Pet Shop Girls with Sherry (Odyssey Pets) and Carly (House of Paws) - A Podcast for Independent Pet Pros

This week, Sherry and Carly spin a whimsical fairy tale to unpack the very real relationship between pet store owners and sales reps. 🐾✨ From miscommunications to magical partnerships, they dive into what makes this dynamic sometimes tricky—but oh-so-important—for success in the pet industry.You’ll hear tips for reps on how to better serve their stores, advice for shop owners on how to collaborate (without pulling your hair out), and insights on how trust, respect, and a little empathy can turn business transactions into lasting partnerships.It’s storytime with a purpose—because when store owners and reps work together, everybody wins (especially the pets!).Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

In this special episode of the Pet Shop Girls Podcast, Sherry and Carly take you straight to the buzzing show floor of SuperZoo, the pet industry’s biggest trade show. 🎤🐾They sit down with a variety of brands and pet professionals to uncover fresh insights into where the industry is headed, how to position and sell unique products, and the biggest lessons learned from years of experience.From innovative ideas to practical strategies, this episode is a highlight reel of the voices shaping the future of pet retail. Whether you’re a store owner, groomer, or supplier, you’ll walk away with actionable takeaways and a renewed sense of what’s possible in this fast-evolving industry.Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

In this episode of The Pet Shop Girls podcast, Carly and Sherry dive into Neighborhood Pet Store Day — a growing nationwide event that gives independent retailers the spotlight. While big box stores chase Black Friday discounts, indie shops are proving they can win with community, creativity, and customer connection.The Pet Shop Girls share real-world strategies to make the most of this special day, from planning irresistible promotions to collaborating with local businesses. They emphasize why experience matters more than markdowns, and how indie stores can turn Neighborhood Pet Store Day into their own version of Black Friday — with better results and happier customers.The episode also marks the launch of their new Substack community, The Pet Shop Girls: Off the Record — where indie pet pros can access exclusive resources, industry playbooks, and candid behind-the-scenes insights.Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

In this episode, Carly and Sherry unpack what’s really shifting in the pet industry as we move through 2025.They cover:How Gen Z is changing the way we sell (and what they expect in return)The latest trends in pet nutrition—and what’s actually moving off shelvesWhy supplements aren’t a bonus anymore—they’re becoming a baselineThe luxury pet space is booming—are you cashing in?The cat is out of the bag: feline ownership is up, and they’re finally getting their retail momentPlus, the treat and toy slowdown: what’s happening and how to pivotIt's a no-fluff convo about where we're headed, what’s working, and how pet pros can stay ahead. Whether you're on the sales floor or behind the scenes, this episode will give you the insights (and edge) to thrive in the new landscape.Retail is changing. Let’s evolve with it.Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Season 2 is here...and we’re kicking it off live from the Artvark Pet Products booth at SUPERZOO! Join us as we spill on the hottest launches from the New Product Showcase, the coolest finds on the show floor, and the game-changing ideas you need to know. We’re also sharing our top travel hacks and insider tips for making the most out of any trade show. Buckle up....Season 2 starts with a bang!Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

What happens when good promos go bad? In this episode, we're sharing our biggest tips for running smooth and profitable sales and promotions at your store. We have learned some hard lessons and we hope by sharing them here, you can learn from us without having to make those same mistakes yourself! Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Ready to level up your advertising and promotions? This week, the Pet Shop Girls are sharing their real-world experiences - both successes and failures - when it comes to advertising tactics (including TV commercials, social media, SEO, and more). Listen in for actionable advice on affordable, effective ways to attract new customers and keep your business top-of-mind, even during slow periods.Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

It's almost time for SUPERZOO, and we want to help you be prepared to make the most out of this incredible show. This week, we are sharing all kinds of tips including where to stay, using the app, navigating all the vendors without getting overwhelmed, what to pack and what to wear, and so much more. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

🎉🐾 Celebrate with us as we hit a milestone! 🐾🎉 They're going big with "30 Events in 30 Minutes" — packed with creative and inspiring event ideas for every Pet Pro. From fun community gatherings to unique in-store promotions, they've got something for everyone. And because they love to overdeliver, they've thrown in a few extra ideas just for you! Yes, they might have run a tad over 30 minutes, but trust us, every minute is pure gold! Don’t miss out on this treasure trove of ideas. Tune in and start planning your next amazing event!Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

This week, we're discussing the importance of having customer-friendly policies. From our own personal experiences with unfriendly policies like credit card surcharges, restrictive returns, and hidden fees, to the value of transparent communication, flexible payment options, and an overall positive shopping experience to build customer loyalty, we hope this episode encourages you to eliminate any unfriendly policies and focus on creating a welcoming environment for your customers.Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Over the next few weeks, we are excited to introduce our first mini-series of the Pet Shop Girls Podcast, all about Legendary Leadership. In this first episode of the Legendary Leadership Series, Richard Phillips joins us to talk about performance reviews and evaluations, leadership styles, and employee engagement. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

You've heard us talk about how much we love ChatGPT and leveraging AI in our businesses in previous episodes, and we are so excited to dig deeper into these topics in today's episode. Alongside our guest, we are sharing insights about leveraging various AI tools (including ChatGPT) to streamline administrative tasks, generate ideas, and optimize time efficiency. Our guest this week is Josh Stewart-Van Dusen, CEO of Tandem X Visuals and Instant Media Hub. Both of these companies are cutting-edge and leading the charge when it comes to leveraging tech and AI for visual production and media management. Free Download:https://www.houseofpawspetpro.com/p/ultimate/Connect with Josh:josh@instantmediahub.comhttps://www.instagram.com/stewartvandusen/https://www.instantmediahub.com/https://tandemxvisuals.com/https://x.com/joshstewartvandConnect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Responding to reviews is crucial for maintaining a positive reputation. In today's episode, we are sharing all our best tips and best practices for acknowledging both positive and negative reviews, addressing concerns in a professional manner, and using reviews as an opportunity to improve business practices. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Planning events for your retail store can be overwhelming, but they are super valuable. When you do it right, events can help you build community and create raving fans. In this week's episode, we are breaking down the ins and outs of planning and executing exceptional events. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Today's guest is Bob Negen, a seasoned expert in retail management and customer experience. Bob is the co-founder of Whizbang Retail Training, a company dedicated to helping independent retailers thrive in today's competitive market. If you haven't heard of Whizbang, you need to check it out.In this episode, we are thrilled to discuss several ideas to have a super summer, focusing on strategies for pet retailers to maximize this vibrant season. If you're a pet store owner looking for fresh ideas to attract more customers, you're in for a treat.Connect with Whizbang:https://whizbangtraining.com/Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Meet Phil Klaassen, CEO of Pan Pacific Pet, and our special guest in this week's episode. We are discussing distribution done differently - from robots, to tablets, to building authentic relationships with partners, and so much more. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

This week we are joined by special guest Krysta Fox, holistic certified Vet Tech. We are chatting about all things supplements from selecting high-quality supplements, what supplements support specific pet needs, how to help your employees with training and knowledge about supplements, supplement industry standards and red flags, and so much more. Meet KrystaKrysta began her pet industry career at a small feed store in her hometown, and since then has taken on various roles within the pet industry from sales to manufacturing, formulation, and marketing. Krysta is a seasoned veterinary technician; working in traditional, holistic, and integrative practices for close to a decade. This plays a key part in her knowledge of veterinary medicine and common (and uncommon) practice within the field. Krysta is obsessed with learning more every day in the field of animal health and nutrition. With her combined veterinary and pet industry knowledge, she can effectively help almost anyone she comes across in some way regarding their pets’ health.https://pugandhound.com/Get Carly's Natural Pet Health Journal:https://a.co/d/5eUVfksConnect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

No matter your mindset about social media, you've probably heard and felt the pressure to show up in order to grow your business. In this episode, we are breaking down the importance of social media, the different platforms and how to use them, content strategies, responding to negative comments, consistency, and how to get started with your social media marketing. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

This week, join us to pull back the curtain on the challenges indie retailers face when working with brands. From MAP policy nightmares to SKU overload, we're laying it all out there - but don't worry, we've got solutions too! Join us as we give brands a peek behind the scenes and show them how to better support the lifeblood of the pet industry. Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas

Today, we are talking about the importance of maintaining a positive team culture and addressing issues or "yellow flags" before they become bigger problems. We can't stress enough how important it is to listen to your gut instincts, have difficult conversations, establish clear expectations for employees, and use disciplinary processes and employee handbooks to protect the business culture.The key topics discussed in this episode include:- Why it's important to remove negative employees from a business- Team culture, appearance, and setting expectations in a business- Employee disciplinary process in a retail setting- Employee handbooks: documenting disciplinary actions, and reference checks - Listening to your gut instincts- And so much more!Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallas