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When the economy is in the midst of the dog days, Russ Herman believes that people will look to save money where they can.
Well, almost anywhere.
Pets, he said, always will get their owners’ best. That may be a reason why his PetSaver Healthy Pet Superstore is celebrating a grand reopening of a newly remodeled and expanded store in Stone-Ridge Plaza, when other businesses are just getting by.
“They’ll spend less on themselves before they will spend less on their pets,” said Herman, 48.
And he’s got the numbers to prove it. Sales are up about 20 percent this year, and they were up about 20 percent a year ago, he said.
“We know what customers want,” he said. “They want to feed their pets better quality foods.”
Herman, who opened the store in 1992, works hard to educate customers on feeding pets healthy food. It’s personal.
He opened the store partly because of his dog, Bucky. Herman’s pet Rottweiler had a skin condition that he believes was an allergic reaction to eating commercial dog food. Switching to a healthy diet made for a healthier Bucky, and the skin condition cleared up.
Because the store is locally owned, Herman doesn’t have to rely on brand-name manufacturers and can recommend foods that do not contain meat byproducts, artificial coloring or preservatives. In fact, these doggie dishes sound downright gourmet — some of the foods contain venison or rabbit, and he recommends a frozen raw-food diet for some pets.
“We feel we can give customers better value,” he said.
As part of the renovation, PetSaver can offer more of the same. The retail space has increased from 4,500 to 6,000 square feet, and more than 1,000 items have been added.
So if your pet fancies clothing, toys or furniture, Herman has it. To help clear room, storage was moved to the basement, and a freight elevator and new offices were added as part of the remodeling project.
Customers will continue to be offered discount vaccination clinics, and outreach to pet adoption groups remains a priority, but a new store program will encourage responsible pet ownership.
As part of the Responsible Pet Owners Club, pet owners will receive store gift certificates equal to the cost of spaying or neutering their pets, adopting a pet, or registering at the dog park in Greece Canal Park, he said.
Part of being a responsible owner is paying attention to a healthier diet.
“We have worked hard over the years to gain customers and educate them on how important healthy pet food is for the quality and life span of their animals,” Herman said.
When the economy is in the midst of the dog days, Russ Herman believes that people will look to save money where they can.
Well, almost anywhere.
Pets, he said, always will get their owners’ best. That may be a reason why his PetSaver Healthy Pet Superstore is celebrating a grand reopening of a newly remodeled and expanded store in Stone-Ridge Plaza, when other businesses are just getting by.
“They’ll spend less on themselves before they will spend less on their pets,” said Herman, 48.
And he’s got the numbers to prove it. Sales are up about 20 percent this year, and they were up about 20 percent a year ago, he said.
“We know what customers want,” he said. “They want to feed their pets better quality foods.”
Herman, who opened the store in 1992, works hard to educate customers on feeding pets healthy food. It’s personal.
He opened the store partly because of his dog, Bucky. Herman’s pet Rottweiler had a skin condition that he believes was an allergic reaction to eating commercial dog food. Switching to a healthy diet made for a healthier Bucky, and the skin condition cleared up.
Because the store is locally owned, Herman doesn’t have to rely on brand-name manufacturers and can recommend foods that do not contain meat byproducts, artificial coloring or preservatives. In fact, these doggie dishes sound downright gourmet — some of the foods contain venison or rabbit, and he recommends a frozen raw-food diet for some pets.
“We feel we can give customers better value,” he said.
As part of the renovation, PetSaver can offer more of the same. The retail space has increased from 4,500 to 6,000 square feet, and more than 1,000 items have been added.
So if your pet fancies clothing, toys or furniture, Herman has it. To help clear room, storage was moved to the basement, and a freight elevator and new offices were added as part of the remodeling project.
Customers will continue to be offered discount vaccination clinics, and outreach to pet adoption groups remains a priority, but a new store program will encourage responsible pet ownership.
As part of the Responsible Pet Owners Club, pet owners will receive store gift certificates equal to the cost of spaying or neutering their pets, adopting a pet, or registering at the dog park in Greece Canal Park, he said.
Part of being a responsible owner is paying attention to a healthier diet.
“We have worked hard over the years to gain customers and educate them on how important healthy pet food is for the quality and life span of their animals,” Herman said.
