When Paul and Esther bought Van Pet Food, Supplies & Grooming in 2006, they were sure of two things:“We love cats and dogs,”says Paul, “and we love the community.”
To help round out their knowledge, the couple hired Tamara to manage the store a year later, and Van Pet Supply has since grown into a hub for Burnaby Heights’ pet owners. Customers, friends and neighbours love to stop by to visit the staff and the veritable zoo of animals hanging out inside.
“We have customers that come here because of us, when they could get the same thing somewhere else,” says Tamara. “But because they know we genuinely care, it makes a big difference.” A focus on community is evident in everything the staff of Van Pet Food, Supplies & Grooming do, from recommending locally sourced products, to making house calls to clip pet nails for elderly or immobile customers, to calling and checking up on regulars.
“It’s more like an old general store,”Tamara explains. “We don’t just sell food. We’re part of our customers’daily lives.”
