Meet Susan Murphy of Wishbones Pet Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Murphy.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Susan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Happiness is a warm puppy- Charles M. Schulz

Wishbones was established in June of 2009 out of the pure love and adoration for our canine friends. Dogs bring so much happiness, joy, unconditional love. I needed to create a business that celebrated, nourished and provided the fun & happiness back to these wonderful animals and their caring owners.

My past career was mostly in apparel but worked for a pet distributor for 6 years product developing and absolutely loved it. I ended up moving and went back into apparel and new instantly I needed to get back into the pet business. At the time, I had a rescue dog from Oregon who came down with canine cushing’s disease. I was devastated and it sent me into a spiral of constant research to the effects of nutrition and the environment on our pets. I started a business plan for Wishbones.

I wanted to create a store that would sell the healthiest pet food and treats, along with products that keep pets comfortable, healthy & happy. Such as stylish comfortable beds, healthy fun “barkery” treats, and safe fun toys along with gifts that expressed the love we have for our pets. It took three years from the time I created a business plan to search for the right spot for Wishbones. I looked at a lot of properties but it wasn’t until I walked into a gutted space in Scituate Harbor that I instantly knew it was the right spot. It was a combination of having an intense feeling it was the right spot but I also imagined within seconds how I would lay out the store even though all I was looking at was cement floor and studs.

In February of 2010 Wishbones open doors. Scituate was a wonderful spot to open the store. It is a real community driven town. And there is a pet owner community within that. We have many regulars that feel like family. We have watched their dogs as well as their children grow over the past seven years. It’s a nice thing. We continually hear stories from our customers that they can’t walk near the store without their dogs pulling them in. It’s fun!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? I don’t think I slept for the first year! I would be up at 3:00 in the morning placing orders lying in bed with my iPad glaring up the room. My husband would wake up and give me the “are you kidding me look” then snore off to sleep again. Good thing he is not a light sleeper. Start up is hard for sure. There are so many uncertainties. You have to go through all the bumps and learning curves that make you grow and evolve as a business owner. Submerge yourself in it completely. Especially if you have never owned a business before. In the beginning, I was working 7 days a week, including when I was not at the store. You just don’t shut it off. It is part of you. I love that and wouldn’t want it any other way. Now I have wonderful employees who help me out a great deal and I’m grateful to be at this point.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Wishbones Pet Boutique – what should we know?
Wishbones is a Pet Boutique focused on supplying the healthiest pet food/treats and cool supplies & gifts.

Our supplies include a wide variety of Collars and Leashes, some with nautical themes, others functional & eclectic. We carry an array of Pet Beds, Dishes & Diners, Treats, Toys and Gifts for pet loving people. We also have and bakery counter “The Barkery” which is filled with fun all natural and organic bakery treats for your favorite pup!

We specialized in dog food brands that are nutritionally superior. The better food we give to our pets the happier and healthier they will be. We also carry specialized lines. We have many customers that come in with pets with allergies. We see a lot of grain & poultry allergies. We supply food that cater to dog & cats that need a limited ingredient diet or protein specific needs.

Our “Barkery” is customer favorite for sure. The treats are beautifully decorated and come in seasonal themes as well as nautical. Birthday cakes and Birthday Bones are one of our best sellers. People love to celebrate their dog’s birthday. They are part of the family! We also sell bulk cookies by weight. Which we find many people love because they are fresh. You can smell the difference.

We have a nautical theme throughout the store, appropriately for our harbor location. Beautifully made beds with nautical themes like starfish, sail boats, shellfish. And a wide variety of nautical themed collars and toys.

I consciously try to buy product for the store that you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else, especially big box chains. I also provide the individual attention and knowledgeable direction that people need. Especially new pet owners.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Product knowledge. Staying in tune to the market for new helpful, functional and fun product. As well as keeping up on the ever evolving pet food industry. Making sure I am always carrying the healthiest available.

Customer needs. Attending to what my customers want and need. I special order for my customers constantly. I truly want them to be happy and get the product that is best for them and their pet’s. They deserve that individual attention.

Kindness and love for animals. That’s really what it’s about. That’s where it all started from. That is what will continue to perpetuate success. Everything else will follow.

Contact Info:

• Address: Wishbones Pet Boutique & Barkery
  146 Front Street, Suite 107
  Scituate, MA 02066
• Website: www.wishbonespet.com
• Phone: 781-544-4498
• Email: info@wishbonespet.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wishbonespet/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wishbones-pet-boutique-scituate

Image Credit:
Kjeld Mahoney Photography

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