Business View Magazine | July 2019

70 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 Pet Expo. Shortly thereafter, APPMA dropped “Manufacturers” from its name to provide greater flexibility for future growth while positioning the Association as the go-to organization for the pet industry. Fast forward to today, APPA has more than 1,200 members around the world. And just last year, we welcomed 1,174 exhibitors and 7,029 buyers to the premier industry event, Global Pet Expo. The Show featured 360,400 net square feet of exhibits and 3,000 new product launches. As a leading and unifying voice in the pet care community, APPA has worked to grow and support the industry far beyond the direct services we provide our members. In the last six years, we’ve contributed $10,000,000 to sustain important initiatives designed to raise awareness of the joys and benefits of responsible pet ownership. These initiatives include: Pets Add Life, Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation Pets and Vets Program, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, The Pet Leadership Council, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, Bird Enjoyment and Advantage Koalition, and the Pet Care Trust. Becoming a Member Our mission at APPA is to provide our members the services and resources they need to thrive in the industry. To fulfill this goal, we’ve developed programs and resources in response to member feedback amid a rapidly changing global pet product climate. APPA membership benefits include eligibility to exhibit at Global Pet Expo, exclusive access to market research, legislative representation, media exposure and educational opportunities. Annual dues are issued based on a company’s world-wide sales, but all members have access to the same programs and opportunities offered. Despite the steady growth in membership we’ve experienced over the years, serving our members has remained a top priority for APPA. We have staff specifically dedicated to communicating with our membership through an array of channels such as weekly emails, marketing campaigns and social media posts. Perhaps most importantly, Global Pet Expo is an invaluable opportunity for us to speak pictured above Andrew Darmohraj, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the American Pet Products Association (APPA)