Specialty Retail: Pets
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 01 November 2012 14:07
- Written by Paul Gordon
It Was The Right Tree
Young entrepreneur puts pets first in unique boutique
When Lindsey Reck visited a few dog boutiques on a trip to Florida a few years ago, she had the feeling a similar venture could work in Peoria.
At the very least, she wanted to give local pet owners another option in their quest to spoil their four-legged friends.
The owner of Pooch Couture at Junction City Shopping Center, Reck was not barking up the wrong tree.
"I think I made the wise choice to go into this business. I mean, if I was going to go into business for myself, which I had wanted to do for a long time, I really thought this was something I would enjoy," said Reck, 26, of Peoria.
"My mother had her own retail shops while I was growing up so retail was in my blood. But my mother did warn me having my own business would consume my life. It has pretty much, but I don't mind. I really do enjoy it. I have no regrets," she said.
Her parents, she added, supported and encouraged her to go for it. She went to a pet goods trade show in Chicago, started making connections and began to build her business.
At Pooch Couture pet owners will find toys, pet clothes, bedding, collars and leashes, pet carriers and grooming supplies. It also carries a variety of holistic pet food that Reck said is of the highest quality and made in the U.S. As she said on her website, www.poochcouturepeoria.com, "Your pet needs special nutrients and proteins to live a long and happy life. You can help your pet to a long and happy life by providing him with one of our brands of food ... designed to make your pet excel in every aspect!"
Pooch Couture also has spa services for cats and dogs. Groomer Charmaine Morris will work with any size canine as well as groom cats by appointment. Different grooming packages are available and can be viewed on the website.
"I wanted to provide as much service as possible. I think I do that. If I would ever expand it would be in the grooming area, though," Reck said.
She graduated from Bradley University four years ago with a degree in communications and a double minor, in marketing and business management.
After deciding to open her own business, Reck started small, with a 4-foot by 4-foot kiosk at Northwoods Mall. "I wanted to have a store front but I also wanted to start small to see what kind of response I got. And I got a really good response with the kiosk. That's why I went ahead and looked for store space," she said.
Junction City, she added, was in an area she wanted to be in because it was close to the parts of Peoria where a pet boutique would more likely be frequented. That again, was a lesson learned visiting pet boutiques in Florida. "I knew where I needed to be and I think this is a perfect match," Reck said.
She chose Pooch Couture for the name of the store "because I knew I wanted to appeal to the girly side of dog ownership. You know, pink and frilly, stuff like that. Spoiling them. But then I began to realize people pamper their dogs whether they are big or little dogs. It doesn't matter," she said while holding her own pooch, sweater-adorned Macy, who comes to the store with her nearly every day.
Reck doesn't stop with frilly clothes and such. She often attends seminars on pet care so she can be able to answer customer questions about food, grooming and other subjects as well as give advice if asked. "I want to keep learning about the newest things so I can better serve my customers," she said.
She doesn't train dogs herself, but encourages trainers to leave information about their services in her store for customers to review.
Pooch Couture's biggest sellers are treats and toys, Reck said, but she couldn't put her finger on which type of toy was most popular. "Every dog has its own personality. Macy prefers softer, plush toys that squeak. Other dogs prefer chew toys, some like balls or pulls toys. A lot also can depend on what type of training they've had. For example, service dog trainers prefer their dogs get tougher toys," she said.
Her pet attire includes St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs items. Asked which sells more, her answer was along the line one might expect in central Illinois: "I'd say it is pretty even for the most part, though the Cubs might have a slight edge."
Reck said she may some day open a second store, like in a Chicago suburb. After all, that's where her boyfriend lives. "We'll have to wait and see about that."
POOCH COUTURE
Junction City Shopping Center
5901 N. Prospect Road, Suite 1, Peoria
(309) 693-0900
www.poochcouturepeoria.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Offers a variety of pet products, including snacks and food, as well as pet apparel, grooming services and nutritional advice.
