Why I Dropped Our Prices Again

Dec 7, 2025
3 min read

Why I Dropped Our Prices Again: Small-Business Pricing in a Big-Box World

SOME PICTURES OF OUR EVER-CHANGING QUALITY PRODUCTS

I made a decision most small business owners are told never to make:

I lowered our prices. Again.

And I want you to see precisely why, what it costs us, and why it’s still worth it for you, your dog, and our community.

The Message That Hit Hard

“Cody, I love you guys… but Chewy is cheaper. Help me out here.”

It stung—not because they were wrong, but because they were right.

We all live in a world where two taps on your phone bring a 40-pound bag of dog food to your doorstep the next morning. Convenience and price have never mattered more.

But there’s more happening behind the scenes than most people realize.

The Triple Competition:

Big Box, Online Giants, & Brand Websites

We’re not competing with just one type of retailer anymore. We’re competing with:

1. Big Box Stores

(Petco, PetSmart, Walmart, Costco)

Massive bulk purchasing
Steep manufacturer discounts
Grooming + vet clinics under one roof
One-stop shopping convenience

2. Online Giants

(Chewy, Amazon)

Fast shipping
Auto-ship subscriptions
Huge marketing budgets
Nearly all “ready-to-buy” search traffic

3. The Brands Themselves

Many of our own partner brands now sell directly through their websites, offering:

Flash sales
Free shipping
Discount codes
Online bundles
Subscribe-and-save options

So your small local pet shop isn’t just competing with big stores—we’re competing with the manufacturers too. We still refuse to let our clients lose in that battle.

How We’ve Already Been Fighting for You

We’ve quietly made sure you didn’t pay more for choosing local:

Price matching big-box stores
Price matching Chewy and Amazon
Price matching many brand websites
Brand reward programs
Our HHH loyalty program
Ongoing coupons
Local delivery

We wanted to support local to feel good, not costly.

But even with all that, it still wasn’t enough.

The Big Change: Another 10% Price Drop

After budgeting, planning, and some tough conversations, I made the call:

We dropped prices by another 10% on products widely available online or on brand websites.

This puts us below many online giants and below the brands’ own websites, even by just a few cents.

The Real Numbers (Because Transparency Matters)

For You

If you spend about $80/month on your dog:

You now save around $8/month
That’s ~$96/year back in your pocket

Multiple dogs? High-end diets? The savings grow fast.

For Us

Here’s what we’re choosing to sacrifice:

On a $70 bag of food, we now make $7 less
That’s $700 lost every 100 bags sold
Some products now bring in half the profit they used to.

For big-box chains, that loss is a rounding error.

For a small business? We feel it. Hard.

And we still chose to do it.

Why We’re Okay “Losing” Money on Paper

Because your money matters more when it stays local.

If just 100 families shift $50/month of pet spending from big-box/online retailers to us:

That’s $5,000 per month
Over a year = $60,000 kept in our local community

Studies show that local businesses recirculate 60–70% more money into the local economy than national chains.

So yes—we’re sacrificing margin. But we’re gaining:

A stronger community
Affordable, high-quality food for your dog
More local economic impact
A reason for families to continue choosing local

It’s a trade we’ll make every time.

What You Get When You Choose HHH Canines

1. Expertise That Algorithms Can’t Replace

We’re trainers, nutrition specialists, and lifelong dog people.

We help you navigate:

Allergies
Sensitive stomachs
Ingredient confusion
Life-stage adjustments
Behavior + nutrition connections

2. Curated, Trusted Products

We don’t stock everything—we stock what we trust with our own dogs.

3. A True Dog Community Hub

We host adoption events, training workshops, rescue partnerships, and community gatherings.

4. Technology That Helps You (Not Replaces You)

Local delivery, loyalty rewards, purchase tracking, and direct support—real people helping you make the best decisions for your dog.

Why I’m Sharing All This

Not to guilt anyone. Not to shame people who shop online. Not to make you feel bad for saving money.

I’m sharing it because you deserve transparency and because this community matters.

You deserve to know:

Why our prices have changed
What these decisions cost us
How hard we fight to stay competitive
How much we value keeping your money local
How committed we are to giving your dog the best possible options

These price drops are our way of standing by you the same way you’ve stood by us.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If you ever wonder:

“Can HHH Canines get this for the same—or less?”

The answer is now almost always:

Yes.

And if you’re not sure? Ask. Message us. Challenge us. Compare prices. We’re here, we’re listening, and we’re committed to keeping your dog’s nutrition local, affordable, and exceptional.