Canine & Co didn’t start in a boardroom. It started in a park in Johannesburg, where two dogs became friends and, soon enough, their owners did too. That shared love for pets quickly turned into something bigger; a business focused on helping pet parents give their animals longer, healthier lives through better nutrition.
In 2011, Canine & Co opened its first store in Greenside, introducing pet owners to new, biologically appropriate food options that weren’t widely available at the time. Since then, the business has grown into a well-known name in South Africa’s pet space, reaching customers across the country through its online store.
Growing beyond retail
As the business evolved, moving into ecommerce became a natural next step. With the acquisition of Pets Life and the expansion of their online store, Canine & Co was able to reach pet parents across South Africa, and not just those visiting their physical locations.
But growth brought new challenges. Selling online meant more than just listing products; it meant creating an experience that customers could trust, especially when it came to payments.
Why checkout matters more than you think
For an ecommerce business like Canine & Co, the customer journey doesn’t end when someone adds a product to their cart. In many ways, it comes down to what happens next. Their customers often spend time researching the right food for their pets. By the time they’re ready to pay, the experience needs to feel simple, fast and secure.
If it doesn’t, it can cost more than just a sale. When someone has spent time choosing the right food for their dog, the last thing you want is for them to hit a snag at payment. In a competitive market with relatively high basket values, trust at checkout is critical. A slow or unfamiliar payment experience can break that trust instantly.
Watch the video below to see how Canine & Co has ensured a secure and streamlined checkout experience on their website.
Choosing a payment partner that just works
Canine & Co has been using Payfast since 2014, long before the business reached its current scale. At the time, the priority was simple: find something that worked without complexity. Payfast made it easy to get started, integrate with Shopify and accept payments without technical friction. Just as importantly, it supported the payment methods their customers already use and trust, including cards, EFT and SnapScan.
A better experience for customers
With Payfast in place, Canine & Co has built a checkout experience that feels effortless for customers. Instead of worrying about failed payments or complicated processes, customers can complete their purchases quickly and confidently.
For the business, that translates into:
- A smoother path from checkout to completed sale
- Greater trust at the point of payment
- Support for multiple local payment methods
- Less time spent managing technical issues
Building a business around trust
Beyond payments, Canine & Co’s success comes down to one core idea: helping customers make better decisions for their pets.
Education is a big part of that. The team puts effort into sharing knowledge about pet nutrition so customers feel confident in what they’re buying. And behind the scenes, having the right technology partners makes it all possible.
As Canine & Co continues to grow, the focus is on making the experience even more convenient for customers. That includes exploring faster delivery options and continuing to invest in education around pet health and nutrition. The goal is simple: keep raising the standard for what pet parents can expect.
Powering growth with Payfast
From the early days of ecommerce to serving customers across South Africa, Payfast has supported Canine & Co at every stage of their journey. With simple integrations, trusted payment methods and a seamless checkout experience, Payfast helps businesses focus on what matters most – their customers.
Looking to create a better checkout experience for your customers? Get started with Payfast and start accepting payments online with confidence.