Highlights of Zoomark 2019
Every two years, Bologna in Italy hosts one of the most important trade fair for pets: Zoomark International. NOHO agency went to the 18th edition of this international fair to discover the latest trends for the specialised pet store.
400 innovations
This year Zoomark was larger than ever, with more than 53,000 square meters of halls and exhibition spaces. The fair had more than 750 exhibitors and 27,000 buyers from more than 100 countries. About 40 percent of the fair was about food for our pets. In addition, there was plenty of room for (home) accessories for our pets, such as beautiful dog leashes and smart toys. This year no fewer than 400 innovative products were presented in Bologna.
Daarin komen wel een aantal trends steeds terug. Zo wordt het design steeds gelikter, ogen de gebruikte vormen en materialen meer verfijnd en wordt er vaker bewust gekozen voor een hogere kwaliteit.
Choose quality!
Quality has also been the main choice for years at NOHO. Because if you opt for high-quality materials and craftsmanship, you will always make a more sustainable choice. After all, a good product will last longer than a low-quality product. In Bologna, that choice for quality surfaced in various areas. For example in the wide interest in organic products and raw materials, sustainable production processes and recyclable packaging. We keep seeing a number of trends. For example designs that become increasingly slicker, the shapes and materials used look more refined and a higher quality is consciously chosen more often.
More comfort for dogs
Quality also means choosing comfort and convenience; it must be smooth and easy. For example, ergonomics has been leading for years with our brands DOG Copenhagen, EQDOG and EQuest 4dogs. These brands consciously choose collars, harnesses and leashes that are comfortable for the dog and are comfortable for the dog owner. Our Owney Outdoor brand is also known for its smart pockets and comfortable jackets for us humans. In Bologna we saw that extra attention to ergonomics also reflected in the presented dog leashes, harnesses and collars. It was remarkable to see the large selection of orthopedic memory beds and cushions made of memory foam. Because whoever took a nice long walk is allowed to then lie very comfortably?
Catch-up?
Want to know more about everything we’ve seen in Italy? Just let us know and call +31 (0) 6 109 104 63 or mail us at info@noho.nl.
The French Connection
At the beginning of this year we already announced that we were asked to conquer the French market for DOG Copenhagen. We have received so much positive feedback about our assortment that we will now also include EQDOG, EQuest 4dogs and Owney Outdoor. While preparing for this new area we came across the 3 most important rules for four-legged friends in France – handy for customers with holiday plans and if you yourself have a romantic weekend planned in Paris (of course with your dog).
- Identify your dog
As of July 3rd, 2004, certain rules apply within the European Union if you travel with your dog. For example, you must have a European pet passport. Since the 29th of April 2014, there is a new EU Pet Passport that only a veterinarian can provide for you, only after entering the correct data and laminating the relevant pages. Old passports issued and completed before that date will remain valid. In addition, you must also ensure that your dog is ‘chipped’. This way your dog can always be identified. - Proper vaccination
When traveling through Europe, your dog must also have a valid rabies vaccination. You should also get a dog-tag for that on the collar/harness. You must obtain the rabies vaccination up to 21 days before departure and this may not be older than one year if you cross EU borders. Dogs that are less than 3 months old cannot be vaccinated against rabies yet, so they are not allowed to enter France. - Leave the tough dog at home
France prefers fighting and guard dogs to leave rather than enter their country. That is why they apply strict rules for taking these “tough” dogs with you. This concerns certain crossbreeds that are not registered in a pedigree that is recognized by the French Ministry of Agriculture. In appearance they resemble:
- Pitbulls and crossbreeds with American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boerbulls and crossbreeds with the Mastiff
- Crossbreeds with the Tosa
Do you want to take these dogs with you? Then you must comply with all kinds of rules. For example, with a special French course where you must prove that you have your dog under control and get a positive result on a bite test that your dog undergo in France.
You can find more information and links to all the rules in France on this Dutch website by the central government.O
