SUPERZOO 2024 Trade Show Powers Up the Pet Industry

LAS VEGAS, NV – August 13 to 16, 2024 – The Las Vegas skyline famously glows with an electrified neon display, designed to capture attention. For four days each August, an equally alluring current of electrifying excitement surges under the ceiling of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where the mega-watt size gathering of the U.S. pet industry sparks to life. SUPERZOO 2024 once again illuminated the 330,000-square-foot exhibit space, transforming it into a high-voltage hub for the pet care business.

This year’s SUPERZOO, sponsored by the World Pet Association, crackled with innovation and potential. Every aisle of the showroom buzzed with possibility, each booth a beacon of the latest in pet products and services. More than 1,100 exhibitors, from established industry-leading brands to sparky startups, vied to catch the eye of over 18,000 discerning retailers and industry professionals at North America’s largest pet product marketplace.

Innovative Sparks: New Products Electrify SUPERZOO 2024

Debra LoFranco, CEO of De’Vora and inventor of the Scratch Square, shows off her latest invention Scratch Shield Nail File Tape

The exhibition floor at SUPERZOO 2024 buzzed with the energy of thousands of new products, each vying to become the next big thing in the pet care world. From tech-savvy gadgets to eco-friendly essentials, new nutrition and treat formulations to creative inventions, the innovation on display was enough to make any pet parent’s wallet twitch with excitement.

Among the sea of new offerings capturing the imagination of retailers, several stood out, generating a particularly strong current of interest:

• Scratch-Proof Furniture Tape that Files Nails: Debra LoFranco, CEO of De’Vora and inventor of the Scratch Square, unveiled her latest brainwave: a tape that not only protects furniture from scratching but also files pet nails simultaneously. This dual-purpose innovation promises to be a game-changer for cat owners everywhere.
• All-in-One Smart Leash: Jenni Morse, chief innovator at Stitchleash, enthusiastically demonstrated her cleverly designed leash with interchangeable built-in holders. This walking Swiss Army knife includes compartments for new and used poop bags, a water bowl, a flashlight, a tennis ball, a treat pouch, keys, hand sanitizer, and more – truly a one-stop solution for dog walks.
• High-Tech Pet ID: Tailr showcased their QR Code Tag with a matching app, adding a 21st-century twist to pet identification. This smart tag allows anyone caring for your pet to quickly access a comprehensive, customizable profile divided into five detailed sections: health, behavior, grooming, play, and food. It’s like having your pet’s entire life story at the scan of a code.
• Dog Powered Dental Care: Woof introduced a dog toy that lets you stop the struggle to pry your dog’s mouth open and let them brush on their own. The cleverly designed Bite n’ Brush dog toy features bristles that brush teeth and treats inside to inspire chewing.

These products represent just a small sample of the innovation on display at SUPERZOO 2024. With each passing year, the pet industry continues to push boundaries, introducing new products to meet the needs of pets and their owners. As these new items make their way from the electrifying halls of SUPERZOO to store shelves across the nation, it’s clear that when it comes to our animal companions, the future is bright – and full of exciting possibilities that are sure to get tails wagging and purs rumbling.

Powering Up Pet Professionals: Education Takes Center Stage

Left to Right: Christine Johnson of the SUPERZOO Marketing Team, Maddie Shutts of Modern Companion, Adrienne Lefebvre of The Two Crazy Cat Ladies, and Sara Fellows of mdg  a Freeman Company on the SUOERZOO Emerging Brands Stage to present a panel discussion on influencer marketing.

Beyond the product showcase, the event offered a spectrum of education opportunities for every pet professional looking to stay ahead of the pack. 65-plus business and grooming seminars, panels, demonstrations, and talks provided expert advice and trend insights to charge up attendees’ knowledge.

Sessions included grooming demonstrations, panel discussions, and even a venture capital launch pitch competition with $10,000 in prize money that went to the winner, Uproot Clean.

Grooming Artists Unleashed: A Styling Showdown

Macie Pisa of Für (center) collects a $10,000 check as Super Jackpot winner in the grooming competition.

Grooming contestants took to the stage with scissors and clippers to put their skills to the test during three days of competition at SUPERZOO.

More than $35,000 in prizes were awarded, with prize money flowing to more than 30 winners across competition categories including multiple breed divisions, multiple best of show categories, and specialty contests such as the Creative Styling Competition, Wahl Clipper Classic, and Abstract Design Challenge.

Macie Pisa, Owner and CEO at Buffalo, New York-based Für and Groom Team USA member, took home The $10,000 grooming Super Jackpot prize sponsored by Gingr.

Fur-endly Connections: Networking with a Twist

Dr. Martin Goldstein (left) of Dr Marty Pets connecting with Craig Wetnight (center) of Chuck Latham Associates and Jennifer White (right) of Angels’ Eyes

While many exhibitors and attendees find themselves nose-to-nose with business rivals at SUPERZOO, the event exudes a remarkable pack mentality. The shared passion for pets that draws so many to this industry seems to foster a breed of networking unique among business conventions and trade shows.

Certainly, each participant hopes their own venture will be top dog, yet there’s an abundance of goodwill, with even competitors often extending a helping paw to one another. This spirit of cooperation, rare in the dog-eat-dog world of business, creates an atmosphere where ideas cross-pollinate and cooperative friendships form.

At SUPERZOO, there is a clear sense that the rising tide of innovation and shared knowledge lifts all businesses, cultivating a thriving pet industry ecosystem where even competitors can find common ground in their dedication to enhancing the lives of pets and their humans.

Paw-parazzi Moments: Influencers and Celebrities Steal the Show

Katherine Heigl (center) of Badlands Ranch with Sheila Oden (left) holding sammie.n.maddie and Katrina MacDaniel (right) holding truffles_theyorkie

Numerous celebrities, both furry and human, were spotted at the event. Just a few of the TikTokers, Instagramers, and YouTubers we encountered included The Two Crazy Cat Ladies, Colton and Bacon, Nathan the Cat Lady, Nicole Ellis, Mochi, and the ever-adorable Yorkie pack of truffles_theyorkie along with sammie.n.maddie.

There were even celebrity sightings of those with fame beyond social media, such as Katherine Heigl who was spotted at the booth of her Badlands Ranch brand.

Amped Up After Hours: SUPERZOO Beach Paw-ty Electrifies the Night

SUPERZOO Beach Party goers relax on the sand and in the water. 

On Thursday evening, exhibitors surged to Mandalay Bay Beach for a much-needed circuit breaker, courtesy of Elite Sponsor, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Supporting Sponsor, Petland. A DJ jumpstarted the crowd’s energy, followed by live band Spandex Nation, who sent shockwaves through the audience with their 80’s Rock hits, causing bare feet to dance up a storm in the wave pool. Food, drinks, and fun provided a chance for attendees to recharge their batteries before the final day of SUPERZOO.

Yvonne Hsu, Hills Pet U.S. CEO and General Manager told Pawzhub, “We are so happy to sponsor the SUPERZOO Beach Party because this is the heart of pet specialty where we re-connect with the great people we currently work with and meet new people we can work with in the future so that we can make pets healthier together.”

The beach party not only provided a fun interlude but also amplified the industry’s ability to mix business with pleasure, creating a high-voltage atmosphere where partnerships could flourish in a more relaxed setting. As the night wore on, it was clear that the energy from this event would help power the excitement for the final day of SUPERZOO 2024, ensuring all attendees were charged and ready for the next day’s closing hours of the show.

Sniffing Out the Future: Trend Takeaways

Rachel Nichols of Natural Dog Company shows off the company’s soothing products while wearing an eye-catching outfit.

At SUPERZOO 2024 the future of pet care came into focus with several industry trend patterns showing up in the offerings of both industry-dominating brand giants and emerging entrepreneurial ventures. “Tech is revolutionizing how we interact with, care for, and entertain our pets,” observed James Lauffer, Top-Dog here at Pawzhub, who attended the show. “Eco-friendly solutions are responding to the industry’s environmental pawprint, raw and natural feeding and treating continue among fast-growing segments, offerings in wellness-enhancing supplements are booming, and signs of the continued trend toward humanization of pets were evident,” Lauffer said.

Paw-sitive Charge: SUPERZOO 2024 Powered Up the Pet Industry

SUPERZOO 2024 wasn’t just a trade show – it was a brilliant flash illuminating the evolving landscape of our relationships with furry, feathered, scaled, and finned companions. Both attendees and exhibitors left the event fully charged with excitement, new ideas, and valuable connections.

The high-voltage atmosphere at Mandalay Bay Convention Center was sparked with innovations across all sectors of the pet specialty industry. From cutting-edge tech solutions to eco-friendly products, the event showcased the industry’s commitment to enhancing the lives of pets and their human companions. The educational seminars amplified industry knowledge, while the grooming competitions highlighted the current flowing through the creative veins of pet care professionals.

As the switch is flipped to “off” after another successful SUPERZOO, it’s clear that the energy generated here will continue to power the pet industry in the months ahead. With new trends identified, partnerships formed, and knowledge shared, the future of pet care looks brighter than ever. SUPERZOO 2024 has once again proven itself as the ultimate charging station for the pet industry, setting the stage for another year of growth, innovation, and improvement in the pet industry that is sure to ultimately lead to smiling consumers on one end of the leash and wagging tails on the other.