Posted by
GeorgeBruno on Friday, November 14, 2008 3:14:13 PM
Talk about niche marketing. Toyota is releasing the new VENZA. A Pet-Friendly car. Will it work?
One thing we know about pet owners is that they are incredibly faithful. They are not afraid to spend money on their furry friends, and they view their pets as family....yes....just like children.
Here's the link to the VENZA:
http://behindthewheelnews.toyota.com/?id=112&cid=AB-80-8E-5B-DA-4E-A4-65-22-BE-54-2F-8A-AB-B7-AD&mid=99-00-6E-97-3E-72-A2-BA-F3-80-23-29-71-5A-FA-A4&fname=Geo&siteid=em_200811_rla_btw_feat&url=featured_txtlink
One interesting fellow I recently met is a "Compounding Pharmacist" up in Allentown, PA. Thomas Silvonek of the Dorneyville Pharmacy. He is NOT a CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc. As a matter of fact, he showed me a very small shelf, about the size of a 6ft tall bookshelf in his pharmacy. He said that is the extent of his commerically manufactured medications. The rest he made in his compounding lab. Just the way the old apothecary did. Some people cannot tolerate dyes or flavors or certain binders..and he customizes their meds according to their needs. I found it absolutely fascinating. What a blast from the past and soooo different than getting your meds from a large commercial pharmacy chain.
A major portion of his market is Veterinary Meds. He is known for that. He creates meds for people's pets...their buddies...their family members.
Now this is where it gets interesting.
He has clients where a husband may pass away. The wife may never call to say the husband died and to remove him from the database.
BUT...there may be a pet he was compounding medications for and the pet died. People will call him and send him letters and pictures of their pet. The letters may read something like "Thank you for extending our beloved Fido's life another six months, etc..."
I was warmed by that story and thought that this man is adding pleasure to people's lives by contributing to their pets lives or making their last days a little more bearable. Kind of an unsung hero in my world, but a true hero in the lives of dedicated pet owners. A sub-cultural hero. A niche hero.
Can a car actually "designed" with pets in mind actually survive in the market year after year? After meeting this particular pharmacist and being introduced to this whole new world of ultra-dedicated pet owners....I'm going to have to say yes.