Careers at PetSmart
Mission
PetSmart seeks to provide an accessible source of pet products and supplies for consumers, offering a wide range of products and services at reasonable prices.
Founding story
PetSmart traces its roots back to 1986 and the establishment of Pacific Coast Distributing Inc by Jim and Janice Dougherty. The Company opened its first two stores, pioneering the pet superstore concept, in 1987, initially operating under the name PetFood Warehouse. The Company changed its name and branding in 1989, taking on the name PETsMART, as well as expanding its operations to include a full-service grooming salon and dedicated bird, fish and small pet departments.
PetSmart continued to grow, diversifying its product and service range and extending its network of stores. In 1993 the Company went public, listing a portion of its shares on the NASDAQ under ticker symbol PETM. By 1998 the Company operated more than 500 stores across the US. In the early 2000s the Company went through a period of remodeling and rebranding.
In 2000, it remodeled its stores to have a more traditional retail feel, and in 2005 changed its name from PETsMART to PetSmart, in a move designed to signify the Company’s move away from simple pet supply activities to a solutions-oriented company
In 2014 PetSmart was acquired by BC Partners for a reported $8.7 billion and was delisted from the NASDAQ. The Company continues to be a leading pet supply retailer and service provider in North America, operating around 1,500 retail outlets in the US and Canada. The Company is placed 48th in Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s Largest Private Companies.
Business model of PetSmart
Customer Segments
PetSmart serves a large consumer base, offering broad range of speciality products, accessories, and other items for pets. The Company caters to a specific audience, offering products and services for pet owners, including owners of cats, dogs, birds, fish, reptiles, and other small pets, such as gerbils and mice.
PetSmart is a leading pet product retailer and service provider in its core operating jurisdictions of the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with it and its main competitor, PetCo, accounting for around 20% of all pet product sales in the US in 2015.
While the Company has established itself by offering a broad range of products at prices lower than those found at independent specialist pet stores, research suggests that its customers are typically higher income earners of upper middle age.
Value Propositions
PetSmart provides value to its customers in the following ways:
- Its size and industry standing, with the Company established as a market leader in its field and a popular source of pet products for consumers, and having garnered a reputation for providing high-quality and reliable products and services;
- Its broad range of products and additional services, with the Company providing a diverse range of pet products, accessories, and supplies – catering to owners of a broad selection of animals, including reptiles, fish, and small pets – as well as providing specialist services, such as grooming and training;
- Its competitive pricing, with the Company offering its products and service at reasonable prices compared to those found in independent pet stores and other pet retail chains;
- Its accessibility, with the Company serving customers through a large network of retail outlets across the US and Canada, as well as operating an online retail channel and a mobile app; and
- Its industry expertise and experience, with the Company employing trained retail staff who are able to provide relevant technical advice across its store network, as well as a team of experienced industry executives.
Channels
PetSmart operates a corporate website at www.phx.corporate-ir.net, through which it provides information on its operations and corporate activities. The Company operates a consumer-facing website at www.petsmart.com, which provides more detail on the Company’s product and service portfolio, as well as doubling as an online retail channel. This channel allows to browse products, make purchases, and arrange deliveries. PetSmart also offers a mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, which allows customers to book pet services and access resources.
PetSmart principally makes its sales through its network of around 1,500 pet stores spread across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. These outlets are staffed by dedicated sales personnel through which sales and services can be purchased directly. The Company also provides services to customers through 204 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities.
PetSmart also operates distribution infrastructure across the US and Canada, which allows it to serve both its own stores and its customers quickly and efficiently.
Customer Relationships
PetSmart offers a large proportion of its products to customers on a self-service basis through its online retail store. This sales channel enables customers to browse items, make payments, track deliveries, and manage account details without interacting directly with members of the Company’s sales and service teams. The Company’s mobile app additionally enables customers to book certain pet services, as well as access resources independently.
The bulk of PetSmart’s sales are made through the Company’s chain of retail outlets, through which the Company’s in-store sales personnel are able to provide personal assistance with enquiries, complaints, and queries. The Company also offers personal care through its additional services, such as grooming, training, and boarding.
PetSmart additionally offers customer support via email, and provides a range of online support resources through its website. This includes FAQs and product information, as well as shipping information and specific training and animal care guidance. Customers can also follow the Company’s activities and interact with it directly through its social media accounts, including with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Key Activities
PetSmart operates principally as a retailer of pet products, accessories, and supplies for pets of all kinds, including dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, and small animals.
It provides a broad range of products – including toys, food, grooming equipment, and pet habitats – to general consumers, as well as a range of additional services. This includes in-store grooming and training services, as well as boarding services through its network of PetSmart PetHotel facilities.
The Company operates a network of around 1,500 stores across the US and Canada, which serve as its principal avenue for sales. However, it also operates an online sales channel and mobile app.
Key Partners
PetSmart works closely with a broad network of partners in order to ensure its customers receive an effective and reliable service. These partners can be organised broadly into the following categories:
- Supplier and Vendor Partners, comprising suppliers of products and supplies that are resold by the Company through its stores and online sales portal, as well as suppliers of equipment, services, and technologies that are utilised more broadly across the Company’s business;
- Channel and Distribution Partners, comprising various logistics and distribution companies that assist in the Company’s distribution operations, ensuring that shipments are processed quickly and efficiently;
- Affiliate and Marketing Partners, principally comprising participants in the Company’s affiliate program, which enables websites and online business to earn commissions by driving traffic to the PetSmart website;
- Adoption Partners, comprising various pet-focused charitable organisations with which the Company jointly runs an animal adoption program; and
- Strategic and Alliance Partners, comprising various market leading companies across multiple sectors, with which the Company collaborates on joint marketing, branding, and other projects.
PetSmart has launched a number of partnerships in recent years. This includes a strategic partnership with NBCUniversal Brand Development Group, a strategic partnership with Eukanuba Dog Foods, and an adoption partnership with Dumb Friends League.
Key Resources
PetSmart’s key resources are its products and supply chain, its online sales channel and mobile app, its IT and communications infrastructure, its network of physical retail outlets and other service facilities, its partnerships, and its personnel.
PetSmart owns and or leases a number of properties across the US and Canada that are key to its ongoing operations. This notably includes the Company’s network of around 1,500 retail locations, as well as its extensive distribution and storage facilities.
Cost Structure
PetSmart incurs costs in relation to the procurement of supplies and products, the procurement of services, the development of its online platform and mobile app, the maintenance of its IT and communications infrastructure, the management of its partnerships, the implementation of advertising and marketing campaigns, and the retention of its personnel.
Revenue Streams
PetSmart generates revenue through the sale of various pet-related products, accessories, and supplies. The Company derives the bulk of its revenue in the form of point-of-sale fees, with a smaller portion of its revenue derived in the form of service fees paid in relation to the Company’s provision of services such as grooming, training, and boarding.
PetSmart is a privately-owned Company and as such is not obliged to publish its financial reports online. Media coverage, however, suggests that in 2015 the Company generated revenue for the year in the amount of $6.96 billion. Most of this revenue appears to have been derived through sales made at the Company’s various retail outlets.
Our team
info: Michael has served as President and Chief Executive Officer at PetSmart since 2015, having responsibility for overall oversight of the Company’s strategic direction. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Office Depot. From 1990 to 1996 he worked at The May Department Stores Company, where he held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility. He went on to serve from 1996 to 2003 he served as Chairman of Payless ShoeSource’s international joint ventures. Prior to joining PetSmart, Massey’s most recent executive appointment was as Chief Executive Officer and President at Collective Brands Inc from 2011 to 2012, prior to which he served as the company’s General Counsel and Secretary from 2003 to 2012 and as Senior Vice President from 2003 to 2011.
info: Rob serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at PetSmart, overseeing the development and execution of the Company’s finance strategy, including oversight of functions such as accounting and internal audit. Anderson has held executive positions across multiple business sectors. From 1991 to 2003 he held a number of leadership positions, both internationally and domestically, at McDonald’s Corporation with his last role being Controller for the company’s Partner Brands division which managed various non-McDonalds chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Boston Market and Donatos Pizzeria. From 2003 to 2005, he worked at the Career Education Corporation as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the American InterContinental University Division. Prior to joining PetSmart, Anderson worked for a number of years at grocery chain Save-A-Lot, primarily as it Chief Financial Officer.
info: Michael has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at PetSmart since joining the Company in 2014. He oversees the Company’s information technology structures. Goodwin served as an officer in the United States Army during his early career. After leaving the armed forces, he joined Hallmark in 1990 as an end-user technology analyst. He went on to hold a number of roles at Hallmark of increasing responsibility, ultimately being appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Technology and Business Enablement in 2006.