Core Viewpoint - The pet economy, while appearing lucrative with a market size of 300 billion and gross margins up to 50%, is not a profitable venture for large companies due to high operational costs and reliance on human capital rather than scalable business models [4][10][30]. Industry Overview - The pet economy is characterized by high gross margins, particularly in pet food, where domestic brands can achieve margins of 40%-50% [10][11]. - Service sectors such as grooming and veterinary care also show high potential margins, but the actual profitability for companies is often low due to high operational costs [10][15]. Company Performance - Major players like Pet Fresh and others have faced significant losses, with Pet Fresh closing 18 stores after burning through 178 million RMB in just nine months, averaging losses of over 200,000 RMB per store monthly [5][11]. - Companies like Zhongchong Co. and Petty Co. report low net profit margins, with Zhongchong's gross margin at 28.16% and net margin at only 9.33% [11][12]. Marketing and Sales Costs - The cost of acquiring customers through KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) and marketing has skyrocketed, with sales expenses for companies like Guibao Pet increasing from under 100 million RMB in 2017 to 500 million RMB in 2024, leading to diminished net profit margins despite increased sales [13][14]. Challenges in Scaling - The pet economy is heavily reliant on personal relationships and trust between pet owners and service providers, making it difficult for large companies to replicate the success of smaller, independent businesses [27][30]. - The high costs associated with maintaining quality service and customer trust, such as expensive store locations and high employee wages, hinder profitability for larger firms [15][28]. Comparison with Other Industries - Similar challenges are observed in other high-margin industries like beauty and medical services, where the core value lies in skilled personnel rather than scalable business operations [19][20][24]. - The pet industry exemplifies a trend where the most profitable segments are those that rely on individual expertise and customer relationships, rather than mass-market strategies [30].