PetSmart Is Now the Exclusive Pet Retailer of the Toronto Maple Leafs; Unique Program Brings Hockey Fans and their Pets Together with Pet Fan Apparel Collection, Social Media Contest, Leafs Alumni In-Store Meet-n-Greets, In-Game Videos, Rink Board Branding and More
TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - PetSmart and the Toronto Maple Leafs have entered into a new, three-year collaboration that will bring hockey fans and their furry family members together like never before. This initiative is aligned with PetSmart's desire to create more meaningful moments for people and their pets and is also the first time a professional hockey team has collaborated with a pet retail brand in a multi-channel marketing campaign spanning exciting fan opportunities.
"PetSmart customers in Toronto and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) love their pets and the Toronto Maple Leafs. That's why this collaboration with the Leafs is such an exciting and important venture," said John DeFranco, President of PetSmart Canada. "Now pet parents can share their love of the game with their furry family members through official licensed pet apparel, a social media contest with chances to win Leafs tickets and more."
"As we begin our Centennial season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are excited to engage and entertain Leafs Nation in new ways," said Jeff Deline, Vice President, Global Partnerships, MLSE. "This partnership gives us the opportunity to have our fans and their entire family participate and interact with the team like never before."
Key elements of this un-matched professional hockey-pet collaboration include:
Toronto Maple Leafs Apparel Collection—Exclusively for Pets!
Starting this season, Leafs Nation can purchase official, NHL-licensed Leafs pet apparel at the Toronto Maple Leafs Store powered by Real Sports Apparel on the concourse level of Air Canada Centre (ACC) and select GTA PetSmart stores. The collection will feature jerseys and bandanas.
#PetSmartSuperFan Contest
Between October 24th, 2016 and January 6th, 2017, fans can take a photo illustrating why their pet is the ultimate Toronto Maple Leafs fan and submit it on www.mapleleafs.com/petsmart or upload it to their Twitter or Instagram account using the hashtag #PetSmartSuperFan for a chance to win two tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs home game. Photos will be judged on originality and creativity. Multiple winners will be selected and eligible to have their pet's photo featured on a PetSmart-branded rink board located at centre ice in the ACC, and may also be featured as the Toronto Maple Leafs' "Pet of the Month." See full contest details at www.mapleleafs.com/petsmart.
Meet a Leafs Alumni at PetSmart Stores
October 27th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., fans are invited to meet Toronto Maple Leafs legends Rick Vaive and Shayne Corson at the grand opening of PetSmart's latest store, "PetSmart at The Beach," a service-focused small-footprint store located at 2050 Queen Street East, Toronto. Pets and pet parents can visit the store for complimentary pet treats and giveaways while rubbing elbows with two of Leafs Nation's favourites. Additional Leafs alumni appearances at PetSmart stores are expected, so keep a look out for more opportunities.
PetSmart Charities of Canada's™ National Adoption Weekend
As part of the collaboration, PetSmart and Toronto Maple Leafs will team up to promote pet adoption and encourage people to adopt, not shop, when looking for a new pet. At the home games on November 11th and February 18th, ACC's videoboard will feature a video showing the adorable faces of many of the pets who have recently been adopted through PetSmart Charities of Canada's National Adoption Weekends. These weekend events have helped more than 219,000 Canadian pets find forever homes to date.
Additional Philanthropic Efforts
During the November 22nd home game, Stanley, an adorable plush toy dog that is part of PetSmart's holiday philanthropic line of products, will be sold to fans at Air Canada Centre. Fans can purchase one to take home or purchase a second toy that will be donated to MLSE Foundation. 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to PetSmart Charities of Canada.
About PetSmart®
In Canada, PetSmart is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we believe pets make us better people. That's why we create more moments for people to be inspired by pets. This mission impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates, and how we give back to our communities. We employ more than 3,800 associates and operate more than 115 pet stores across Canada with seven operating in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel™ dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, and pet adoption services in-store. Our portfolio of digital resources for Pet Parents – including PetSmart.ca, Pet360.com and petMD.com – offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in North America. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities of Canada, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 219,000 pets since 1999. In addition, PetSmart supports organizations that make communities a better place to call home through our philanthropy program, PetSmart Gives Back™. By giving back to the communities where we live and work, PetSmart® not only celebrates the power of pets to enrich people's lives—we live it.
Find PetSmart®on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetSmartCanada/
See PetSmart® on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
SOURCE PetSmart
Image with caption: "Toronto Maple Leafs (CNW Group/PetSmart)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161019_C4970_PHOTO_EN_799135.jpg
Image with caption: "PetSmart (CNW Group/PetSmart)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161019_C4970_PHOTO_EN_799177.jpg
or to schedule an interview, please contact: For PetSmart and PetSmart Charities of Canada: Miriam Fitting, 416-483-6225 ext. 3440, [email protected]; For Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment: Abby Albino, 416-882-5485, [email protected]
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