How a store gets in
Three doors, all free: a community nomination (anyone can nominate any store, anonymously if you like), a self-entry by the owner, or the editorial shortlist — stores our desk selects from PetRetailNews coverage and the PetRetailNews store map. However a store gets in, entry is the same two-minute form, and the judges see the same materials.
The awards
One overall Pet Retailer of the Year, plus category winners in:
- Independent Pet Store
- Boutique & Grooming
- Feed & Farm Supply
- Aquarium & Exotics
- Natural & Holistic
Eligibility: US brick-and-mortar pet retailers, independent and regional (25 locations or fewer). Chains above that have their own trade press.
Judging criteria
- Community standing: What customers and neighbors say; the store's role beyond its four walls.
- Service depth: Grooming, nutrition expertise, wash bays, delivery — the work a warehouse can't ship.
- Curation: A shelf that means something: category focus, specialty lines, local products.
- The story: Why the store exists and where it's going. Judges read every entry.
The desk scores finalists against these criteria. The community vote is one input to the decision, not the decision — you can't buy this with a big email list. Entry is free, judging is money-blind, and sponsors (if any) support the program, never the outcome.
Timeline
- Aug 3: Nominations open — community nominations, self-entries, and the desk's editorial shortlist.
- Sep 18: Nominations close.
- Sep 28: Finalists announced, by category and region, with finalist badges.
- Sep 28 - Oct 16: Community vote and desk judging.
- Oct 26: Winners announced: one overall Pet Retailer of the Year plus five category winners.
What winners get
A feature story on PetRetailNews read by ~8,000 pet-retail operators, the winner badge for your storefront and website, coverage in The Brief, and a press release on the PRN wire. Finalists get finalist badges and a spotlight in the finalist announcement.