Lowe's and Petco Partner for Store-in-Store Pilot

Lowe's and Petco have announced a partnership for a store-in-store pilot that will bring pet supplies and services to the home improvement retailer's customers. The first Lowe's + Petco store-in-store will launch in Alamo Ranch, Tex. in early February, with 14 additional locations coming to Texas and the Carolinas by the end of March. Available services will include vaccinations, mobile grooming and microchipping. Each shop will feature Petco’s logo and merchandise for cats and dogs, including some of its exclusive labels, such as its food brand, WholeHearted, and fashion brand, Youly, along with national brands. It will carry more than 700 items that customers can buy online and pick up in-store.

Total Retail's Take: Lowe's is continuing to build upon its "total home strategy," this time including pets in the mix, which are a beloved part of our lives. The two retailers have been beneficiaries of increased category demand during the pandemic, as consumers spent more time in their homes and with their pets. Joining forces to strengthen their appeal among younger shoppers, who are more likely to be DIY enthusiasts as well as new pet owners, is central to the partnership. The timing would seem to be right for both Lowe's and Petco to look for new ways to sustain the positive momentum their respective businesses have generated over the last two years.