In its annual contest to select the outstanding pet industry retailer, Pet Product News International, the leading monthly trade news magazine covering the issues and trends affecting all sectors of the professional pet industry, announced Jungle Bob’s Reptile World as recipient of Outstanding Pet Specialty Award, which is part of the magazine’s prestigious Retailer of the Year award program.
Pet Product News International announced the award in the September 2012 issue of the magazine and will profile the retailer in the August 2013 edition. The overall winner and the 11 special recognition winners are each given a seat on the Pet Product News International Retail Advisory Board as part of the award program.
Located in Centereach, Jungle Bob’s Reptile World was the inspiration of “Jungle” Bob Smith, who discovered an affinity for unusual pets at the age of 6. The full-service reptile pet store with a full array of supplies and foods is dedicated to the safe and proper long-term care of the various types of herps that make good pets. Conversely, through its educational division, Jungle Bob’s brings the wonders of nature to life with live animal programs to schools, libraries, camps, scouts and senior centers. These programs feature some of the world’s strangest and least understood creatures; reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. -in 2011, the store’s staff delivered over 100 wildlife programs both on site and off.
With its recently expanded “Outback,” an outdoor nature center featuring a carnivorous plant bog, two turtle ponds, waterfalls and a dry riverbed habitat, Jungle Bob’s provides an exciting and informative experience for every visitor!
The Retailer of the Year Awards were created 20 years ago to recognize retail excellence in the pet industry. Candidates are initially selected from applications distributed to retailers via the magazine, PetProductNews.com and trade shows. Retailers are then reviewed and evaluated by members of Pet Product News International’s award panel on such criteria as promotion of companion animals, involvement with professional and service organizations, innovative promotion, effective strategies in the marketplace, community and industry impact and employee training practices.
The Retailer of the Year contest is sponsored this year by World Pet Association (WPA), the oldest pet industry trade association and organizer of the annual SuperZoo trade show.
