In collaboration with trend consultancy Insider Trends, Source Home & Gift, the premier sourcing event in the UK, which will take place at NEC Birmingham from February 2–5, 2025, has released an extensive analysis examining the key trends influencing the pet and garden retail industries. The Biggest Trends in Pet & Garden Retail research shows how eco-friendly practices, tech-driven innovations, and health-conscious consumers are driving growth in these vibrant areas.
Significant consumer investment is demonstrated by the data, which show that garden retail increased to £7.1 billion in 2022 and pet expenditure reached £9.89 billion in 2022—a startling 182% increase since 2005 (Statista). Although pandemic lockdowns initially fueled this expansion, the benefits associated with pet ownership and gardening for mental and physical health have made the trends sustainable.
Key Highlights of the Report
Pets and Wellbeing:
- According to a Blue Cross poll, one of the main advantages of pet ownership, according to 85% of respondents, is enhanced mental wellbeing.
- According to a 2023 Statista study, 44% of participants claimed their pets were a lifeline during the cost-of-living crisis, and 94% of respondents stated their pets made them happy.
Gardens and Stress Reduction:
- Daily gardening can result in 4.2% lower stress levels and 6.6% higher wellbeing scores than non-gardeners, according to research from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Emerging Trends in Pet Retail (2024/2025)
Luxury Pet Products:
- According to MoneySuperMarket, 31% of pet owners put their pet’s happiness before money, spending £500 a year on upscale pet supplies.
Healthy Pet Food:
- 60 percent of UK pet food consumers give health-conscious selections top priority, preferring fresh and natural ingredients.
Service-Led Retail Spaces:
- With grooming, medical treatment, dietary counseling, and even pet-friendly cafes, pet stores are becoming service centers.
- One of the best examples is PetCo’s flagship location in New York, which has omnichannel purchasing choices, a food prep kitchen, and an indoor dog park.
Personalisation and Loyalty:
- In order to keep price-conscious customers, retailers are experimenting with personalized offerings. Pet-friendly establishments, such as department stores, hotels, and offices, are also becoming more popular.
Key Trends in Garden Retail (2024/2025)
Urban Gardening:
- Urban gardening, which uses containers, window boxes, and community plots, has become a popular trend in the UK, where one in eight households lack a private garden.
Urban Garden Centres:
- In urban neighborhoods, small-format garden centers such as Dobbies’ “Little Dobbies” are opening up to serve small-space gardeners and houseplant aficionados.
Garden as a Social Space:
- Customers are adopting multipurpose outdoor areas for business, leisure, and entertainment, as evidenced by the fact that 43% of British people intend to throw garden parties.
The Bigger Picture
According to the survey, the pet and garden businesses are “stickier” than the majority of retail sectors because of their connections to living things and the quantifiable advantages they offer customers. Businesses hoping to succeed in these areas will need to focus on sustainability, personalization, and creative retail formats. The report’s conclusion states that “it is evident that this is a period of great potential for both the pet and garden sectors.” Because these categories include everything that consumers care about, including their friends, family, home environment, the environment, and their lifestyles, consumers are more involved in them than ever before. Retailers who recognize this are the ones who will prosper.
About Source Home & Gift
The premier UK trade event for international suppliers and retailers, Source Home & Gift, is held at NEC Birmingham and provides unmatched sourcing opportunities for the home and giftware sector. Source Home & Gift is a must-attend event for the retail world, bringing together international manufacturers with well-known retailers, brands, and designers who are eager to source new items in an ethical and sustainable manner, regardless of whether you’re searching for toys, furniture, presents, homewares, or packaging services.
