Over 68% of U.S. households own a pet. Dogs are the most popular pet at 60 million households, followed by cats (47 million). People love their pets, as this booming $62 billion a year industry continues to grow each year. The majority of growth is due mainly to Millennial and Generation Z consumers. According to Forbes, this group has “embraced the pet-owning and pet-loving lifestyles to a far greater extent than their elders.These generations account for 62% of pet ownership, compared to baby boomers at 32%.
These generations are far more likely to spend money on pet-related services like grooming, pet care, transportation, and pet hotels. Millennials and Generation Z’s are also likely your target resident, especially if your property is located in an urban area. So why not build amenities and relationships to cater to these pet-loving prospective residents? Here’s how you can do it.
Onsite dog park
Make apartment living easier for pet owners by offering an onsite dog park. This will make it easy for owners to let their pets out, and to have them burn off energy after being cooped up inside all day. This is a great way to residents with pets to get to know one another as well. Consider hosting get togethers at the dog park to help build community.
Doggie wash
As any dog owner knows, a trip to the dog park is typically followed by a trip to the bath. Consider installing an indoor dog wash in your facility to provide added convenience to pet owners, and to help keep your community clean. By placing the dog wash in close proximity to the dog park, you can decrease the chances of having muddy paws walking through the hallways.
Doggie concierge services
There’s a good chance these pet owners work full-time jobs and could use help taking care of their pets during the day. Consider offering dog-specific concierge services such as dog walking, feeding, and grooming options.
Smart parcel lockers
Pet owners love the convenience of ordering supplies online versus going to the store to get dog food, treats, and toys. Give them a safe way to receive their goodies from sites like Amazon, Chewy, and Bark Box by offering smart parcel lockers to safely hold their packages until they return home from work.
Doggie daycare services or partnerships
High-end apartment and condo communities in large cities like New York, Chicago, and LA are really appealing to the high-income pet owners by offering doggie daycare and pet salons onsite. While this isn’t feasible for many communities, look for opportunities to develop partnerships with local doggie daycare facilities to offer discounts to your residents.
Serving your residents unique needs is one way to improve resident experience in your communities. Looking for additional tips? Download our six-step guide.
