themed pet café in Kunming. In addition to traditional pet sales, their services also include selling cat/dog foods, pet nutrition, pet grooming, foster care, and after-sales services such as pet medicare.

The store managers of Xiao Jing and Wei Wei have been in the pet profession for more than 10 years, having worked in pet stores in Guangzhou and others. Looking back, they agreed the pet businesses had grown fast. Xiao Jing said the pet economy gained momentum over the past five years. "The pet shops used to focusing on expanding their business scope, but now they pay more attention to experience-based services."

  

  

At present, more consumers attach importance to the needs of pets, giving rise to improved pet-related products and services. Besides pet cafes and pet experience halls, other pet-related services in terms of food, medicare, foster care, clothing, photography, funeral and insurance, are becoming increasingly detailed with quickened pace and improved business chains.

With the rapid development of pet economy, pet products are now more diversified and better designed. Smarter food distributors, monitors and others for pet rearing have found their way to homes of pet owners, who call themselves “shit cleaners”. The pet-related consumer products are increasingly detailed: tooth brush, sole carer, hair dresser and so on. The products are also more customized, taking into account the needs of pets and their owners. Even the pet furniture has appeared, aiming to achieve more harmonious man-pet coexistence.

Writing by Li Zha and Han Chengyuan; Photos by Li Wenjun; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue