PetShop.co.uk Launches New Mobile App to Help Pet Parents Save Time and Money

PetShop.co.uk, the UK’s first subscription-based online pet food and supplies retailer, launched a brand-new mobile app, designed to make life easier and more affordable for pet parents.

The app had been on their wishlist for a while. After connecting with MobiLoud, they finally launched it. Within a month, they were already seeing positive results, despite barely scratching the surface of what their new channel was capable of.

Snapshot

Vertical: Pet food & supplies

Platform: Oracle NetSuite

Key Metrics:

• Contributed 10% of overall revenue in just its first month
• Revenue per user is ~1.6x higher compared to the website
• Engagement time per user is ~1.4x higher
• Over 5000 downloads & 1000 active users in the first month on the App Stores

Business Impact:

• Successfully launched mobile app after years of searching for the right solution
• Gained a professional mobile presence for business validation & optics
• Added a new, zero-cost version of SMS (in push notifications)

“MobiLoud has been an exceptional partner. They really care, and they’ve helped us launch an app we’re proud of – one that truly supports our customers at a time when every saving matters.”

About PetShop.co.uk

‍Founded in 2010, PetShop.co.uk launched the UK’s first subscription pet food and supplies service and now has grown to be the largest independent online retailer, having served over 1 million customers and shipped over 3million orders.

With a mission to bring the personal experience you would get in a store online. All emails are written by Adam, and the company has a UK-based customer service team with its telephone number displayed at the top of every page.

The business was set up to help Adam’s Mum back in 2010, who suffers from arthritis. "At PetShop.co.uk, everything we do is focused on helping pet parents and their pets,” said Adam Taylor, Founder & CEO of PetShop.co.uk. “We love speaking with our customers.”

‍PetShop.co.uk delivers all leading pet food brands, treats, and accessories straight to customers’ doors – with flexible subscriptions, unbeatable customer service, and now, a mobile app that makes shopping even simpler.

Launching an App

For years, the PetShop.co.uk team wanted an app. They recognized the benefits – a destination for their most loyal customers, and a professional business asset that drives positive optics for their brand.

The problem? They couldn’t justify the cost and overhead of a custom mobile app.

“The reason we didn’t have an app was it’s so expensive to build one, and you almost needed a whole product team, like building another website.”

Adam knew that more straightforward, affordable solutions were out there. But the only options that worked with their backend didn’t live up to their requirements.

It felt like a dead end. Until he found MobiLoud.

Why They Chose MobiLoud

Adam was looking for something in the sweet spot between functionality and affordability.

“I've always wanted an app, but just never found a solution that was either credible enough that we wanted to put our name to it, or cost-effective. For us, we're big enough that we need this app to work, but we also can't afford to build a custom app.”

The feature requirements weren’t complicated – just an app that worked as an extension of their web store. But it had to reflect well on their brand.

MobiLoud provided that balance they needed. The game-changer? Our attention to service. We took care of everything they needed, helping them navigate a new channel with no uncertainty and minimal growing pains.

Launch & Results

Within the first month on the app stores, PetShop.co.uk’s app saw instant results:

• 10% of overall revenue
• Over 1,000 active users
• 1.6x higher revenue per user than the website
• 1.4x more engagement time per user

It was virtually no time until they were making a positive ROI from the app. Their best customers already wanted to shop in an app – and the results prove it.

The best part is, they’re only scratching the surface of what they can do with the app. Adam’s particularly excited about bringing push notifications into the mix, as a zero-cost alternative to SMS for promotional blasts and transactional updates to boost trust and retention.

“We've seen such huge success with SMS, and push notifications are a free version of SMS, so it's a no-brainer for us to have.”

The Takeaway

For subscription-driven ecommerce brands, a mobile app becomes a home base for your top customers, and a major credibility and trust-booster. 

With MobiLoud, PetShop.co.uk launched quickly, without the overhead of a custom dev team, unlocked a new, mobile-first communication channel, and achieved measurable revenue and engagement gains from their first month in the app stores.

“It's a no-brainer for every business to have an app. For your most loyal customers, it becomes a destination, and it adds a layer of professionalism to your business and how you’re perceived by potential investors and so on.”

PetShop.co.uk's experience shows that with the right partner, an app can be a risk-free way to add value to your business, and drive more high-margin recurring revenue.

Ready to launch your own mobile app? MobiLoud can help you get there. It doesn’t matter what platform your store is built on, from Shopify to BigCommerce to Oracle NetSuite, we can help you launch the perfect app, fully in sync with your site.

Get a free preview of your app to see how it works.