The pet-care industry is traditionally known as a big business worth tens of billions of dollars annually.

In fact, the most recent annual report from the American Pet Products Association found that the industry as a whole hit $95.7 billion in sales in 2019, a record high.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for new players. Far from it. Recently, APPA launched a new member category, Right Start Membership, that aims to help new and emerging pet product businesses find necessary resources to succeed in the field.

In a news release, APPA CEO Steve King noted that the member tier comes out of a growing demand among entrepreneurs to join the field—and APPA’s desire to help encourage that approach.

“As the pet care community continues to evolve, more and more entrepreneurs are setting their sights on doing business in this industry,” King stated. “APPA recognizes our responsibility to encourage growth through innovation and that start-ups play an integral role in ensuring the pet industry remains vibrant.”

The membership tier allows startups access to APPA resources for market research, public relations, import and export assistance, regulatory information, and education. One thing it does not offer access to is the association’s primary event, the Global Pet Expo, but APPA notes that the expectation of the membership tier is that it will create a path for new businesses to eventually find a place on the tradeshow floor. As a result, the membership program is only offered for a limited time basis of one year.

“APPA offers startups unparalleled access to pet industry information, people and resources you need to succeed,” the group states on its membership page.

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