Meow Mix: This Cat Companion Just Isn’t Feeling the Love
My two cats have lived with us for 16 years. I’d say we “owned” them, but most days I’m not sure who owns who.
They have their own furniture, more toys than I can count and are the only power on earth that can make me move off the couch once the kids are in bed. (Treats must be served promptly at 9 p.m. – or else.)
We’ve put their photos on Christmas cards, and they were featured on our wedding invitation. A painting of them hangs in our hallway. One of them is asleep next to me as I type this column. In short, they’re valued family members that we have a strong emotional bond with.
We buy lots of stuff for them – premium food, litter, medicines and of course, holiday gifts (a new scratching post this year—shhhh! Don’t tell!). The little buggers, by proxy, are good consumers. So you ‘d think after all these years, we’d have oodles of companies that we feel a great loyalty towards.
Not so much.
There are brands of food that we regularly buy, simply because (a) the cats like them, or (b) the vet suggested them. But despite all the times I’ve mailed or e-mailed in my contact information in the hopes of getting offers, coupons or whatever, nothing much ever came of it. Likewise for the brand of premium kitty litter we’ve used for over a decade.
We do have a Petco P.A.L.S. card, and on occasion receive mailings with discounts and coupons, and sometimes the offers are quite targeted. But nothing ever really felt that personalized to my needs.
I decided to hop on Petco.com, to see if there was a special P.A.L.S, area. Maybe there’s member-only access to pet care information, or a cat owner blog or podcast?
Hope rises on the home page, where I see a P.A.L.S. link in the menu. I click and find….not much. There’s a place to update my membership, and check my status in the free food and grooming loyalty programs. But nothing else that would make me keep going to a Petco if another retailer opened nearby.
There’s a great relationship building opportunity out there, for the company willing to take it. After all, if I’m willing to bond with something that sheds at least twice its body weight each week, surely I’d be willing to get cozy with your store. Just don’t scratch, okay?
