If you throw birthday parties for your dogs, Nic and Bretta Farina have the supplies you need to let your four-legged family members have their cake and eat it too.
For the last 11 years, the Farinas have owned Puddle Jumper Pups, which until now, has been a home-based, online business that creates and sells a variety of products, including leashes, collars, harnesses, and accessories. More than 150 retailers nationwide, including Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, which has locations in Augusta and Evans.
“Our B2B business has really grown,” Bretta said. “We have people who order hundreds of items monthly.”
The couple plans to maintain the online business and celebrate the grand opening of their first-ever storefront, located behind Your Pie at 261 Meridian Drive in Grovetown on Saturday, July 22. She said the event will include food, giveaways, raffles, and pup cups containing whipped cream.
Most of their items are hand-sewn by seamstresses at Puddle Jumper Pups, but they also employ remote seamstresses living throughout the U.S. The store will sell not only those items, but also dog treats, bags, apparel, and pillows. The Farinas are currently looking for more seamstresses to work in the store.
Bretta described the store as a high-end boutique, and their target market is millennial dog moms who treat their dogs like children, not pets. Regardless of breed, dogs are welcome to shop with their owners as long as they’re well-behaved. They may even host dog adoption days in the store.
“If you bring your dog in, we’ll pamper your dog,” she said.
Bretta said they’re used to juggling a 24/7 online business and family responsibilities.
“Our business got large enough to need an office space,” she said. “We’ve never been in a physical space.”
“It meets the needs for the office and store,” Nic said. “Over the years, our business has grown organically.”
Bretta said Puddle Jumper Pups has allowed her to combine her love of animals with her entrepreneurial spirit.
“We do all our own photography and social media,” she said. “We’re not a franchise, we’re a small company that started at home.”
The military brought the couple to the CSRA.
“We love this area, and there’s nothing like this in this area,” Bretta said.
She said they’re open to hosting birthday parties for dogs at Puddle Jumper Pups.
“I source the best birthday cake mix,” Bretta said.
The store will be open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit puddlejumperpups.com/.
