Closer Pets sprang to life in 2021, as the new home of the Pet Mate family – and what a journey it’s been so far. During what was an ‘unusual’ year (to say the least…), we’ve been proud to be there for owners and pets alike as they navigated homeworking, then returned to the office, and then did it all over again!
In our latest blog, we wanted to round up our favourite moments from 2021. Let’s dive in…
A new look
So, first things first: spring 2021 saw us rebrand. Closer Pets arrived with an eye-catching new logo, a fresh colour scheme and a shiny new website.
But why the change? Well, we’ve been proudly bringing pets and owners together for over three decades, and so we decided to take everything the Pet Mate, Ani-Mate, Cat Mate, Dog Mate and Fish Mate divisions have stood for over the past 35 years and bring them together under one umbrella brand.
There may have been a new name on our collar, but our customers knew it would mean the same amazing service and innovation they’ve come to love over the last three decades – we were thrilled with the response and are looking forward to our first ‘full year’ as Closer Pets. Read more about our story here.
Leaving fresh pawprints on the worldwide web
We’re firm believers of an easy life for pet owners and precious pets alike. Our rebrand therefore came with three new websites for the UK, US and EU, with increased functionality, handy user guides, and this lovely new blog section, of course! One of our most popular blogs focused on preparing your pet for your return to the office, which was a key conversation point among pet owners last year – and, indeed, right now, as UK homeworking advice has just been rescinded once more.
Keep your eyes peeled as our new French and German websites are on the horizon – Bonjour and Guten Tag! We also relaunched our social media channels for the new brand, and were thrilled to see over 6,000 new followers join us. If you want to keep up with our latest goings-on, simply click the social icons below to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Our shiny new products
As you can tell, we’re extremely proud of the response to our new brand. But like our favourite furry companions, we’re not ones to sit still, and we’re constantly developing to make sure we continue to meet the needs of our customers.
That’s why you can always trust us to work hard behind the scenes, dreaming up innovative new products that are sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.
In 2021, we launched two brand-new products from our range of accessories and spares that have been carefully crafted for cats and dogs – namely, our Pet Wipes Pack and our Cat Mate Stainless Steel Bowls x2 (suitable for One-meal and Two-meal Automatic Pet Feeders).
We also launched the Get Closer Pack (pictured below) – our handy starter pack that’s designed to help you get off on the right paw with your gorgeous new pet, with some of the essentials you’ll need to help them settle in.
What’s more, we all know that cats have nine lives, but did you know our product boxes now have two? In 2021 we changed to kraft cardboard, and our packaging is recyclable and therefore more environmentally friendly!
Attending our first-ever customer event
We were thrilled to exhibit at our first-ever event in September – and what better way to dip our paws in the pet-show world than by attending DogFest 2021? It’s safe to say we loved this celebration of all things canine, and it’ll be the first of many events for Team Closer Pets! Read more about our DogFest adventures here.
Our US team also attended the National Pet Industry Show in October. It was brilliant to meet other businesses in the industry at this Canadian Virtual Tradeshow, and play our part in supporting the ongoing advancement of pet care.
Closer Pets – in print
We were delighted to be featured in the October issue of the Healthy Pet Guide, featured in the Daily Mail Weekend and in an editorial on their website. We’re dedicated to helping owners to care for their furry friends in the best way possible, so it was brilliant to shine a light on our smart pet products, which promote a healthy diet, greater hydration and increased security (psst.. watch out for the next issue coming out in March!).
A brew-tiful partnership
We ended the year on a high, celebrating all the very good boys and girls out there with a partnership with Woof & Brew. A firm favourite amongst our customers, our range of pet fountains were given a festive twist for December – each fountain gift set included a free dog- or cat-friendly drink from this innovative pet company.
It was great to partner with a brand that has the same values of pet well-being, and we look forward to more exciting partnerships in 2022.
Watch this space…
2021 was an amazing year for Team Closer Pets, and we can’t wait to see what this year holds.
Our products are designed to give you a deeper understanding of your companions’ needs and we’re here to support you as we all continue to navigate the ‘new normal’. Our products are perfectly placed to support those who are returning to the office, by helping you care for your pets while you’re out of the house.
Another reason behind our rebrand is our commitment to becoming more connected as a company, using more innovative technology to support our product offering. We have big plans for new products and, of course, you’ll be the first to hear about our new releases.
We’re on an exciting journey, and we’re so happy that you’re joining us on it!