Bloomingdale online pet food boutique offers alternatives
A Bloomingdale entrepreneur aims to have his online business become the so-called Peapod for pets.
Tom Pantano started a website business called PetFoodZoom.com, which sells grain-free food and other products for cats and dogs that are delivered to your door. The site offers about 100 brands of pet food, including Blue Buffalo, Canidae, Nature's Variety, Royal Canin and Fromm.
“I just felt that this was a no-brainer for people who have pets,” said Pantano about starting the online business. Unrelated to the online venture, he also owns a restaurant called Antipasto in Addison.
In July, Pantano decided to create the Web-based business after remembering the trouble his own bull mastiff, Nala, experienced a few years ago. His dog was a victim of a pet food recall and developed kidney problems and allergies. He switched brands of dog food and now Nala is doing better and is more energetic. He's convinced that food holds the key to the animal's health and welfare.
“This is something I'm very passionate about,” he said.
Since the site's launch Oct. 1, he's made 250 deliveries, which are free with orders over $35 in the Chicago and suburban region. There's also a growing fan club on the firm's Facebook page.
While the site primarily services individual consumers, he aims to start working with animal shelters, veterinarian hospitals and others to expand his customer base. He also hopes to open delivery in other major cities in the future.
“I want the website to be as much about educating pet owners as it is about feeding their four-legged family members,” he said.
Surfing: Libertyville-based Motorola Mobility said in a survey that consumers are seeking mobile TV and personal cloud services, which is redefining how they use their home for TV. Consumers are also eager for social media connections with their TV. It surveyed about 9,000 consumers in 16 markets globally.
Ÿ Speaking of surveys, Go Airport Express, a Chicago-based ground transportation provider between O'Hare and Midway International Airports, said that about 30 percent of respondents wish they could get free Wi-Fi at all airports. And about 24 percent of the respondents said they spend their time waiting at airports by using their devices to check email, search the Web or catch up with social networking sites.
Ÿ Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings said it is offering SearsLocalAd.com and KmartLocalAd.com to allow online shoppers a chance to view digital local ads from their local stores and get real-time checks on what's in stock.
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