Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to examine the customers behavior in choosing the pet care shops (dogs and cats), to investigate factors affecting their choice and to looking for guidelines to improve the pet care business in Phuket. The sample of subjects consisted of 400 Phuket residents, and questionnaires were used to collect data for this study. The data was then analyzed by using an SPSS program and the results shown as frequency, percentages, means, S.D., and Chi-Square.
The results of the analysis were as follows: Most respondents were female, single, and aged 24-32 years. They obtained bachelors degrees, worked for business enterprises and earned 10,001-15,000 baht. Most respondents had dogs as their pets, and owned only one pet. Regarding the pet care behavior, it was found that most people received the information from television. The most popular shop was the Vet Shop at Rung Hill, and most respondents took their pet to the shop by themselves. They brought their pet to the pet shop for physical check up every 12 month and for rabbies vaccine. Most people go to the pet shop on Sunday afternoon from 12.00 a.m to 16.59 a.m. Besides this, most residents took their pets for grooming and shampooing which cost them 101-200 baht. The average service time was 21-30 minutes.
Regarding the marketing mix factors affecting the customer choice of pet care shop, the most affective factor was found to be the personnel, followed by the process factor. The least affective factor was found to be the promotion factor. The most effective product factor was found to be the food and supplementary food for dogs and cats; the most effective price factor was found to be reasonable prices; the most effective sales channel factor was found to be easy to get to; the most effective marketing strategy is a special discount for new products; the most effective personnel factor is sufficient numbers of staff; the most effective process factor is providing professional services; the most effective physical factor is new and modern equipment.
Suggestions proposed by the researcher for improving the pet care business in Phuket were as follows : product factor: the shop should provide a variety of products and services; price factor : the shop should offer reasonable prices and have clear signs for the prices of goods and services; sales channel factor: the shop should be located in the center of town, and easy to reach, and it should be open every day; promotion factor: the shop should provide various strategies including a special discount for new products and membership cards; personnel factor: the shop should provide sufficient numbers of skillful staff; process factor: the shop should provide safe and fast services; physical factor: the shop should provide new and modern equipment.