‘Furry’ animal slides sold at pet stores across Australia
ANZARETH, Australia — “It was definitely the biggest surprise for us,” says a manager at a pet store in Sydney’s outer north.
“We’d never heard of furry slides before.”
The store manager had just stepped into his shop after working all day with a new clientele, but had already seen furry slides in the store.
“They’re made of wood, so it’s a little bit awkward,” he says.
“You’ve got to make sure that you’re not touching them, so they don’t fall off.
But, they’re a good fit.”
As far as the animals involved go, the owner of the furry slides is not concerned.
The shop’s manager says that, with some of the animals, there is little to no difference between the animal’s skin and fur.
Furry slides are made of plastic and are sold as a novelty, but there is no reason why the furry animals are not used for more interesting things.
“Furry is really just a name for animals,” he said.
Many furry slides were made from wood.
Photo by Michael Cooney, ABC News “Furries are just a bit of fun.
They’re a fun way of making money.”
For some, the furry animal slide business has become an increasingly popular hobby.
A local resident is a furry slasher known as the “Pig Head Slayer” who sells furry slides for about $40 to $70.
There is also a “pig head” or “maggot” style furry slide called the “Furry Slasher”.
“I think that the popularity of these furry slides has given us an opportunity to actually cater to a wider range of customers,” the store manager says.
According to a recent report from the Australian Consumer Affairs and Trade Union (ACATU), furry slides accounted for just 5 per cent of retail sales in Australia last year.
Although there is a demand for the furry slide, the shop manager says there is not a lot of money to be made from them.
“It’s a novelty thing,” he admits.
“I would have to say that the market isn’t very large, and I’d be surprised if there’s a lot to sell.”
The shop manager is not alone.
Several furry slides retailers have started to accept payments for their furry slides.
However, there are still some restrictions on the use of furry animals for their products.
If the animal has been born with a condition such as spina bifida or Down syndrome, the animal is not allowed to be used.
And the animal cannot be used for advertising.
What if I don’t like it?
If you do not like the furry creature you bought, you can request a refund.
It’s the same as for a regular item like a sweater or shoe, where the shop owner will try to contact the customer.
But, in some cases, customers will not receive a refund and instead receive a chargeback from the shop.
Customers will also be required to pay a $40 handling fee and any additional costs they incur such as packaging, postage and insurance.
“You may want to reconsider your purchase,” the shop owners advice says.
The Australian Consumer Action Forum said the furry slashers were a good option for people who were looking for a more niche way to spend money.
“People might like a furry slide because they enjoy it or because they just love it, but they can also be a little more niche and maybe even a little quirky,” the forum said in a statement.
“Many customers have commented that they like the novelty of using furry animals, as it allows them to spend less on the items they are buying.”
It was not the first time furries have been used in a retail setting.
In 2011, Australian furniture retailer Baskin-Robbins introduced a furry plush doll in their stores.
Then in 2014, the Australian company Animal Rescue International (ARI) created the “Kiss My Dog” fursona to help dogs with their problems.
In 2016, Baskins introduced an adorable fursonal doll called “My Love Meow” in their flagship stores.
“When we introduced the Kiss My Dog, it was a little too soon, but it was really a reaction to the furry trend in the United States,” Baskers spokesperson Jenny Fagan told the ABC.
“It was the first product in Australia that we introduced with fur in it.”
We’re really excited about the potential for this trend to grow and grow in Australia, and we think that it will be a fantastic way to celebrate our furry friends and make our stores more welcoming to everyone.
