Investments grants available to eligible pet companies

The PetQuip association has announced that eligible British firms will have the opportunity to receive cash grants to help them exhibit at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, USA, to be held March 16-18, 2016, after PetQuip secured British government funding for eligible UK exhibitors. The exhibiting companies can benefit from GBP2,000 (US$3,046) investment grants, which are subject to UKTI terms and conditions. Details of the grants and other information on the association’s support package are available from PetQuip.
After the success of the PetQuip-organized British group at the past five editions of Global Pet Expo, the association is expecting considerable demand and, as stand space is limited, interested companies are urged to apply early.
The director general of PetQuip, Amanda Sizer Barrett, highlighting the importance of the show, said: “The sheer size of the North American market for pet products makes Global Pet Expo a very attractive proposition for UK suppliers. This is highlighted in The American Pet Products Association (APPA) estimate that the total U.S. pet industry expenditure is more than $60 billion, and in the 2015-16 APPA National Pet Owners Survey that states that 65 percent of US households own a pet, equating to 79.7 million homes. The survey further estimates there are more than 85 million cats and more than 77 million dogs. In addition to the huge scale of the US market, another significant consideration for UK suppliers is that in 2015, 29 percent of visitors to Global Pet Expo were from outside the US, representing around 82 countries.”
UK exhibitors in the PetQuip-organized group will be located in a prime position within a British-branded and -themed pavilion area as part of the organizer’s international pavilion. The position is close to The Boutique and What’s New areas, which lead onto the very popular New Product Showcase. The location of the pavilion is expected to attract significant footfall in 2016.
PetQuip’s comprehensive support package for the British exhibiting companies will include advice and information about how to prepare for and how to maximize a company’s presence at the show; support from an industry information stand organized and manned by the experienced PetQuip team; press editorial and promotion on exhibitor’s products prior to, during and after the show; preview marketing material distributed to named buyers in advance of the show; and help with freight, travel and accommodation and other logistics.