Petco launches first PetCoach store

On July 17 Petco announced the launch of PetCoach, a pet care store in San Marcos, California offering pet parents a suite of personalized pet services, products and experiences to address total pet health and wellness.

“Pet parents tell us they want expert advice they can trust and easy, seamless access to everything they need to take the best possible care of the pets they love,” said Petco CEO Ron Coughlin. “With PetCoach, we’re reinventing the idea of a traditional ‘pet store’ by providing complete care experiences — from grooming, training and day care to full-service veterinary care — that simply can’t be delivered by mail or by a mass retailer.”

The new model brings Petco’s online, veterinary-led PetCoach platform to a retail setting, enhanced by digital and mobile tools, so pet parents have 24/7 access to the support they need. On-site services include grooming, training, veterinary care, nutrition consultations, day care, self-wash, mobile vet house calls and dog walking — all in one place. PetCoach will offer a membership option that includes perks such as free vet visits and discounted products and services.

The new store will allow pet parents to create custom pet profiles; book in-store service appointments and get tailored reminders, access immediate professional pet health advice from licensed veterinarians, order from a vet-vetted selection of pet food and supplies and search an extensive library of content relevant to their pet, including their own health and vaccination records, service history and more.

“The new PetCoach location serves as an innovation lab where we can test and learn more about what pet parents want and need to live their best lives with their pets,” said Petco evp, Strategic Innovation & Digital Experience Brock Weatherup. “The concept allows us to continue creating new, differentiated and personalized pet care experiences, all backed by our extensive veterinary expertise and support,” Weatherup said.