Dog mom lifestyle is more than a hashtag. It’s a business opportunity. In this blog post, we’re introducing you to Pupcake Culture and how it can help your brand grow opportunities in the pet industry even if you don’t have a pet business.
WHAT IS PUPCAKE CULTURE
A pupcake is every dog’s favorite dessert. In essence, it’s a cupcake with dog-friendly ingredients. Pupcake Culture is the art of expression by baking the dog-friendly dessert. At its core, pupcake culture is a love language with five essential ingredients.
The Recipe
The steps, ingredients, and processes needed to bake a pupcake. It’s the birthplace of the pupcake.
The Story
Every pupcake has a story. It’s the reason the pupcake was baked in the first place. It’s the inspiration behind the recipe. The story is the heart and soul of the pupcake.
The Decoration
The visual and where your creativity comes to life. The cupcake liners, the way you swirl your frosting, the toppings you use, or even the way you pair your pupcakes on a barkcuterie board are a few ways your creativity gets a chance to shine through.
The Vibe
Baking is a feeling. The vibe is the experience you create while you’re baking. Whether it’s the music you play while baking, the kitchen you bake in, or even the tea you sip while you’re mixing batter, your vibe is baked into each pupcake.
The Dog
What’s a pupcake without a dog to enjoy it? Whether you’re bonding with your dog or helping someone else bond with their dog, your dog is the main part of the experience.
HOW INDUSTRIES ARE CATERING TO DOG MOMS
The pet industry is growing. The global pet industry is expected to grow to $320 billion by the end of 2023 and expected to grow to almost $500 billion by 2030.
The United States pet industry is estimated to remain the largest pet market with sales approaching $200 billion by 2030. According to Forbes Advisor, over 65% of households in the United States have at least one pet, and 88% of those pet parents consider them members of their family. Dogs are the most popular pet in the U. S. with 65.1 million households having a dog.
Pet Industry
Pet business host fun activities and photo opportunities to give dog moms a chance to spend time bonding with their dog. For instance, some pet stores, such as PetSmart, host Santa Photo Day for you and your dog to take a picture with Santa.
Food Industry
Some restaurants and cafes offer dog-friendly meals and treats on their menu for dog moms to take home to their pups. Some dog-friendly establishments even host “Yappy Hour” events for dog moms to come and socialize with their dog.
Travel Industry
Some hotels and bed-and-breakfasts offer “pamper your pup” packages to accommodate dog moms that travel with their pup. The packages may include things like a dog-friendly menu, dog beds, pet-friendly city guides, and other fun accommodations to allow dog moms to bond with their dog.
Financial Services
Some insurance companies provide pet health insurance with policies that are specifically marketed towards pet parents, including dog moms. They offer comprehensive coverage for various pet healthcare needs, emphasizing the importance of a dog’s health in family life.
Health and Wellness Industry
Some wellness centers offer dog yoga classes, commonly known as “doga.” Dog moms can participate in yoga sessions along with their pets. These classes focus on strengthening the bond between the owner and the pet while promoting health and relaxation for both.
5 WAYS BUSINESSES CAN USE PUPCAKE CULTURE IN THEIR BUSINESS MODEL
Pupcake culture gives dog moms the opportunity to bond with our dogs. So, when you integrate it into your business model, you’re giving us a chance to continue practicing our love language. Here are five ideas to help you insert pupcake culture into your business model, even if you don’t have a pet business.
Offer Pupcake Add-On Options
Provide customers with a pupcake at the end of the service or as an enhancement to your current service. For instance, a pet sitter may decide to offer pupcakes as a part of their stay package. It’s a great way to help your business stand out, especially if you’re tailoring the pupcake recipe to a dog’s favorite flavors.
Pupcake Baking Class
Offer a pupcake baking class for dog moms to learn how to bake a pupcake from scratch. This is a great way for a food or décor businesses to showcase their products and services by catering to a new audience. It’s also a good way to showcase your dog-friendly values without having dogs coming into your establishment. Once the class is over, provide the recipe to dog moms so they can bake the recipe at home for their dog.
Pupcake Kits
Send a “Thank You” kit or “Welcome” kit to customers who’ve purchased a pet related product or service from your business. The kit can include a simple pupcake recipe, emphasizing the company’s dedication to the wellbeing of the dog mom’s pup. This works well for insurance companies, real estate agencies, and other financial service businesses whose customers are making financial decisions around their dog. For instance, a dog mom who’s purchased pet insurance or a dog mom who’s purchased a new home.
Dog Mom & Me Wellness Guide
Self-care through quality time with your dog is a great way to relax and recharge. Offer your customers a quick wellness guide with fun activities to do with your dog along with a special pupcake recipe. This is a great resource for health and wellness companies looking to showcase how to integrate some practices into their daily schedules.
Partner with Fellow Business Owners
Establish partnerships with local pet bakeries or pupcake suppliers to showcase their treats in your store. This collaboration is great for florists, gift shops, and grocery stores because it allows them to diversify their offerings. It also allows the pupcake bakers and suppliers to expand their market reach.
WHAT PUPCAKE SHOULD I START WITH
There are a million and one pupcake flavors out there. That’s what makes Pupcake Culture a fun way to tap into your artistic side. These Peanut Butter Pupcakes from the eBook Sugar’s Dish: My Start from Scratch Story & Ten “Easy as Pupcake” Recipes to Try at Home are a great place to start. The ingredients are simple, and you can always add different toppings to customize it to a dog’s palette.
MARKETING A BRAND WITH PUPCAKE CULTURE
The goal of Pupcake Culture is always to create a bonding experience between a dog parent and their dog. This strategy can also be used to enhance your brand. Even if you’re not a pet business, pupcakes are a great way enhance your brands or even showcase your brand to another market. Here are a few examples.
Create A Themed Marketing Campaign
Create a campaign that features pupcakes to tell a story about your brand. For instance, a seasoning brand can showcase a person using one of their seasonings (i.e., cinnamon) to bake a pupcake for her dog. A real estate agency may highlight someone baking a pupcake for their dog in the kitchen of their new home.
Social Media Engagement
Use pupcakes as a social media campaign to increase engagement with current and potential customers. For instance, a tableware brand could have customers showcase how they are using their customers are using their products to display their pupcakes.
Employee Engagement & Corporate Culture
Use stories of employees and their dogs (and other pets) to highlight your brand values and corporate culture. For instance, a company may send a “Welcome to Paw-renthood” package to an employee that adopted a new dog. The package can include a pupcake and/or a recipe. This not only is a thoughtful gift to a new dog parent, but it’s also a nice way to advertise your brand values.
By using pupcakes in these creative ways, businesses can effectively communicate their brand values, connect with their audience on a more personal level, and demonstrate a commitment to community and wellness that goes beyond their core products or services.
Pupcake Culture is more than a dog treat. It’s an experience. A lifestyle. Any brand can use their value and incorporate pupcakes into the mix as an extra way to show how they cater to customers.
How are you interacting pupcake culture? We’d love to hear your story. Share your pupcake culture stories with us @pupcakesugar.
