Online assistance for pet professionals
An innovative online community specifically designed to provide information, training and inspiration that unleashes the potential, performance and profitability of pet service and product businesses launched on January 15. www.PetpreneurCentral.com was developed by US pet industry expert Top Dog Eileen Proctor and the site offers online training seminars and monthly newsletters

Purina & Jenny Craig team to fight the flab
Nestle Purina and Jenny Craig have teamed up to fight the flab in portly pets and their owners by Project Pet Slim Down. This online site can help pet owners track their pets weight loss and exercise progress to help them find their ideal weight. www.projectpetslimdown.com

Global Pet Expo Just Around the Corner
The Global Pet Expo kicks off on the 29 February with three days of pet product in Orlando, Florida. The 2011 Show featured 835 exhibitors, 2,380 booths and more than 3,000 new product launches. 4,691 pet product buyers from around the world attended. Global Pet Expo is open to independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers, and other qualified professionals. The Show is not open to the public and there are still spaces available and time to register.
What's new is a great initiative - a whole section exclusively for first time exhibitors. And continuing in how proactive the APPA (American Pet Products Association) is, they have this right next to the New Product Showcase. Not surprisingly, this new section is full to capacity. Go to www.globalpetexpo.org to see their interactive floor plan as to who will be there.

Save up to 40% on new advertising packages
Urban Animal announce new advertising packages for 2012 that will save you a bundle - up to 40% for some packages and free ads and online banners. For instance Silver Advertising Package - A total of (4) Quarter Page Advertisements placed in each the March / June / September / December 2012 editions and receive Two (2) Free Eighth Page Advertisements to be placed within the edition of advertisers choice. Plus online Banner Advertising for three months. Total Value $4,740 but your total spend is $3,200.00. Click here for full details

Pet product distributors beware
There has been a steady growth in Online Pet Stores with some only servicing the online community and others supporting their own bricks and mortar operations. However Australian and New Zealand pet product distributors should be aware that there are some unscrupulous online operators that are representing product on their sites without having the product in stock or even accounts with suppliers. Pet product distributors large and small should routinely search sites for their products and check whether the sites have accounts. ABN, contact telephone number and address information should be easily visible. What is disturbing about this is that many reputable and established online businesses have made great progress with excellent shipping rates and service.