One night in early 2011 Kym Hyde sat down with a map of Toronto and a bottle of wine, and pinpointed all of the pet stores and veterinary clinics in the East end, looking for gaps in service. It so happened that the Gerrard East community was a just such a gap. Back then Gerrard East residents had to travel a decent way for pet supplies.
Kym was looking to transition careers at the time and took this opportunity to partner up and open a pet store with Eva, a local dog walker who had been walking Kym’s dog for years. They opened Furballs Pet Stuff in March 2011 and pet lovers in the area and all over Toronto have been ecstatic about it ever since.
“The store is huge about health,” explains Kym. “We did a lot of research and there are certain foods that we won't carry because of the ingredients. We only carry food that is completely grain free. We are big advocates of raw food for our carnivore pets and we've turned a lot of people onto that.” Kym and Eva’s dedication to the health of their customers’ pets, and to educating their new customers on the latest research and standards in pet health care sets their store apart from other, more mainstream, animal supplies stores.
“You know,” says Kym, “we probably could have made a whole lot more money if we had sold some of the mainstream products and foods that people ask for, but we made a conscious decision to say no, and I think people really appreciate that.” This ethics-based business approach has not only garnered the attention and the loyalty of neighbourhood pet owners, but also of people all over the city.
Furballs Pet Stuff’s being a small, locally owned business that is a ‘come to’ specialty shop, rather than a ‘walk by’ store makes it stand out.
