Man's Best Promotion

Kids throw tantrums. Spouses come with in-laws. Friends come with spouses (who, in turn, come with their own in-laws and/or multiple kids who will be throwing multiple tantrums). All in all, there's not much to like about people.

But pets? Everyone loves pets. Their tantrums are adorable, their spouses are adorable, and their in-laws? Nowhere to be found.

Pets get cuddled, pets get coddled, and most importantly, pets get truckloads of money dumped down the drain for their benefit. Spend 30 seconds in any pet supply store, and you'll see everything from vanity leashes and decorated beds to licensed movie chew toys and full-blown pet costumes. And on 99 percent of these pet products people are throwing money at? There's ample space to place a logo.

Pet owners love nothing more than giving their pets things, and because of that, they're an incredible end-user market for promotional products. Looking to get in on the action? Check out the quick primer below.

THE BEST END-BUYERS
Knowing there's an endless amount of passionate end-users in the pet market is useless if you can't find any buyers. So, what kind of companies like to give out pet products? Kristy Tantillo, TAS, marketing manager for EMT, Indianapolis, offered a list:

• Pet and specialty retailers

• Breeders and trainers

• Pet food manufacturers

• Pet shows and competitions

• Veterinarian offices and pet wellness centers

• "Bark park" events

• Shelters, rescue organizations and fundraisers

The last bullet deserves special attention, because as it turns out, animal and pet charities might be the biggest buyers of pet promotional products out there. "I've been pleasantly surprised at the amount of pet-related charities that provide our products after a donation is made for the cause," Tantillo said.