Most shopkeepers avoid kissing their loyal customers, but Faux Paws Owner Lynn Small often finds herself smooching the furry guests who step in her stores’ doors. The retailer encourages pooch guests to trot into its four locations in South Carolina and Florida and dive into welcoming displays designed for toy test runs.
With its Caribbean color palette and surf vibe, Small says while the store is stocked with all things dog, it’s also a “person store,” and don’t bother looking for cutesy dog decor, she says. Initially when the couple purchased the flagship St. Augustine, Florida, store, most of the products were dog figurines and memorial keepsakes to commemorate the loss of a pet.
Small and her husband Marc quickly pivoted.
“We said, ‘Let’s turn this into something that celebrates your dog instead,’” says Small.
So they did, and the volume of customers seeking out items like pet-themed gifts grew. The retailer carries products like chewies, leashes and collars, and souvenirs for customers and their pets.
At Sea Dog Pet Boutique in Annapolis, Maryland, a claw machine offers $1 chances to grab a pet plushie. Proceeds go toward local animal rescue charities. And like many pet-centered gift and souvenir shops, Sea Dog also attracts tourists along with regulars who make stopping in as much of a routine as the morning walk.
In fact, sometimes that walk includes a visit, which always involves a treat and a picture that is posted on Sea Dog’s Instagram page, says owner Karen Kosimar.
Because of the shop’s proximity to the United States Naval Academy, Kosimar says military returning from overseas often stop in. “We’ve had customers who brought their dogs back home with them from Afghanistan because they came across a dog that needed help and ended up adopting it,” she says.
Meanwhile, vacationers and those who summer in Annapolis during boating season easily find Sea Dog, which is located on the main drag.
Up North, Bark Harbor is a popular destination for tourists and locals, says owner Gale Abbott of the Bar Harbor, Maine, shop. She echoes the mix of visitors and locals, which keeps sales ringing consistently year-round. “We have a lot of foot traffic and with word of mouth, it’s repeat-repeat-repeat business,” she says.
Paw-fect products
Stocking a variety of staples, souvenirs and gifts provides a diverse selection of items for out-of-town guests and close-to-home customers. The key is to carry products that are not found in big box stores and focus on sourcing specialty goods, Small says. This is why Faux Paws maintains a variety of merchandise that is mostly selected from small suppliers and mom-and-pop shops such as FunDog Bandanas out of Wisconsin.
Sea life plush and nautical rope chew toys double as souvenirs at Bark Harbor in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Leashes and collars by Yellow Dog and Buckle-Down are also popular picks, particularly in tropical designs. Collars bearing dog names appeal to customers, and Small is careful to offer a wide selection and makes sure none of the names are out of stock. “You can’t predict what dog will come in, and when a name is running low, we order,” Small says.
Kosimar seeks out USA-made items such as collars and leashes by Puddle Jumpers, Up Country, Preston and the Belted Cow. Because of her shop’s location and her appreciation of those who serve the country, she supports military-owned businesses including Rope Hounds based in Arkansas. The adventure line offers harnesses, leashes and life jackets.
The biggest seller at Sea Dog is the animated crab dog toy by Tall Tails, a nod to Chesapeake Bay.
Another line the shop offers is Spunky Pup, which produces toys made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Again, ocean-themed motifs such as crabs, turtles and seahorses win over tourists, boaters and locals.
Sportswear for dogs? Definitely.
Faux Paws’ NFL-licensed football jerseys by Pets First suit owners who want to dress their dogs for game day. Those preferring a matching look can pick up a Hawaiian shirt for themselves and their dogs produced by Hawaii-based RJC.
“The bar also has to look full,” Small says of a treat section that showcases “humanized” plush dog toys such as Barkweiser and Grrrona beer bottles, or Dirty Muttini and Dog Nog stuffies by Haute Diggity Dog.
Novelty and cute factor inform purchasing at Bark Harbor. Local Raccoon Cove Creations supplies themed doggy coats and rain jackets. Anything lobster sells fast, Abbott says. The poop bag holders are also practical and an enticing impulse buys.
Pet enthusiasts can find plenty of pet-themed mugs at Sea Dog Pet Boutique.
Jax & Bones toys “fly out of here,” Abbott says of the squeaky plush sports balls, nautical rope dog toys shaped as helms and vibrant red lobsters. Tall Tails products move quickly, as well.
What about the cats?
While nearly 45% of U.S. households own dogs, 29% own cats, Abbott says. For feline families, Bark Harbor offers creative catnip by Winter Wind Designs along with organic catnip beds you can roll out — and let the crazy fun begin.
Placed for pets
Kosimar is a stickler for organized displays. An extensive slat wall holds all collars and leashes, organized by pattern and size. “It’s very easy for people to look for the pattern they prefer and find the correct size,” she relates.
Plenty of open floor space allows people to mingle at Sea Dog and for pups to do their thing, Kosimar says. She limits display tables but does maintain a few for themed presentations, such as a picnic motif with a grill that holds chew toys. Another tiered table features only bandanas with plush tucked underneath. A “cat cove” corner holds treats, harnesses, collars and a range of feline goodies.
There’s a human section, too, with artisan cards, drinkware and pet-themed decor by Rustic Marlin.
Mindful layout is key, Abbott agrees, especially since Bark Harbor is about 700 square feet in size “and it’s packed,” she says.
At the Bar Harbor store, grid walls throughout allow displays to rise to the occasion. There, Abbott can showcase animal-themed clocks with wagging tails. Spinning displays allow guests to swiftly seek out a pet name, motif or color. Spinners also work well for showing off holiday ornaments. And troughs brimming with toys encourage the pets to do their own shopping.
At Faux Paws, guests can find their favorite dog breeds on items such as hot plates, coasters, tea towels and more.
At Faux Paws, Small offers a shopping experience that appeals to all the senses. T-shirts, doggy bandanas and other apparel that arrive wrapped are freed from packaging so customers can touch and feel their softness.
Also, managers select scented oils to slip into diffusers in the stores. “It smells really fresh because usually when you go into a pet store, you smell dog food,” says Small.
And at Faux Paws, there’s no holding back merchandise either.
“Everything is out on the floor and we generally don’t keep back stock,” Small says.
Overall, these pet-themed gift and souvenir shops focus on providing a welcoming environment that earns wags of approval from four-footed guests and lots of laughs and smiles from their owners. Small says, “Customers are family when they come into the store — that’s what it’s all about.”
