RuffMutts may have only been in their Niverville retail location since last September, but they’re quickly showing themselves to be a premiere shop for the region’s pet needs.
Guy and Mandy Britten have been servicing the animal community out of their home for more than ten years, offering grooming services and pet food. However, as the need in the community grew, it became more cumbersome to store product in their home. When the opportunity to open a retail space last summer, they jumped at the chance.
“We weren’t certain what response we would have before we opened the store,” says Guy Britten. “We had a small client base in place. For pet food, knowing we could carry Acan and Orijen if we went to a storefront, we felt we could make enough to cover the overhead relatively soon.”
Being locally owned and operated has its advantages. According to Britten, one of them is the open communication they have with customers, allowing them to offer the specific services and products people are looking for.
“Since we opened, we expanded from just dog and cat food to food and accessories for fish, birds, reptiles, and small animals—ferrets, hamsters, gerbils—based on requests from our customers,” Britten says. “Other than food and supplies, we received other requests. The number one most-asked-for service was a pet self-wash, [and] right behind that was pet-sitting and pet-walking.”
In December 2018, RuffMutts opened their self-serve pet washing station, which features a private area that eliminates distractions for pets so their owners can bathe them efficiently. For $15, owners can use the station, which includes the use of shampoo as well.
“[People] love the wash system and the fact that they can towel dry and use a blower to dry their pets,” Britten says of the feedback he and his wife have received so far. “Those with large dogs appreciate the power lift drying table. Everyone comments on how much quicker it is to wash their pets!”
In addition to the pet-washing station, RuffMutts just announced the launch of their new in-home services, including pet-sitting and pet-walking. Their services include a range of options and prices, from letting your pet out for a bathroom break to overnight stays while you’re away.
“We’re always listening to what our customers want,” he says. “[And] we will continue to do what we can to offer services, pet food, and products that meet the needs of our customers at prices equal to or better than what you can find in the city.”
