Bel Air, Md. — Nov. 21, 2008 — Pet Store Pro® will expand its curriculum in 2009 to offer retail-focused business training for pet store owners and managers. This is one of several enhancements designed to leverage the hugely positive response the program has generated since its launch in February 2008.

The Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), creators of Pet Store Pro, has partnered with The Retail Owners Institute® to provide practical instruction in retail finance, inventory management and cash flow control. Registered Pet Store Pro users will gain free access to a variety of user-friendly information and resources targeted specifically to independent retailers at the decision-making level, including:

• How-to financial management articles by retail experts
• Online calculators customized for retailers
• Interactive, self-paced tutorial on the basics of retail finance
• Detailed guides for gross margin return on inventory investment and crisis management

Additional links to operations and human resources tools will also help retailers improve business management.

“These resources will help empower independent retailers to improve profitability by making informed business decisions,” said Steve King, president of PIDA. “PIDA and our distributor members are committed to giving our customers every tool we can to help survive today’s economy and plan for future success.”

In response to user feedback, additional program enhancements will improve student comprehension and assessment, as well as records management:

• The reptile chapter has been broken into separate sections for turtles and tortoises, lizards, and snakes to increase usability and retention.
• Chapter tests have been completely rewritten to emphasize key content and better assess learning.
• Training managers will now have the option to delete records for former employees.

These Pet Store Pro enhancements will debut at Global Pet Expo, Feb. 12–14, 2009, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Since its launch in February 2008, more than 3,300 pet store employees from more than 660 stores have registered for Pet Store Pro. A user survey completed in June 2008 indicated a very high level of satisfaction with the free online training. Retailers reported improved employee performance, and also saw the training translate into improved sales. Contact PIDA for more information: 2105 Laurel Bush Road, Suite 200, Bel Air, MD 21015, 443-640-1060, or visit www.petstorepro.com.

About Pet Store Pro
Pet Store Pro is a free, online training program that teaches basic skills to succeed in a retail pet store. The brand-neutral content covers a wide range of topics, including basic pet care and maintenance, customer service, selling strategies and merchandising techniques. Convenient, easy and fun to use, the program is accessible from any computer with an Internet connection, and suitable for online or offline study at the store or at home. Pet Store Pro, created by the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), is free to qualified pet retailers — no registration fees, no subscription fees and no advertising. For additional information, visit www.petstorepro.com or e-mail info@petstorepro.com.

About PIDA
The Pet Industry Distributors Association (www.pida.org) was organized in 1968 to promote progress within the pet industry and to conduct programs and activities on behalf of the wholesaler-distributor. PIDA’s mission is to enhance the well being of the wholesaler-distributor, to promote partnerships with their suppliers and customers, and to work cooperatively with other organizations in fostering the human/companion animal bond. Members include pet product wholesaler-distributors, livestock wholesalers and pet product manufacturers.