It’s common knowledge that the Zillertal has many a surprise in store for visitors and locals alike. But finding one inside a pet supplies shop is completely new! At “Apollo’s Finest” in Mayrhofen, the spotlight isn’t only on our four-legged favourites, but also on the free spirits who want to soar to new heights by paraglider. And right in the middle of it all, there’s one very special scent!
Because “Apollo’s Finest” combines a love of animals and of the Zillertal mountains with a passion for soothing scents! The three pillars of this unique business are its owners Mario Egger and Viktoria Kröll and Apollo the French bulldog. Mario is the founder of Tandem Adventure in Mayrhofen, and air is his element. 25 years of flying experience and countless happy customers bear witness to that! Viktoria Kröll is the strong woman at his side, pulling the strings in the background and running “Apollo’s Finest”. And Apollo? He is the pair’s seasoned, fearless flying mascot and, if we’re honest, the real star of the business. In short, the feel-good manager!
We met up with all three to talk about the AROMEA scent marketing in their business and to see this unusual fusion for ourselves.
“For Paws with Attitude” is your motto at “Apollo’s Finest”, and a first hint that your pet supplies shop is no ordinary business. Why should people buy everything for their beloved four-legged friend from you?
Egger: “Apollo’s Finest” stands for extraordinary dog accessories that you won’t find in big specialist shops or chains. We attach great importance to what’s special, and to the quality and origin of the products we offer. We like things colourful and quirky. Even so, you’ll also find the classic basics here.
We also pay the closest attention to healthy, species-appropriate feeding for our four-legged favourites. That’s why we offer BARF (biologically appropriate raw food) as well as premium-quality regional wet and dry food. Most of our treats and chews are also untreated and natural. Only the best is good enough for our furry friends. For anyone who can’t get here in person, there’s now an online shop too. So nothing stands in the way of first-class dog supplies shopping around the clock.
When you think of a specialist pet shop, you don’t necessarily associate it with sophisticated scent marketing. That makes us all the more pleased that AROMEA gets to play a part in your business. How did you hear about us?
Egger: Because of the open food bar in our shop, a certain smell can’t be avoided. It’s extremely stimulating for all four-legged visitors, but in the long run rather unpleasant for us two-legged ones. You’d think a dog owner wouldn’t mind that much. And that’s true. But we’re no ordinary pet shop, and that’s exactly why we wanted to stand out with AROMEA scent marketing! As a modern concept store, we offer not only dog and cat items but also tandem paragliding flights with Mario from Tandem Adventure Mayrhofen. And of course it’s not just dog and cat owners who want to fly, but also paragliding fans with a fine nose.
Which AROMEA diffuser spreads the pleasant aroma of “Verbena Provence” through your shop? How easy was it to install?
Egger: We chose the stylish AROMEA Flex in black because it blends beautifully and unobtrusively into our interior and doesn’t take up much space. All in all, perfect for discreet scent marketing of a very high standard!
Why did you choose this particular fragrance, and how would you describe it?
Egger: We chose the fragrance “Verbena Provence” on a recommendation and because we find it extremely pleasant ourselves. The slightly lemony note does an excellent job of neutralising the smell of the dog treats and also spreads a certain happiness and feel-good vibes for everyone in our shop.
So your customers really do notice that your shop also stands out aromatically from all the other pet shops? Have people mentioned it to you?
Egger: Exactly! Every time a new customer walks into our concept store, we see the same pleasantly surprised reaction: “Oh, it smells good in here!”, along with a smile. So you could say that our AROMEA scent marketing has a success rate of one hundred per cent and clearly sets us apart from the competition.
Thank you for talking to us!
Mario Egger on the effect of scent marketing at Apollo’s Finest
