Amazon’s move into pet products is paying off

Americans spent nearly $800 million on pet products on Amazon in the first half of 2018, representing a growth of more than 30% compared to the same period in 2017, according to a report from One Click Retail, an e-commerce analytics firm. Total spending on pet products on Amazon in the first two quarters of 2018 were $780 million. 

Pet food and supplies led the charge with estimated sales at $360 million, a 34% increase year over year. The pet food category makes up nearly half of total pet product sales on Amazon.

For Amazon, the strong results are confirmation that the company’s aggressive foray into the pet product market over the past year — including the launch of its proprietary Wag dog food brand — is paying off.

The One Click Retail report noted that convenience factored into which pet food products were the most popular with pet owners: thus, 30-pound bags of dry dog food that are delivered to customers’ homes remain the biggest hit among pet products. Wag Dry Dog Food had the most initial success with its 30-pound bags, for instance, which is consistent with other leading dog food brands on Amazon. 

The company recently rolled out the ability for customers to set up a “pet profile” on their Amazon accounts. As these profiles are completed, Amazon will begin recommending products tailored to that pet's needs and preferences, with the goal to take personalization to the next level, leveraging data to help pet owners make better decisions for their pets.