Down one of the 10 store aisles in Pet Supplies Plus, two women stood, one using elaborate hand gestures, the other gently swaying and clutching a sleeping black miniature dachshund, a short-legged and relatively long-bodied puppy.
The first woman, a Pet Supplies Plus employee dressed in one of the store’s black polo shirts, spoke of digestive enzymes and how they contribute to the dog’s health, all while continuing to move her right hand up, down, out and over.
“It’s meant to kill and eat,” the woman said, adding, “you have to keep its teeth strong.” Meanwhile, the sleepy dog couldn't be bothered to be awakened by any of the detailed information, or the conscious effort taken to explain it.
This is friendly customer service not normally seen, and something the store prides itself on, the store’s general manager Andrew Cornelius said. The company attempts to ensure employees are knowledgeable and possess enough information to help caring customers and their many pets.
After only being open a few days, that same helping spirit led the store to donate, through its corporate arm, $1,000 to the Humane Society of Indianapolis and $250 each to Heaven After Hell Rescue and the Central Indiana Rescue and Adoption Center.
“Our corporate office reached out to three local rescues or animal hospitals and shelters around central Indiana. We had them come in, and we set up donations bins where people would purchase products and when they’d check out they’d get a couple tokens. They’d put the tokens in whatever bin they wanted to donate to. And the winner that had the most tokens got a $1000 check, and the others got $250 donated to them.”
The store plans to host weekend adoption events soon, partnering with not just the Boone County animal shelter, but “all surrounding ones and anyone who wants to be involved in them,” Cornelius said.
“We focus primarily on customer service,” Cornelius said. “That goes to being knowledgeable about our products and pets, to make sure we are helping in the store, carrying products out to your car, greeting you at the entrance and thanking you for shopping with us.”
The first Pet Supplies Plus store opened in Redford, Michigan, in 1988. Since then, the company has grown to more than 400 franchised and corporate Pet Centers in 33 states across the country, according to the company’s website.
In Whitestown, the storefront signs were hung in mid December, and a short time later the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Jan. 5, the first ribbon-cutting ceremony in Whitestown of 2018, according to the town of Whitestown’s Facebook page.
Bones, leashes, pet food, water tanks, cat litter, neon-colored fish, chew toys, even a self-service dog wash station – inside, the store, at 6177 S Main St., has it all.
“We do have a handful of items that aren’t in mass market, but we also have a handful of items that you can find in other pet stores as well,” Cornelius said, adding that the staff wants to do all they can because, “Pet’s are part of the family these days.”
