Global Pet Expo Takeaways: Grooming

Grooming exhibitors at the 2026 Global Pet Expo included companies of all sizes, such as iClean Dog Wash, Soos Pets, Evolution Shears, Hydra USA, The Mobile Pet Parlor, and startup Bloom Groom Co, which showcased its dry shampoo and detangle grooming powder.

For Joel Weinstein, President of Sales & Marketing of Bass Brushes, Global was all about relationship-building. “Global is one of a handful of vital trade shows for this industry. Bass Brushes have been going to Global for many years. We’ve been making brushes for over 50 years. And pet brushes for over 20 years.” 

He continued, “Global is as vital as ever, and I’ll tell you why. In a world of tech and Zoom, the flip side to that is there’s nothing that can replace the direct interaction you can get face to face.”

What worked well for Skout’s Honor at the Global was clarity and alignment. Will Schneider, Director of Marketing for Skout’s Honor, said, “Everything from the booth design to the bathroom campaign reinforced a clear message. We are here to change what people expect from a pet product. The booth was clean, modern, and elevated. It created curiosity without needing to be loud. That gave us the right entry point into more meaningful conversations. Once people engaged, the message was simple. Pet skin care. It’s our thing. Pets deserve skin care as thoughtful as yours.” 

Bass Brushes is a company that takes personalized relationships to heart—even sending handwritten thank you notes, which is very rare for a company these days. At Global, the company can foster these relationships and have real discussions. Weinstein shared, “I see a lot of companies cutting back on shows. But for Bass, attendance matters because of the type of conversations we are able to have.”

This year, the company showcased the innovations of its flagship product, the Hybrid Groomer, which is the world’s first design to fuse natural bristle with alloy pin to create a more effective grooming brush. They also highlighted their use of natural and sustainable brush materials. But beyond talking products, for Weinstein, it’s also about the feedback he gets at the booth from existing customers. “I get really rich feedback on our performance. That’s important. When a dozen customers come tell me things like your team is the best, or the level of service you deliver really stands out, it really shows us that our efforts are having an impact on our customers. To keep our customers impressed, surprised, and delighted—that’s what this is all about.” 

Skout’s Honor focused on showing how their product solutions improve the quality of life for pets and their people. 

Schneider admitted, “That shift resonated. Retailers are not just looking for more products. They are looking for solutions that actually make a difference. Introducing HydroClear also helped bring that to life. It showed how we are taking proven human-grade concepts like hyaluronic acid and applying them in a way that feels relevant and easy for pet parents.”

“For Tweezerman Pet, Global is an ideal opportunity to bring our sales, brand, and social teams together to collaborate on securing new business, strengthening relationships with existing customers and expanding retailer support, while also engaging with our influencers in person,” commented Chad Tillman, Associate Director Channel Sales—Pet. 

He added, “We identified a clear need for premium grooming tools that professionals trust, while also being affordable and safe for consumers to use at home. This approach enables Tweezerman Pet to support our retail partners in delivering a strong good-better-best value proposition by combining our premium yet affordable grooming tools with private labels or other more value-oriented offerings on shelves.” 

HICC Pet showcased its award-winning Pet Glove Wipes and Finger Wipes and debuted its new premium grooming brand, Chestnut & Co. The new brand is named after Chestnut, the rescue cat who inspired HICC Pet’s focus on gentle skin healing, and focuses on creating caring grooming routines.

With respect to trends, Weinstein from Bass Brushes reported, “The trend that I saw happens to be one that we are focused on—natural. Bass is a natural brand that focuses on natural materials. I do see that trend growing not just in pet but in all of retail.”

Schneider of Skout’s Honor noticed some signs that the category is evolving. 

He commented, “You are seeing more focus on ingredients, more humanization, and more awareness that traditional approaches can fall short. But much of the category is still centered around surface-level benefits. That creates a clear opportunity.”

He continued, “In the near term, it reinforces our focus on delivering better solutions, not just participating in a category. Whether it is skin care, oral care, or beyond, the goal is the same. Eliminate barriers that prevent pets and their people from living their best life together.”

Cat grooming products were well represented, thanks to Millennials and Gen Z demographics driving demand for feline grooming services. According to the American Pet Products Association, the cat grooming segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 8.2 percent from 2025 to 2030. Attendees at the Expo that were feline-minded got to witness a self-grooming cat house from PawSwing and other tech-focused products, like homerunPET with its smart pet dryer that promised a spa-grade drying experience. 

While innovation, natural ingredients, and wellness drove much of the grooming conversations, the enduring value of face-to-face connection remained just as central to this year’s Global.