We interrupt this road trip travel coverage to bring you highlights from SuperZoo 2016.
Yes, SuperZoo, the World Pet Association’s mega pet industry trade show held annually in Las Vegas. This year more than 1200 exhibitors participated, and if you doubt the growth, size and even influence of the pet industry in North America, spend two days walking and talking the 8,5000 square feet of trade show floor and, after you collapse, your mind will be changed – and blown.
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Here, what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas and I plan to bring you insightful reviews and profiles of the intriguing pet products and people I met at SuperZoo from August 2 to 4, 2016.
According to World Pet Association sources, more than 820 new products made a debut here. (Sorry, I don’t have pictures of them all). More than 90 pet industry educational seminars ranging in topics from marketing, dog grooming and retail management rolled out at the show.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson played the position as celebrity keynote speaker holding court with steadfast inspirational advice such as, “If you aren’t winning. Put the time in and work on your craft.”
Closer to the holiday season, I’ll focus specifically on pet travel products and mix in some individual product reviews too. For now, here are a few charming idiosyncrasies of SuperZoo 2016:
Clever exhibition booths
I love Kurgo pet products and particularly loved its creative retro outdoor-themed display intended to draw attention to a series of new retro-themed dog toys. Think rubber lawn darts (“doggie darts”), backyard birdies, huck-it horseshoes, and target jacks.
Awesome pets
Although this is not a ‘pet-friendly’ event, a few ambassadors and buddies crawled through the doors. I asked this little girl what breed her dog was – lion? And she said, “yes.”
Brand Ambassadors
Meet Lucy from The Lucy Pet Foundation, a non-profit organization inventing new pet products such as Berry Berry Smellicious Tropical Leave-in Grooming Conditioning Spray for Dogs and channeling the profits back into community pet projects such as a mobile free spay and neuter clinic in California. Watch for more about that soon.
Celebrities!
I met Stella from T.V.’s Modern Family. (Admit it, she’s your favourite character and makes Jay more likable). Her real name is Beatrice. She’s totally charming and her trainer/mom loves her and has stories to tell – featuring soon on dogtrotting.net, of course.
More Celebrities!
I met Miranda Lambert. No, I didn’t. I just saw this poster of her along with samples of her line of Country and Western pet gear she’s launching this fall under the brand name Mutt Nation.
Social Media Celebrities
Preston, from PrestonSpeaks.com, loved, loved, loved Tuggo toys. The company launched a bowling ball pin-shaped chew toy to go along with its bowling ball story (read it here).
Youthful Entrepreneurs
Jennifer Ull Marucus from Golden Doodle Goods, a Lifestyle Brand for Dog Lovers, shows off the company’s assorted graphic stickers and prints, many of which adorn its t-shirt selection.
Take a seat
You’ll need to rest during the show, but not before the dog does. The Carolina Pet Company has teamed up with the iconic Pendleton Woolen Mills company to produce a series of dog beds, collars, leads, and jackets inspired by Pendleton’s National Parks blanket print series. As a Canadian though, I particularly loved this recognizable Canuck pattern. (Hint for non-Canadians: think Hudson Bay Company). But they call it the Orvis Glacier National Park pattern.
Be careful when you take a seat.
This is SuperZoo after all, and it’s about ALL pets, not just canines. So if you drop on a bench to take a rest, you might be sharing it with a fellow like this one. Yes, he’s real and yes, he’s on a bench.
Humour, Humour, Humour
I don’t envy the upcoming American election, but I did get a kick out of these Metro Paws ‘Smear Campaign’ doggie poop bags in red or blue. Pick your face – Trump or Hilary. It’s likely no surprise, I took home Trump, but declined Hilary. She’s my girl. Well, would be if I could vote here. For now, I’ll stick with Trudeau (sans poop bag).
SuperZoo Next year: same place, different time: July 25 to 27, 2017.
Ever been to SuperZoo or anything like it? Let us know in the comments.
Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!
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Having been to many trade shows, I do love to see all the new things out there and talk to the brands. It is a lot of fun and learning “fur” sure 😉
I’m convinced there’s nothing left to invent though I’m certain I will be proven wrong next show.
WOW, looks like such a good time! Wish I could have gone! I’m going to check out Golden Doodle Goods right now!!! 🙂
I’d love to get to SuperZoo- great to see all the cool new products and meet brands. Very jealous you met Beatrice/ Stella and saw all the other pets and celebs. I agree the Kurgo booth is unique- saw it at Global too. Love Lucy’s Pet Products and their mission and their ambassadors. Surfin’ Jack is such a good example of rescue dogs that rock.
Is that dog Jack? I assumed that was Lucy. I did kinda geek out over meeting Stella. She really loves to meet and greet. Now I watch Modern Family just to see her.
I think everyone has to go once. It is more expensive, though, than it used to be. That was my third visit.
I have never, ever been to Las Vegas!! I’m planning to go in the next few years! Def on my to do list!!
I’ve never been to Super Zoo before. I did attend Global Pet Expo last year and loved it.
I wish I could go to Global too, but it’s at a bad time of year for me.
Super Zoo seems like a really awesome event. I hope to go one of these years. It would be great to see all of the innovative things that are happening in the pet industry. 🙂 Thanks for showing us what is there this year!
It is worth going, and Las Vegas is not without its interesting charm.
Wow! What a blast. Thanks for sharing all the fun stuff you saw. Now I want to go!
I recommend it especially for material for blogging
Thanks for giving us a taste of what SuperZoo was like. I wasn’t able to make the trip out to attend and see all the great new products coming on the market!
The amount of innovative products is unbelievable.
Mom has been wanting to go to Super Zoo for a while. She can’t go to all of the conventions, though. It’s too much time off of work. It looks like so much fun!
Yes I get that. I have a flexible job in the summer, but not fall.
I would love to go one year, my friend does and the updates me on all, it sounds exhausting though too, thanks for the post and insight.
It is especially if you do some ‘Vegas’ stuff too
Too far for us. And our dogs prefer the bush to city attractions 🙂
Good place for content but Vegas is no great for dogs … or kids.
I’ve heard about super zoo in conversation, but didn’t realize it was this intense. Love the cutie on the bench!
It was bigger than I imagined. Never did figure the floor layout.
Some day I would love to go to SuperZoo! Looks like so much fun.
It’s interesting but on the trade show floor it’s all business
I really want to go one year! I had no idea Pendleton was making dog gear now. We’ve been to the factory store once.
Wow, this looks like such a fun time! I hope to go next year. Lucy sure does get around! 🙂 I look forward to your reviews in later posts.
Lucy does get around. That dog works.
They launched the pet gear at SuperZoo. Actually, it’s a pet product company working with Pendleton to produce the products.