ZZA 6/20 Bike trailer for dogs
Hard to do without
For many dogs, accompanying their masters on a bike ride is great fun. But not every dog can keep up - depending on the route. This is especially true when riding an e-bike (pedelec). A bike trailer for dogs is the ideal solution for long trips.
Jürgen Arnold of DoggyTourer.de in Straubenhardt, Germany, can attest to the popularity and demand for bicycle trailers for dogs. Just five years ago, his company sold around 200 of its DoggyTourers a year. Today, four-figure numbers are leaving the factory every year. "Our DoggyTourers have become a popular brand," says Arnold. "This has only been possible thanks to our production in Germany," he continues. The Straubenhardt factory is responsible for sales, marketing, development and production of the DoggyTourer.
High quality and "Made in Germany", as well as proximity to suppliers, are particularly important to the trailer manufacturer and should clearly distinguish its products from Asian imports: an aluminium safety tub with maintenance-free elastomer suspension, a leash option, textiles certified to the Oeko-Tex standard, waterproofness, LED lighting, a cover with insect protection, UV-resistant viewing windows, 16-inch wheels and a locking option are all standard features.
When asked how many different trailers the company offers, Arnold tells us. "The range includes different sizes from Idefix (S) for small dogs, Snoopy (M) for medium dogs, Marley (L) for large dogs and a Beethoven (X)L which offers extra space and can also be used to transport two dogs." Arnold has also recognised that special accessories make the leisure product even more interesting. For example, there is an entrance aid for older or insecure dogs, a mesh box for active dogs, a partition and even a double floor for transporting additional items. All in all, the catalogue presents a wide range of standard products designed to make outdoor adventures fun for dogs and their owners. And, throughout, special requests are catered for wherever possible. New additions to the range include retrofittable skis for activities in the snow and a convertible cover for more fresh air. Further innovations are already planned for 2020. For example, there will be a new design very similar to the DoggyTourer XL. The designers are also working on a Cocoon trailer designed specifically for insecure and anxious dogs. And a "world first", according to Arnold, will be introduced this year: the first DoggyTourer with 4 wheels.
Arnold is happy with the sales of the DoggyTourer. In Switzerland, he sells the trailers through specialist dealers, while in Germany and Austria he is increasingly selling them through the online shop. Arnold would like to see more interest from retailers. "Retailers need to become more exclusive," says Arnold. "There are some small retailers who stock our products and their sales figures indicate that there is a demand for products that are not available everywhere," Arnold continues. When asked about the future of the trailer sector with so many different products on the market, Arnold is very relaxed. "The fact is that all dog trailers (except the DoggyTourer) come from Asia. As a manufacturer, we have other goals than the Asian products. DoggyTourer puts the dog first, the Asian products put their profit margin first."
The service that DoggyTourer can offer with such a product is also essential. "A detailed consultation to help the owner find the perfect trailer takes at least 1.5 hours in our company."
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