In business, “blind spots” can significantly undermine value and growth. These are the unseen or unacknowledged areas in operations that increase the chances for strategic errors, missed opportunities, and catastrophic failures. Blind spots can arise from overconfidence, cognitive biases, ignoring consumer trends, insufficient data analysis, ineffective communication, and resistance to digital technology.
Consider PetSmart’s acquisition of Chewy in 2017 for $3.35 billion. Aiming to boost its online presence amid declining brick-and-mortar sales, this strategic move was meant to compete with Amazon and other e-commerce giants. However, the complex integration process between the two companies strained PetSmart financially. This ultimately led to significant restructuring, and in 2019, PetSmart spun off Chewy through an IPO to alleviate debt pressures.
A common blind spot in the pet care industry is ineffective communication. The 2024 Brakke Pet Medicine Home Delivery Study highlighted a couple of examples here: 1) An overwhelming majority of pet owners say home delivery helps them remember to give pet medicines, while more than half of veterinarians remain skeptical about increased compliance; 2) 75% of veterinarians say their staff actively promotes their practice’s online store and home delivery service, yet more than half of pet owners say they don’t know if their vet offers this.
Identifying and addressing these blind spots requires constant market analysis, rigorous risk management, and adaptive leadership. As the pet care industry evolves, businesses must continually refine their vision to avoid unseen challenges and ensure sustained value and growth.
Richard Hayworth
English 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Chinese