Cutting Customer Service with Care
from Inc.
Companies are bleeding people, and while theoretically that shouldn’t make a big difference in service (fewer employees but also fewer customers, right?), deterioration is to be expected. Some companies are cutting staff faster than they’re losing customers. Others are simply cutting in the wrong places. Employees’ knees are knocking so hard they can’t hear the words, "I need that by Thursday." More    

Beware the Baboon Boss
from Harvard Business Review Editors’ Blog
If your workplace is like many these days, all eyes are on the boss. The numbers aren't good, the senior team is huddling, and change is in the air. Everyone studies their supervisor's every move and utterance for clues to the danger ahead. It turns out this isn't just a rational response to uncertainty; it's in our evolutionary biology. More    

Product Showcase: CritterTrail® CritterTrail® habitats are designed for the health, security and comfort needs of your hamster or gerbil. Innovative features encourage interaction between owners and their pets. CritterTrail® is the only brand with Super Protect™ antimicrobial technology built-in to ensure a cleaner environment. Expandable Fun-nels™ and connectable accessories encourage activity and exercise. More info

Five Viral Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
from Retail Customer Experience
Computer maker Lenovo spread the word about its new notebook with a titillating scene aimed at legions of male computer nerds. Released during the 2008 holiday season, a JC Penney sketch warned men to buy jewelry for the women in their lives if they wanted to avoid the doghouse. One of the videos became a viral sensation, getting millions of views and attracting praise for creativity, and the other was panned as a sophomoric flop. Which is which? More importantly, why? More    

Pet Economy Purring Along Nicely
from BusinessWeek
Despite a serious recession, the American Pet Products Association estimates Americans will spend $45.4 billion on pets in 2009, up 5.1 percent from last year and nearly double pet spending a decade ago. That optimism isn't contradicted by PetSmart's latest results. For the quarter ended in April, PetSmart's earnings were 37¢ per share, handily beating both analysts' expectations of 30¢ and results from the year before of 32¢. The company raised its predictions for 2009 earnings. More    

Maine Planning for Special Pet Food Tax
from PIJAC
The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry amended a breeder kennel law (LD 964) to include a sales tax increase applicable only on pet foods. Maine’s existing 5 percent sales tax would be increased by 1 percent -- the 1 percent would be assessed only on pet foods and treats. The funds would go to funding the State’s Animal Welfare program. More    

Nutro Recalls Limited Range of Dry Cat Food Products
from Pet Product News
Nutro Products of Franklin, Tenn., has issued a voluntary recall of select varieties of its Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max dry cat foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010, and Aug. 22, 2010. The recalled products contain incorrect levels of zinc and potassium, according to the company. Nutro pointed to a production error at a U.S.-based premix supplier as the cause of the zinc and potassium imbalance. More    

PetSmart Calls for Innovative Dog Owners
from The Dog Channel
Pet-supply retailer PetSmart has teamed up with Edison Nation, a leading product search coordinator, to entice anyone with a new pet product idea to submit their proposal for consideration to be manufactured. Interested parties have until July 9 to submit their ideas to Edisonnation.com. Individuals whose ideas are chosen for PetSmart’s Live Product Search or any product search hosted through Edison Nation receive a $2,500 advance payment and a percentage of product sales for up to 20 years. More    

Symbol	Name	Last	Change
ALO	ALPHARMA, Inc.	36.94	0.00%
CENT	Central Garden and Pet Co	10.05	0.29%
CHD	Church & Dwight Co., Inc.	53.72	0.17%
CLX	Clorox Company	55.15	0.27%
CL	Colgate-Palmolive Company	62.19	0.37%
DLM	Del Monte Foods Company	8.10	0.15%
IAX	International Absorbents, Inc.	2.89	0.01%
JAKK	Jakks Pacific, Inc.	13.00	0.70%
KFT	Kraft Foods, Inc.	25.20	0.33%
ODC	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	16.38	0.07%
OPCO	OurPet's Company	0.00	0.0%
PECD	Pet Ecology Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.0%
PETS	PetMed Express, Inc.	17.41	2.02%
PETM	Petsmart, Inc.	21.43	0.40%
PFE	Pfizer, Inc.	14.15	0.25%
PG	Proctor & Gamble Company	50.37	1.20%
SGP	Schering-Plough Corporation	22.68	0.39%
SPC	Spectrum Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.00%
WOOF	VCA Antech, Inc.	25.74	0.64%

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