The Derby location of All Paws Pet Center, along with its other two sites in Wichita, have been acquired by a rapidly growing Minnesota-based pet supply business.
Chuck and Don’s of Mahtomedi, Minn., purchased the privately owned company for an undisclosed sum earlier this month.
Derby customers won’t notice obvious changes at the store, which is at 1821 E. Madison in the Spring Creek Shopping Center, but being part of a larger entity will give All Paws more buying power and allow it to keep prices contained, said manager David Lebus.
“Keeping the cost in line is one of the things we’re working on,” said Lebus, who was one of the partners of All Paws along with Paul and Tammy Baumann.
The Baumanns founded the company in 2006.
Lebus will continue working at All Paws, along with his wife, Pat, who are both minority owners. Paul Baumann now becomes a board member of Chuck and Don’s but is no longer involved in daily operations.
Chuck and Don’s was founded by Charles “Chuck” Anderson and Don Tauer in 1990 and has 30 Minnesota locations, 10 in Colorado, and one in Wisconsin.
Company officials say they have a desire to grow the business and expand to new regions.
The purchase of All Paws is the first in Kansas for the family-owned business. Officials say All Paws is a good fit because the business’s “values and culture mirrors its own.”
That includes carrying a large inventory and having an experienced staff, they say.
Despite the growth of big box retailers and online sales, local pet stores continue to do well, Lebus said.
“Neighborhood pet stores are really tied to the community,” he said.
He credits that to loyal customers who like to ask questions of staff who have a deep knowledge base of pets and their needs. In addition, Lebus said customers have told him that online prices are not a factor.
Pet owners have a deep affinity for their animals, Lebus said. “Pets are really part of the family,” he said.
That also translates to a robust business.
The sector had $69.36 billion in estimated 2017 annual revenue, up sharply from $41.2 billion 10 years ago in 2007, according to American Pet Products Association.
In 2016, the last year for actual sale figures, $66.75 billion was spent with the majority, or $28.23 billion on food, according to the APPA. Other major categories were vet care, supplies and pet services, such as grooming and boarding.
Like All Paws, most stores reflect a small business operation. Typically, they have a staff of four and about $400,000 in revenue. Nationwide, there are about 169,000 pet stores, with 97.7 percent having 24 or fewer workers.
Like it is across the industry, pet food is All Paws’ major seller.
It sells a wide inventory of dry and canned food for dogs and cats. Lebus said the brands he stocks are not sold to nonpet store retailers, so that helps with customers who are seeking higher grades of food.
The business does not carry live animals and is focused strictly on cat and dog supplies and care.
All Paws has 18 employees at its three locations. The two Wichita sites are at 1444 N. Maize and 2244 N. Greenwich.
