A dog at a pet hairdo stall at the pet trade fair in Sector 62, Noida
Do you have a pet? If yes, then you must visit this unique fair at Expo Centre in Sector 62, Noida. The 9th India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF), which will be on till February 19, saw pet lovers from across the NCR flocking in.
“It’s great that the organisers have allowed pets in here. It’s a happy feeling,” says Sanah, a resident of North Delhi, who brought a pitbull and a Labrador to the event. Yes, you read that right!
With a wide array of pet-centric services and products to choose from, the event in many ways is a one-stop shop for all your pet needs. With stalls of pet food and clothes from various brands to pet clinics and pet toys, or NGOs working towards the rehabilitation of animals and their treatment, you’ll find them all here.
Sugandha, a resident of IP Extension, East Delhi, who brought an Indian dog for adoption, says, “I found him in my locality some time back; he was extremely malnourished. I have brought him here so he can be adopted. There should be more such events for pet lovers.”
“I’m exploring the fair. I own a pet store, so I came here to catch up on the new products on the market. There may be pet events tomorrow or the day after, so it’s worthwhile to bring your pets here. The venue is also not difficult to find,” says, Karan Gupta, a resident of Preet Vihar, East Delhi, who has an Indian dog as a pet.
According to the event's Facebook page, the IIPTF is the biggest pet event in India. It is partly a B2B (business-to-business) and partly a B2C (business-to-consumer) event, and showcases a wide range of pet products, along with providing a platform for pet-pertinent services from across India and abroad. The event is both an exhibition and a trade show.
Naresh Shetti, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur who founded "Tailians", a social networking app for animal lovers, says, “It’s a very rich market. People like to spend a lot, flaunt a lot. Events like this are very few in India. An event where you can get exposure for your product is a place where start-ups need to be. We launched recently and it’s our first time here. Let’s see how it goes.”
Surabhi Tandon, the manager of strategy and operations at Petfunday.com, also shares Shetti’s sentiments. She says, “IIPTF is a good platform to connect with people who are offering services to pet owners. It helps us connect in a day or two.” Petfunday.com, another start-up, is an aggregator that works on pet-related products and services.
The wide variety of aquariums on display is a special attraction at the fair, along with a stall for pet hairdo and a café catering to only pets. Binoy Sahee, the fair director, says, “We are giving away bravery awards to dogs that have died protecting their owners.”
When City Spidey asked Sahee why the organisers chose Noida for the event, he said, “Residential societies in Noida have developed really well and there are a lot of pet lovers here. We need to cater to them.”
“The pet grooming workshop will be held on February 18,” Sahee added.
For those of you worried about your pet’s health and diet, a veterinary conference is scheduled on February 19. “The conference will shed light on the importance of food ingredients,” says Jayashree, marketing coordinator at Creature Companion, a pet care magazine.
