Animals, owners lap up TLC at Ann Arbor 'Pet boutique' Dogma Catmantoo
Let’s get one thing straight about Dogma Catmantoo right off
the bat: It’s not a pet-supply store.
“We’re a pet boutique,” owner Alice Liberson says. “We have
accessories, not supplies.”
And because it sells dog and cat health and wellness
products alongside everything from prescription food to beds and dog apparel
(“we know how to fit a dog,” Liberson says), it isn’t wholly dependent on the
Christmas shopping season to pay the rent.
Alice Liberson, owner of local pet boutique, DogmaCatmantoo
“I don’t have a sales forecast,” Liberson says. “I hope to
do what we did last year.
“I think part of the issue with last year, it wasn’t a great
Christmas, but I think that had more to do with the weather than the economy,
seriously. There were days that were so cold that people didn’t leave their
houses, and there was a lot of snow…
“People who came in, it seemed that they bought as much as
in past years, it’s just that there were fewer customers. And it’s also that
there was a weekend short.”
Liberson, a licensed veterinarian, opened the store in 2001
and moved it one door over a few years ago. She's hoping to launch online sales after the holidays chaos subsides.
She estimates that 95 percent of the store’s merchandise is
made in either the U.S. or Canada, with the remainder coming from countries
whose factories boast good working conditions.
The store tries to keep prices fair, which Liberson acknowledges has
cut into margins, because certain products have come with cost increases that she
hasn’t passed along to customers.
She counts good customer service and a location on a row of independently owned local businesses as strengths.
“When I look for help, the main thing is they must love dogs and or cats," says Liberson, who's hired three part-timers for the holiday season. "I’m not looking for sales people or people who really know retail, although maybe I should.
"I like people who really love animals, and I think the customers know that."
Sven Gustafson at is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. You can reach him at sventg123@gmail.com or follow him at twitter.com/sveng.
Comments
Nancy J Urquiola,D.D.S
Wed, Dec 23, 2009 : 4:24 p.m.
I love this store. In addition to purchasing the organic raw food for my dogs, I can always count on receiving honest advice about the products that they carry. They also provide useful suggestions for my pets without the sale push
kmac
Sat, Dec 19, 2009 : 7:57 a.m.
Forget about actually owning a pet... this is one of Ann Arbor's treasures. Stop by. You will not be sorry. There is always a dog to love on, a friendly smile, advice on anything from Chinese medicine for your pet (or a friend's), the latest in pet "stuff" (fun just to see), and an opportunity to interact with some very mellow pet owners (these folks seem to smile more than the general population). Afterwards, you can grab a cupcake and a cup of tea down the street. Worth the trip... and bring the kids.