Lions and Tigers and PETS! Oh my!

People are easily swayed when it comes to the well being of man’s best friend. Why do people choose a huge national pet store like PetSmart over a local pet store such as Austin’s Bark ‘N Purr? Even the animal world is being infiltrated and overwhelmed by social media today.

Bingley, my four-month-old yorkie poo
He loves treats and walks anywhere!

According to the Humane Society, an estimate of over sixty percent of American households own pets. While cats and dogs are typically household pets, there are also a variety of uncommonly known domesticated animals such as llamas, goats, ferrets, guinea pigs, fish and birds.

PetSmart has over 3,000 tweets on the social networking site and over 17,000 followers. While Bark N Purr only has 117 tweets and only 202 followers. While Bark N Purr is a newer member to the Twitter world, they have their work cut out for them if they are to overtake the national company of PetSmart.

Petsmart has many locations across the nation, and they make a convenient experience for the customer with a highly efficient website. PetSmart has highly-developed technology which provides the gift of simplicity to consumers using the website. They also make social networking sites readily available on PetSmart’s home page.

Bark ‘N Purr, contrastingly, has a less technologically advanced website and has links to their Twitter and Facebook pages in a hidden page on their website. While Bark N Purr has a more modest website, the depiction of their website accurately conveys the feel of the actual store on Burnet Road.

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Bark 'N Purr located on Burnet Road

Bark ‘N Purr claims to be a local store that “knows best.” With K9 and feline experts working at the store, they buy only the best products, and therefore charge the premium price for these products. On their website, there is a tab that says, “why shop at Bark ‘N Purr?” they highlight specific bullet points such as the quality foods rather than the bargain brand prices, 8 nutritional specialists, extensive knowledge of breeds, products and information that is personalized for each person and pet.

The Twitter and Facebook accounts of both Bark ‘N Purr and PetSmart are similar in that they provide information about events and specials going on in their stores.  For PetSmart, it is a way to personalize the brand while Bark ‘N Purr uses this tool as a valuable conversation-started with its customers and the community.

The PetSmart Twitter works as a valuable tool because it makes this national company more personalized and available to the average consumer. Being such a large corporation, it would be easy for the customer to feel lost in the crowd of other consumers. Twitter helps prevent that from happening by asking questions to its followers, offering special deals as well as providing monthly in-store coupons.

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Pet Smart trade mark dog toys 

The Bark ‘N Purr Twiiter account also works as a useful medium, but in a much different way. Bark ‘N Purr uses its Twitter and Facebook account, not to gain a good opinion from its publics but as a conversation-starter. By advertising local dog walks, events in honor of pets as well as new product releases in stores, they are able to capture interest and convey compassion for the community. Bark ‘N Purr uses its local angle to the utmost through its social networking sites.

While PetSmart and Bark ‘N Purr both get useful feedback from its customers, the two pet shops are different in size, purpose and networking. Because of the local angle, Bark ‘N Purr has a niche community of Austin pet lovers. These consumers are probably wealthier and value quality over quantity. Pet Smart, being a national brand, does not have the same loyalty as Bark ‘N Purr, but they work to prevent the big corporation stereotypes by showing as much genuine interest in individuals as they can. 

Who knew there was so much barbecue?

Iron Works Barbecue, Lamberts Barbecue, the Salt Lick, Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, Franklin Barbecue, County Line Barbecue, Ruby’s Barbecue, Smitty’s, Artz Ribhouse, The Green Mesquite, Bert’s and so much more. These are the top Barbecue restaurants in Austin. They all offer varieties of barbecued meat, sauces, entertainment, and personalities. With so many options, it could take a person quite a significant amount of time to try all of these restaurants.

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Rudy's stickers next their hand washing machine

The most notable barbecue locations are the big three for college students. Stubb’s, Salt Lick and, of course, Rudy’s. College students are on their own for the first time, so having these easily accessible, quick-serving restaurants works in favor of both students and restaurants.

“Barbecue is eternal, like the Mississippi. It’s big and it’s simple and it takes it’s own sweet time,” said C. B. Stubblefield, owner and creator of Stubb’s Barbecue.

Stubb’s is one of the hot spots of not only barbecue, but of musical entertainment. Stubb’s plays host to many different bands, usually once per day. While they are popular not only for the experience guaranteed upon visiting, they also stay in touch with visitors through facebook, twitter, their online website and, most importantly, through the specialty sauce available. Stubb’s was so popular that they made a product line of six sauces, five rubs, and six marinades.

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Stubb's Sauces

While Stubb’s offers and unique atmosphere of quality barbecue and live music,  the Salt Lick offers an experience that every young Austinite must have at least once in his lifetime. The likelihood of returning after that one experience, however, is almost a guarantee. With merchandise, sauces and rubs sold by the Salt Lick, this restaurant has come a long way from being just a fire pit with a screened-in porch surrounding it.

This delicious barbecue restaurant was started by Scott Roberts and his family as the only means for them to stay in the great state of Texas. While the Salt Lick is about a thirty-minute drive from the heart of Austin, the beautiful countryside offers true Texas atmosphere. Being able to see where the meet is cooked and how it is prepared is one of the unique experiences offered at the Salt Lick.

Salt Lick does a great job in keeping in contact with its consumers not only through the website and other social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, but they also create a buzz about their restaurant. While one of their main locations is in the Austin airport, they get Austin visitors as well as residents talking about their barbecue. While Salt Lick encourages a “bring your own beer” policy, they do cater for events including weddings and banquets.

The Salt Lick is a unique experience to be had on the outskirts of the beautiful city of Austin, but Rudy’s is front and center. With a family-style seating, Rudy’s has quality barbecue, fresh and heated sauce, a variety of meats as well as the best sweet tea in the state of Texas.

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The Green Mesquite BBQ

Rudy’s has a knack for creating word of mouth for multiple reasons. While the food is good and the experience fun, Rudy’s stays fresh on the minds of their customers. With the “I have clean hands” stickers as well as the reusable plastic cups, Rudy’s has subtle advertisements that consumers reuse. Their unique hand-cleaning machine is more than useful at the end of a messy barbecue, (not to mention it feels like a hand massage) and the stickers serve as free advertisement as well as helpful catalysts in generating word of mouth. While the cups are a keepsake of the experience, for the struggling college student, these cups are a way of life. People choose Rudy’s not only for the food, but for the “free” cup at the end of the meal.

With so many barbecue options, restaurants are in constant competition. Trying to outdo one another as well as making customers loyal to their brand are just a couple of the challenges facing barbecue restaurants in Austin today.