Pet costumes scare up huge retail sales - The Orange County Register

Margaret Vannek spends hours sorting and creating just the right costumes for her dogs.

On Sunday, she dressed up her fawn-and-white-colored Chihuahuas, Peanut and Pixie, as Robert and Giselle from Disney's "Enchanted."

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Top 10 pet costumes

1. Pumpkin

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The pair won "Most Unique" at a costume party at Chateau Le Pooch, a doggy boutique in Tustin. Peanut wore a black tuxedo from the ballroom scene, while Pixie donned Giselle's wedding dress complete with the signature red-haired wig and tiara.

The dogs, and their owner, will be working the Halloween contest circuit through the end of the month, with different ensembles for events in Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, San Clemente and at home on Hallow's Eve.

"I think pets now are like a child and family member," Vannek said. "For me they're like my kids. I don't have children so they're it. I love to dress them up."

Vannek, a social worker from Irvine, is among a growing number of Americans expected to shell out a record $370 million this year to adorn their pets for Halloween. That is up $60 million from last year. The sale of pet costumes is one of the single largest categories helping make the holiday the biggest in a decade, according to the National Retail Federation.

Pet retail experts aren't surprised. In recent years, the pet- products industry has exploded and is one of the top seven categories in retailing, said Doug Poindexter, president of the World Pet Products Association, which helps pet- product manufacturers and distributors with trade shows and consumer promotions. This year shoppers are expected to spend a record $52.87 billion for all pet-related products.

Shoppers also are scooping up high-end dog foods, health food, doggy spa products, designer toys and clothes. The pet market has spread from traditional independent shops and pet chains to mainstream retailers better known for human products.

Companies such as Paul Mitchell, Origins, Harley Davidson and Old Navy offer lines of pet products including shampoo, attire, name-brand toys and gourmet treats.

Each year, the American Pet Product Association does a study of buying habits. The latest data shows the largest- growing demographic of pet owners are baby boomers whose kids are in college, said Bob Vetere, president of the Connecticut-based group.

"These parents are known as helicopter parents because they hovered," he said. "Now they're looking to hover over something else. The family pet has filled that void. Dressing them for Halloween makes them more social. It's also cute for kids coming to the house for candy."

Retailers have embraced the trend. Target, for example, has 12 new costumes for dogs with coordinating dog-toy accessories, said Kristy Welker, a spokesperson for the retailer. Costumes come in three categories, priced from $5 to $14.

Sam Stone, manager at Lake Forest-based Costume Castle, said pet costumes are huge. She said the store has one of the largest collections in the county and, just like children's costumes, she's running out of some sizes for pets.

"People will go out of their way to match the pet's costume with the family theme," she said. "If the family is doing Star Wars, they'll do Yoda for the dog. In this area there are lots of pet lovers. They will spend the extra $20 to make sure the dog fits in."

Danny DiGiacomo, who owns Russo's Pets at Fashion Island and at Irvine Spectrum, hosted her first Halloween pet costume contest in 1981. It was a novelty then, but now contests are everywhere, he said.

"There's a lot to the animal-human bond," DiGiacomo said. "Soon people will bring pets to Trick-or-Treat and people will pass out dog treats and biscuits."

Christine Green, of Irvine, said she'd be one of the first in line with her Maltese Coco if trick-or-treating for dogs were offered at places such as Fashion Island or the Irvine Spectrum.

"That would be my favorite," she said. "The more I can socialize her with people, the better she is. It would be great at shopping centers because you could go into the stores, shop and get treats that are safe."

On Friday, she is headed to Fashion Island for the costume contest at Muttropolis, a "boutique for haute doggies and cool cats."

Coco, her 3-month-old pup, will be dressed in "Too Cute to Spook," a handmade orange-and-black dress with a shear tutu and intricate detailing.

"I wanted an outfit that was easy and cute," she said. "She tried it and it fit perfect. I had to have it."

Green's daughter Janaee Maun and her Victorian bulldog named Victoria also will compete in the Newport Beach contest, along with Vannek's Chihuahuas, Peanut and Pixie, for a swag bag in the costume contest. The store will have a runway with judges. The event draws a crowd of spectators, said Kristy Garza, assistant store manager.

At Muttropolis, a family-owned chain of three stores, costume sales are up 24 percent from last year. The Newport Beach shop did so well, that Garza said she had to backfill from the company's two San Diego County stores. There are Halloween-themed collars and leashes, costumes and intricate handmade pieces. Prices range $12 to $90.

Green said she can't wait for the party on Friday.

"It's like a night out, just walking the shops in Fashion Island with your dogs," she said. "If you're going places with your dog, you'll dress them up for parties. They are part of your life and your family."

Contact the writer: 949-454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com or twitter.com/lagunaini

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pet-375661-costumes-costume.html

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