We are proud to announce OATA’s support for National Pet Shop Day as an official partner of Johnson’s Veterinary Products for 2026.
National Pet Shop Day needs no introduction to many of our retail members. As independent retailers at the heart of their local communities, they are precisely the businesses this campaign exists to celebrate and support. We are delighted to lend our voice to it for the first time this year, alongside fellow supporters the British Independent Retail Association and the Pet Industry Federation.
The campaign is backed by compelling new consumer research that will resonate with anyone running an independent retail business. Two thirds of pet owners say independent pet shops are important to their community, and more than half say they would be upset if theirs closed. Yet only one in eight names an independent as their main source of pet products. It is a gap that will feel familiar. National Pet Shop Day 2026 is designed to close it.
As an association, we exist to promote and protect the ornamental aquatic trade, to set high standards and to champion the businesses and hobbyists who make this industry what it is. Independent pet retailers who stock fish, aquatic plants and aquarium products are a vital part of that community, and the knowledge and care they bring to their customers is exactly what this campaign is celebrating.
We encourage all OATA members with a retail presence to get involved. Visit the National Pet Shop Day website to register, find out what support is available and make the most of what promises to be the campaign’s biggest year yet.
This year the day takes place on Saturday 11 July and we look forward to seeing what it brings!
“We know how vital pet shops are to the fishkeeping hobby. Shops that sell fish are important places to inspire the next generation because getting the chance to see these beautiful creatures swimming around is quite mesmerising. We are very pleased to put our weight behind this campaign which seeks to shine a light on the importance of bricks and mortar pet shops and the part they play in educating owners in picking the right pet and caring for it properly.”
Visit the National Pet Shop Day website where you can find out more about how to get involved, including registering to show your support. You’ll then join the map and be sent more information on how to make the most of your participation. The website also has a useful PR & Social Media kit with resources you can download to share on your social media channels, website and with local media to help you get more people into your shop on the day!
