Luxury pet products retailer expands with first physical location

Pet Hamper, a retailer of luxury pet items, is capitalising on the success of its ecommerce operation by opening a real-world store.

And interest was so high that customers travelled from across Lancashire, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria to visit during the opening weekend.

Pet Hamper is run by Emily Benson and Mark Jackson, who first launched the business during the Covid-19 pandemic as he was shopping for a gift for a friend’s pet and wasn’t able to find an appropriate present.

This sparked the idea of creating hampers which could be gifted to pets and their owners. An online store followed and the pair have now expanded with the first physical store.

The new home of Pet Hamper is designed to offer a high-end experience that is unlike traditional pet shops.

Emily Benson, who took the lead on researching, designing and installing the stores decor, said: “We didn’t want to go down the traditional route of stacked shelves, bright lights and funky smells. We wanted to create somewhere welcoming that people would look forward to visiting.

“Instead we took our style cues from home interior design experts. We’ve created somewhere that’s inviting and fun. There’s no reason to rush - customers are invited to take their time, chat with us about recommendations for pet gifts or about pet ownership in general, have a drink, have their photo taken - it’s a full experience.”

What is now the Pet Hamper store began as an office and storage space for the company, which was later converted by Mark and Emily over several months.

The store sits within a small but thriving business community between Preston and Lytham which also features a dog-friendly café, an independent brewer, a hairdresser and a gym. Located on a converted farm, the buildings feature eco-friendly aspects such as biomass heating and solar panels.

Pet Hamper has also secured a number of corporate customers. The company’s products are available to guests staying at the high-end Prince Akatoki Hotel in London, as incentives offered by insurance companies such as Animal Friends and Many Pets, and as rewards to customers of British Gas and Vodafone.

Mark said: “Our business has grown from strength to strength since we launched. Opening a physical store, where we could meet and chat with our customers seemed like the next logical step and within our first few weeks we have received so much positive feedback."

Next up for Pet Hamper, Mark and Emily hope to spread their store’s physical presence further afield, initially beginning with pop-up shops in other areas of the UK, timed to coincide with busy sales periods, such as in the lead up to Christmas.