PetSmart Logo PNG
The designers made the PetSmart logo bright and friendly to match the cheerful mood of the pets the company serves with food, medicine, toys, and other accessories. The logo hints at restless dogs and aquarium fish, but the association is subtle and avoids obvious imagery.
The PetSmart brand is a private chain of stores that sells everything for keeping pets, including small animals. This company also offers services for the care, accommodation, treatment, and training of dogs and cats. It appeared in 1986 and, by 2020, had over 1,650 outlets in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Its head office is located in Phoenix, Arizona. The brand’s founders are Jim and Janice Dougherty.
In the early 1980s, Dougherty merchants decided to open a warehouse-type store to sell pet food. Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation helped them bring the idea to life. As a result, they opened two supermarkets in their hometown of Phoenix, where customers could buy necessary goods at wholesale and reduced prices, a novelty at the time. The outlets were named PetFood Warehouse. This event is dated 1987.
Twelve months later, entrepreneurs founded five more stores, expanding services into Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. At the same time, the network owners announced cooperation with representatives of animal protection organizations. Together, they raised funds to support them and sought owners for homeless pets. That is why this network’s simple emblem attracted the attention of many who cared.
In 1989, the brand changed its name to PetSmart and embarked on a long-term transition from visually obscure warehouses to attractive supermarkets. At the same time, it focused on pet exposure and treatment. Another major shift occurred in 2005. To avoid competition, the company expanded into comprehensive dog care, training, and advanced veterinary services.
Meaning and History
Each stage of change was directly reflected in PetSmart’s visual identity. At first, the brand had a simple, text-only informational logo. Then it became more attractive and better suited for advertising, making it very convenient for a store sign. In the early 2000s, when the chain refocused on animal owners who considered their pets part of the family, it adopted a friendly emblem. It has five in total.
What is PetSmart?
PetSmart is an American supermarket chain that sells everything for pet care. It helps customers choose pets and provides supplies for caring for, training, and treating cats, dogs, and small animals. The first store was opened in 1986. Its founders are Jim and Janice Dougherty. The headquarters is located in Phoenix, Arizona.
1986 – 1988
The debut logo is a gray rectangle with a black inscription divided into two lines. The top reads “Pet Food,” and the bottom reads “Warehouse Ltd.” They share a common style and font. All letters are bold and large, with rounded edges and miniature serifs. The intercharacter spacing is minimal, so the characters almost touch.
1988 – 1989
After the rebrand, the pet food brand owners decided to redesign their products. As a result, a new inscription appeared on the emblem, consisting of three parts. On the left is the word “Pets.” It is the largest and is set in the grotesque. To its right are two lines: at the top, “Mart” is typed, and at the bottom, “Petfoods.” The second word fuses two bases separated in the previous version of the logo. It is placed within a bone contour, usually a dog’s. All elements sit on a light gray rectangular background.
1989 – 1992
The logo uses red as the predominant color, with blue as an accent. In addition, the designers have shifted the emphasis to writing the chain’s name, using the “PETsMART” option. The emphasis is on the “s”; it is the smallest. Graphically, the ball’s impact emphasizes the letter’s size, and it flies up after hitting it. Curved lines convey its trajectory. The wavy line makes the characters appear to jump, but they are even and smooth. The letters now have right angles, unlike before.
1992 – 2005
The ball is still above the “M,” but the “S” it bounced off is slightly larger than in the previous version. This is the only design change.
2005 – today
The logo is based on a rethought phrase. Now, it is ungrouped into parts a little differently than before. The first segment is “Pet,” and the second is “Smart.” Each word is indicated by a specific color: blue and red. The separator is also the ball’s flight path, shown as two curved strokes; its angle falls between “T” and “S.”
Font and Colors
Until 1989, the inscription in the PetSmart logo was strictly horizontal. Then it curved into a more pronounced arc. Until 2005, the wave-like form of the words was larger; now, it is smaller.
The current logo uses the Futura ExtraBlack typeface. It wasn’t created specifically for this emblem; it originated in 1927 and was designed by Paul Renner. This sleek, grotesque form comes from the New Frankfurt project. Its geometric shapes have become design elements of the Bauhaus. The brand’s corporate palette consists of two colors: blue and red.