![]() ![]() ‘’Owning a pet makes you kinder, more thoughtful,” says Kristine. Pet City offers a wide array of pet pampering products, from accessories and toys to grooming products and delicious and nutritious food, but as Kristine says, “nothing comes close to the love and loyalty our little friends share with us so generously”. Kristine’s aim in opening her first shop was to reward these loyal companions by creating a cosy environment, filled with laughter, colour and pleasant aromas, that people could visit freely with their furry friends. Pet City is a client of the EBRD Women in Business programme in Armenia, supported by the European Union and Sweden. Stuck at home during lockdown, Kristine Soghomonyan saw first-hand the benefits to herself and her children of owning and caring for pets.įour German shepherds and a parrot helped her family cope with pandemic-induced isolation and inspired her to open her first Pet City ‒ a magical pet food and accessories store ‒ in Yerevan. He said he’s looking forward to “playing with his grandchildren” during some of his free time.This is the story of a courageous Armenian pet lover, who decided to embark on an entrepreneurial journey in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ratner said, “It’s really cool when people think you’re good enough and have enough wisdom to speak into the lives of children.” He said one thing that also gives him “great pride” and that he can tell his children, “is how many schools and organizations invited me to speak to kids.” And while those employees have continued on to other things, “They’ve learned their work ethic, how to treat customers, and fellow employees.” ![]() He said he’s not sure how many people he’d given jobs to over the years. Ratner said over the 44-years he’s been in business he’s enjoyed giving many young people their very first job. In a press release, Smithland Supplies said they “will offer customers the same great products, brands and staff customers have come to expect from Dave’s Soda and Pet City brand.” Smithland Supplies also said it will “offer in-store activations and sponsored community events to help customers better understand the products, brands and industries served.” ![]() “They will be very good for our communities, our employees and of course, our pets.” “They have seven Agway stores in Connecticut, now they have my five stores, and they want to open more stores throughout New England,” he explained. Ratner explained the change in ownership in a video on Facebook, and said the new owners are not part of a national chain. He said all the employees who worked at the Dave’s Soda and Pet City locations continued on with the new owners. “It’s been six months they’re still doing the same things I did,” he noted. ![]() Ratner also said they will essentially operate the same as Dave’s Soda and Pet City has for years. The stores, he said, have already changed names to Smithland Supplies and will remain pet supply stores. “Many times a company sells and new owners say nothing’s going to change and two seconds later everything changes.” “I just wanted everyone to see that things are really the same,” he said. Ratner told Reminder Publishing he didn’t tell anyone about the change in ownership because he “didn’t want to scare the customers. Ratner also joked, “I needed a place to go every day so my wife doesn’t kill me.” He said it was all just “getting to be too much,” but still “wanted to stay active in the business.” So he kept the Agawam business, which is close to his house and where he owns the building. “A couple of the leases were up, and it’s time to start winding down.” “When I hit 65, several years ago, my kids moved away, they didn’t want the business,” he said. Ratner said he sold the businesses for several reasons. About six months ago, Ratner sold all locations except the Agawam one, which he described as his “forever home” in a video on Facebook. AGAWAM – The owner of Dave’s Soda and Pet City, a local pet supply chain, has sold five of his stores keeping only the Agawam location.ĭave Ratner previously owned the five stores, which were located in Ludlow, Hadley, Northampton, Ware, Agawam, and Stafford, CT. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |