A Wren Says

When Paris Hilton hit the scene, it was with her iconic spoiled chihuahua. Oh to be that pampered dog, living a life of luxury of being fully provided for without having to lift a finger, or rather a paw at all. It is as enviable a life, if not moreso, as its ultra-rich owners’. Truthfully, carrying a dog around in purse and adorning it with lavish accessories was laughable at the time. But now? That’s a different story.

Today, people refer to their pets as their fur babies and unapologetically spend money making sure their pets are happy. There are of course the natural pet food brands and dog toy subscription services. However, there is a whole market for pet clothing and accessories. And let’s not forget that I’ve already covered Dolce & Gabbana’s dog perfume.

How did we go from finding it all ridiculous to lining up to essentially do just the same? Times changed.

Maybe it is a sign of the declining birth rate. Maybe it is a sign of changing beliefs about animal treatment. Maybe it is a sign about how people spend their disposable income. Whatever the source is, the trend is here. Those who have been paying attention were able to capitalize on it.

I write a lot about the importance of knowing the landscape where you conduct your business. That includes paying attention to social trends that could present opportunities for you to exploit or threats you should be aware of. I can bet you that as Paris Hilton was on TV in millions of homes holding her little chihuahua with a tiara, somebody looked at that and got an idea. And that person got in on the dog accessories trend early.

Trends are changing overtime. That presents opportunities for your business. Make sure you’re paying attention to take advantage.