This week we introduce the Hamptons Bone & Biscuit to share their experience and local insight! Read on to learn about the new store owners as they share their history.
1. When did this location open?
We purchased the store after it had been open previously for about 3 years. What a surprise it was to find out our name brand pet food wasn’t so good, and the healthier options available for our pets. When we opened, we didn’t realize we needed to get our own debit machine and the merchant services company refused to let us use the old one so the first week was cash only. We were a little worried but Bone & Biscuit customers are so loyal they dutifully went to their banks and came back, thanks to all of you.
2. Where are you located?
We are in the Hamptons Market on the corner of 199 St and 62 Ave, Edmonton. We are two shops to the left of Shoppers Drug Mart in the North Building.
3. What are the best ways for customers to contact the store for questions and stay up to date?
Instagram: @boneandbiscuithamptons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BoneAndBiscuitHampton/
Or call us: 780-756-1535
4. What is your best selling product/toy right now?
We have so many great foods but our best selling is Acana. Locally grown with amazing attention to quality and buying local, it is one of the highest rated pet foods in the world.
Our best selling treats are the Farm Fresh products. Again, locally grown with great attention to product quality and only a few top quality, very healthy ingredients dogs just love them. In addition to the original beef treats, they now also have Canadian bacon.
5. Store Owner/Manager:
Gerald and Mary Tostowaryk
6. Who else has been integral to the opening of the new store?
Without a doubt our daughter/manager Stephanie has been the driving force behind our success, keeping the wheels turning smoothly. Her cousin Katrina, with her veterinary assistant training, has been a big help. Our assistant manager Cinthya Portillo has been an amazing employee, knowledgeable, very helpful, loyal, and a hard worker. These three musketeers are a fantastic team. I (Gerald) fill in the gaps.
7. Do you own any cats or dogs?
Our 12-year-old Shih Tzu/Pom Ginger is an amazing vacuum cleaner. She will eat anything that doesn’t eat her and she is the most loyal and faithful friend, always by your side and she can tell when you just need someone to sit beside you. When we first got her, she must have been the pack leader because she tried for months to run the show, even getting downright ornery about not being the boss at times.
Our 6 yr old pom Milton is a really cute little guy, always ready to play…always. He is the opposite of Ginger when it comes to food, eating with a fork and knife, savoring every bite and stopping to look around and check things out between each bite.
Stephanie has two very lovable cats, Gnarls and Lavender each with a very different personality than the other.
8. What has inspired your interest in owning a Bone & Biscuit location?
Seeing the quality of the products and the driven, focused, clear sense of direction of the main franchise ownership was all the inspiration we needed to make the decision to become a part of this organization helping pets lead healthier, happier lives.
9. Milton, Ginger, Lavender, Gnarles, and Vega have really hit the jackpot now that you run a specialty pet supply store! What kind of toy/treat do they currently love?
Boy, that’s a tough one. We bring home so many different toys and treats for them. Milton really likes his plush toys and carries them into his bed. He is quite fussy and rotates his favorite foods. For a while he would pick out and eat just the Acana Lamb and Apple, leaving other foods behind. His current faves are two First Mate products, the Fish Meal and the Australian Lamb. Ginger isn’t fussy when it comes to food, she will eat just about anything…and all of it!
Vega loves his canned Holistic Wild At Heart fish flavor, and two Weruva flavors, Tilapia and Chicken.
Lavender and Gnarles are Orijen cats all the way, rotating through the different flavors.
10. Where is the nearest dog park?
Callingwood Park is the nearest one we have used at 69 Ave and 172 St.
11. What is the best advice you could give to new pet owners?
Without a doubt, high-quality pet foods make a huge difference in providing our pets with a long, healthy, happy life. We encourage all owners to carefully research pet foods in general and the ones their pets are eating in particular. It is very eye-opening to see what is allowed to be included in our pets foods and how so many of these questionable ingredients are not clearly disclosed.
The products approved by the Bone & Biscuit Company have made an amazing difference in the quality of life of our pets.
Thanks for the spotlight Gerald!
Are you interested in opening your own Bone & Biscuit pet store? See our franchise information page and inquire about opportunities in your area! ?
Dana
Love this store the staff make it special