10/16/2026
Well said Biancha, it’s been a really struggle for small businesses. We have seen 2 local Pet stores close in the Country Hills area in the last year. It’s so sad seeing family businesses closing all over.
Please support all the family businesses you can, we need your support.
Rob
I’ve been thinking of writing this post for a little bit. I’ve deleted it and not posted it a couple of times because I don’t know if I should post it. But here goes nothing 😅
Now more than ever before small businesses need your support this holiday season. We all are working with so much competition from massive corporations, especially in the pet industry. Every single corporation wants to get into any market they can. All in the words of profit and control. I’ve had customers chat with us for 30 mins about allergies and supplements and how we can make their pet feel better all for them to start searching online to find the best deal, right in front of me. It’s heartbreaking.
I was laying in bed with the kids and Dan a couple of nights ago telling him about my stress of the bills of the stores and what happens if it’s not as busy anymore, what happens if people are shopping online this year, or are getting their food from the big box stores who are selling raw and supplements. Scarlett (my smart and insanely kind 6 year old) says to me “you know mama we will still love you even if you don’t have the stores” and then Victoria (my almost 4 year old) goes “ya mama we love you always” and Dan looks up and says to me “you know that right?” It was really what I needed to hear. It’s been a hard season, a hard three years but also expanding and growing pains in a really sh*tty economy with very little margins is hard to manage. Sometimes it gets the best of you.
All to say: our generation has a really big chance to show these massive corporations that we don’t want a one stop shop for everything, we want the human contact, we want the place our pets walk into and get a treat and the staff know their name. Or are proud to be buying from a neighbourhood store. Who buy their treats, toys, supplements and food with us. Who support us 12 months out of the year. With the way things are going… you don’t know how long these stores will be around if everyone is flooding Costco and other big box stores.
And for those of you who are those loyal customers. You mean more to us then you will ever know 💕
