Crufts is one of the biggest international dog shows in the world, and is being held at Birmingham’s NEC arena this week, from Thursday, March 7 to Sunday, March 10. And as well as pampered pooches, superb breed standards, and watching fantastic displays in the arenas, it’s also a dog owner’s dream when it comes to shopping, with literally hundreds of stalls to browse and buy from.
Split across five halls, you can buy anything dog-related you could possibly think of at Crufts, from custom clay sculptures of your pet, to sonic toothbrushes and pet trackers. What’s more is that many of the stalls will run Crufts-exclusive discounts where you’ll often be able to get a multibuy deal or money off – so if you see something you like the look of, Crufts is most likely the cheapest place to buy it.
And for brands, it’s one of the biggest trade opportunities of the year. In 2023, more than 155,000 visitors attended Crufts over the four days, with the trade stands being the most visited part of the show, with 85 per cent of all visitors exploring the trade stands.
We’ve shared some of our favourites spotted at Crufts 2024 below, which will give you an idea of what to expect if you are planning to shop at the NEC event this weekend.
Country Threads – Hall 1 Stand 136
This new brand supported by The Prince’s Trust has launched at Crufts and had an amazing start to the weekend. They’ve got the most gorgeous embroidered hair bows for dog mums, beautiful accessories for humans and hounds, and are generously giving out free treats, too.
Frankie and Dottie’s – Hall 1 Stand 14
Dachshund owners will love the range of jumpers, loungewear and hats embroidered with a gorgeous sausage dog silhouette on Frankie and Dottie’s stall – but there are also some sweet Dog Mum and Dog Dad tees that make the perfect dog walking uniform.
JR Pet Products – Hall 1 Stand 166
The JR stand is always a lot of fun to visit as it’s like a giant tent and is filled with all of their bestselling pates, natural treats, chews and more which are 100 per cent meat. It’s also a great opportunity to have a chat with the team about what to pick out for your pooch, and stock up on those pizzle sticks.
Lucy and Lola – Hall 1 Stand 76
Get your pet’s face embroidered on almost anything! Lucy and Lola have a range of tops, jumpers, bags and more onto which you can get your pet(s) portrait embroidered. The results are absolutely stunning and they’ve got some fab prices exclusive to Crufts.
Podium Pet Products – Hall 1 Stand 46
Podium are selling a range of their BeLoved Petz natural, clean grooming and wellness products that smell incredible, including candles, silky fur oils, shampoo bars and more. Bathing your pet at home truly never smelled better.
Peanut and Pickle – Hall 2 Stand 60
Peanut and Pickle are a natural canine skincare brand offering shampoos, pawfume, mud treatments and more to leave your pooch feeling totally pampered. They’ve also got grooming demonstrations on the stall, and three for two on all of the dreamily scented stock (Dark Amber is my favourite).
The Green Poop Bag – Hall 1 Stand 22
Poop bags are an essential and we love the lengths that The Green Poop Bag have gone to to make their stand look so pretty for such an un-glamourous part of dog ownership. They’re handing out freebies and have a fun photo booth where you could potentially win a trip away, which is well worth having a go at.
Poppy and Ted – Hall 2 Stand 1B
We’ve ordered a lot in the past from Poppy and Ted, as their walking accessories are just too cute. From collars and leads to harnesses and bandanas, their stall is really well laid out and your four-legged friend will be the envy of the dog park in no time.
Snugbums – Hall 2 Stand 126
As an animal print-obsessive, Snugbums is a brand after my own heart with a selection of plush, luxury bedding, toys and accessories in some wild and wonderful patterns and designs. From zebra print collars to leopard blankets – they’re the boujiest brand at Crufts this year.
Wild Pack – Hall 2 Stand 15
Wild Pack is a raw dog food subscription service founded by ‘Toff’ Georgia Toffolo, and they’re at Crufts for the first time selling their tasty meals and treats. The branding is stunning, everything is really natural with no nasties or additives, and Toff was on hand to answer questions and talk to customers about the brand.
Axels Elixir – Hall 3 Stand 111
Axels have got their freezer fully stocked with their bestselling bone broth lollipops in a range of tasty flavours like salmon, duck and goat. Jam packed with health benefits, Phoebe and Frank are looking forward to giving their organic frozen treats a try.
Betty Miller – Hall 3 Stand 89
Betty Miller was one of my favourite stalls last year too, as they set it up like a sweet little country cottage kitchen. Their baked dog treats have the loveliest packaging and are created with natural ingredients – you can read our review of them here.
Grub Club – Hall 3 Stand 2
If you’re curious about insect based protein, it’s well worth having a chat to the guys at Grub Club. Their brand recently launched at Pets at Home, and their vibrant packaging is really eye catching. We’re really looking forward to giving their treats a try.
Pup & Kit – Hall 3 Stand 108
Pup & Kit are offering stylish pet products for your home, from their Pet Nest (essentially a doggy Next2Me) and Pet Protectors, which are ideal for keeping your sofas or beds free from hair without compromising on style and without having to ban pets from the furniture. Beautifully designed products and the Pet Nest especially is unlike anything I’ve seen before – I’m obsessed.
Dorwest – Hall 4 Stand 72
Dorwest’s veterinary herbal supplements are designed to tackle a huge range of ailments. Whether you’re looking for something for an anxious pooch, a tummy settler or something to help keep joints supple, Dorwest have got you covered and their team are incredibly knowledgeable on their products so definitely get chatting to them.
Tug-e-Nuff – Hall 3 Stand 92
Regular readers will already know how much Phoebe and Frank love Tug-e-Nuff toys and their stall is always super busy. They usually have a great discount where you buy two toys and get one free. Also, if you register via email, you can also bag a free keyring from their stall which works as a great distraction tool on walkies.
Unwritten – Hall 3 Stand 110
Candles that are too much of a masterpiece to light! This female-owned brand offers an array of bespoke decorative dog candles in a range of breeds that will effortlessly slot into any home decor scheme.
The Innocent Hound – Hall 4 Stand 158
Head over to The Innocent Hound to take a peek at their award-winning, air-dried human grade food and treats. Phoebe and Frank love their venison sausages and will do anything to get their paws on one. It’s a great opportunity to hear about new ranges (and they have their highly popular birthday cake mix on sale, too).
Toft – Hall 4 Stand 154
The ultimate gift for the dog-loving crafter in your life, Toft are back at Crufts with their crochet your own dog kits where you pick out your dog’s breed and their colourings and receive everything you need to make your own plush version of your pet.
Goughnuts UK – Hall 5 Stand 174
Got a chewer? Goughnuts have the toughest toys that come with a lifetime guarantee. We bought their rings last year and there’s not a mark on them so we picked up a ball this year as we are so impressed. They come in different sizes and toughness so have a chat with the team and they’ll help you find the perfect fit for your dog.
Harbour Hounds – Hall 5 Stand 34
Harbour Hounds are selling their range of stylish, striped dog towel robes which are perfect for coastal living or canines taking a trip to the seaside. They come in a wide range of sizes (the XL is huge) and you can even get some matching accessories for yourself like scrunchies and beach bags that are ideal for beach days.
Lickimat – Hall 5 Stand 168
Lickimat remains one of our favourite enrichment tools ever, and their stall has a huge selection of their bestsellers on offer. They’re also handing out goodie bags while stocks last and they contain some fabulous treats.
Nylabone – Hall 5 Stand 172
If you’re after a tough toy, Nylabone might be another great stall to visit. I had a lot of questions about the product for staff and they were only too happy to answer each and every one – so I bought two! Keep an eye out for a review later this month!
The Muzzle Movement – Hall 5 Stand 182
With everything that’s been going on in the dog world of late, The Muzzle Movement are doing the most to make sure owners can get aesthetically gorgeous but 100% safe muzzles so that their dog can live their best lives. Their stall is a rainbow of pastel shades, with friendly staff on hand to talk you through everything you need to know about muzzling your dog so that they can live without restriction.
Top tips for shopping at Crufts
- Set a budget.
I recommend setting a budget for yourself, because it can be so easy to tap that contactless card without totting up your spending. I gave myself a £150 limit and managed to stick to budget on the day. Most stalls take card payments, but there are also cash machines in the NEC if you wanted to better track your spending.
- Get organised.
It can help to get organised and see which companies are trading at Crufts ahead of your visit, but equally, I enjoyed just seeing who was there on the day. I definitely recommend getting a show guide as that tells you exactly where everything is. I did see some shoppers with a highlighter pen, ticking off the ones they’d visited – it depends on how fussed you are if you miss the odd one.
- Think about luggage
One thing I wish I’d known – bags get heavy. And quickly. I strongly recommend investing in a little two-wheel trolly if you do plan on stocking up at Crufts. By the end of the day I was wrangling shopping bags like a less glamorous Pretty Woman Julia Roberts. A small suitcase could also work. I’d just say be considerate of other shoppers, I saw some people wheeling around full-on festival-style trailers.
- Be methodical
It’s definitely worth being methodical in your stall weaving. I started in hall one and made my way around to hall five, then went back on myself back to hall one – somehow, I still managed to miss a few stalls, though. I focused mostly on shopping and managed to do it all in about six hours. You’ll want to think about which arena shows you want to see and make time to exit the shopping halls to make it to the event on time, too.
- Make the most of discounts
As I mentioned above, Crufts have some awesome discounts, including freebies when you spend over a threshhold, a percentage off discount, or mulitbuy offers. It’s well worth making the most of these and stocking up for the next few months – even the year!
- Don’t sit on it
And finally, if you see something you like and you really want it – buy it there and then. There’s a good chance it could sell out, and it may not be back in stock for weeks – plus you’ll miss any Crufts discounts. It does mean you’ll have to carry it around with you all day, but it’s better than being disappointed for missing out!
You can find out more about Crufts and what’s on at the event here.
