APPMA News

APPMA announces new Executive Board
APPMA would like to congratulate the following board members on their newly elected positions.

President
Andy Messinger, Vitakraft Pet Products

Vice President
Kay Schwichtenberg, Wellmark International

Secretary/Treasurer
Michael Farmer, FIRSTRAX, Inc.


APPMA Welcomes New Members
APPMA is pleased to welcome 80 new members whose applications were approved in February. This brings APPMA’s membership to nearly 850 companies. For a list of the new APPMA members Click here


Press Releases
From industry spending figures to the hottest pet products featured at Global Pet Expo, recent press releases distributed by APPMA feature information on the latest growing industry trends and showcase a wide variety of our members’ products. Press releases distributed by the Association are sent to thousands of television and radio programs, magazines and newspapers monthly and help gain positive attention toward the industry, our members and their products.

Check out some of the latest press releases distributed:

New Breed of Products Solve Spring Cleaning Pet Peeve
This spring, the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association cleaned house and came up with a list of some of the most innovative products to keep pet owners’ homes tidy.

American Pets Making Dollars and Sense
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association released new figures today proving the pet industry is leading the pack. Pet spending has more than doubled from $17 billion in 1994 to a projected $35.9 billion for 2005.

New Survey Reveals U.S. Pet Ownership at All Time High
APPMA Releases 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey, the Pet Industry’s Most Comprehensive Consumer Research Examining Demographics, Buying Habits, and Other Traits of U.S. Pet Owners

Hottest New Pet Products Unleashed at Global Pet Expo
The World’s Largest Annual Pet Products Trade Show Features the Hottest New Toys, Treats, Food and Gadgets for Pets

Global Pet Expo Facts-At-A-Glance
APPMA and PIDA announced that the 2005 Global Pet Expo more than doubled the attendance from The APPMA Show and PIDA PETS Show in 2004. See the final numbers from this year’s Global Pet Expo.

To view all the press releases click here


APPMA’s PAL - Pets Add Life - TV Campaign Underway

In January 2005, APPMA lunched a new public service announcement (PSA) TV campaign called PAL- Pets Add Life. PAL is now airing on NBC TV stations in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Pocatello/Idaho Falls, Idaho; Helena, Montana; and Casper, Wyoming and is sparking interest nationwide.

The campaign was designed to demonstrate the joys and benefits of pet ownership to the general population across the entire country, thus driving increased adoption of pets, responsible ownership of pets and increased sales of pet products. It also reinforces the message that the pet industry cares about pets and provides ways for everyone to care for their own special companion. The campaign, which includes three thirty-second TV spots, regular pet news segments, a brochure, an ad and a poster, can be adapted to deliver a wide variety of important pet related issues and messages and is designed to provide a venue for key messaging on behalf of the pet industry.

The campaign is also designed to allow companies looking for increased name recognition and branding as a company that cares about pets to sponsor the campaign. Sponsorships are offered on a variety of levels and can be focused in certain cities, regions or nationwide. Sponsor companies will be credited, along with APPMA, on every PSA that runs on all stations throughout the campaign. In addition, the sponsor will be included on all collateral materials that are distributed to support the local initiatives. Sponsor Recognition includes: - Logo Tagging on each :30 PSA announcement - Logo ID on all collateral materials – posters, ads and brochures - Local press announcements to introduce campaign in each television market - Acknowledgement in APPMA communications and recognition on the APPMA website - Links to company website on TV partner websites - Opportunities to provide story ideas and content, products and interviews in news segments

If you are interested in learning more about the PAL Campaign and participation, contact Tierra Griffiths at MassMedia 775-322-0755.


Mark Your Calendars for The 2005 APPMA Management Conference

The APPMA Management Conference is an educational and networking event designed to provide APPMA members with the information you need to meet the challenges of today’s global pet products marketplace. Don’t miss the next Management Conference scheduled for:

APPMA Management Conference
Rio Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Conference: November 9-10, 2005
Golf Outing: November 8, 2005

This Conference, packed with exciting seminars delivered by influential industry leaders, will help you develop business and personal strategies to address the most pressing issues you face as a pet products manufacturer, rep or importer.

For more information on APPMA’s Management Conference, visit www.appma.org/conference or contact Member Services at memberservices@appma.org or 203.532.0000 x521.

Manufacturers Discuss Aquatics with Veterinarians
  
APPMA Board Past President Charles Miller, on the right, and MASRC Chair Paul Sauter, second from the right, welcome aquatic veterinarians from American Veterinary Medical Association including Helen Roberts, Allan Riggs and Sandra Yosha.

The Minor Animal Species Remedies Committee met at Global Pet Expo with members of American Veterinary Medical Association who are aquatic veterinarians. The group discussed the importance of consumer accessibility to aquatic medications. According to the aquatic veterinarians, while many problems for first time hobbyists come from inexperience in water quality, filtration and generally keeping a healthy environment for fish in an aquarium or garden pond, more seasoned hobbyists will approach retailers and veterinarians for help with advanced diseases including tumors in koi and other fish. Retailers often refer issues to veterinarians who diagnose the problem and then the veterinarians often refer the customer back to the retailer to find the proper remedy.

Veterinarians want reliable drugs to recommend to owners and hobbyists. They want to see clear and complete labels with active ingredients listed and additional information available. The manufacturers agree that label information is extremely important. To that end, manufacturers and veterinarians agreed that working together to ensure that drugs get indexed for use in ornamental aquarium fish and garden pond fish is a priority.

APPMA members also identified the need to continue to reach out to manufacturers who make products for other minor animal species such as reptiles. In fact, John Pitts, APPMA's veterinary consultant, will be attending a reptile conference to discuss MUMS and how it affects the reptile hobbyist.

Nutraceuticals Committee Hosts Veterinary Oncologist
Dr. Joseph Impellizeri, a veterinary oncologist in New York state, made a presentation to the APPMA Nutraceuticals Committee at Global Pet Expo. He focused on the use of antioxidants in the treatment of pets. Increasingly people are looking for alternative therapies for their animals. Moreover, it would be good for all concerned if there were more studies to back up the use of supplements in animal health practice. During the meeting, Bill Bookout, President of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), discussed the Council's activities. NASC is working to promote the legal use of supplements with novel ingredients.