Mom & Pups Business Spotlight

In 2003, Christina Bryan embarked on a heartfelt venture named Mom & Pups, born from a deep-seated love for dogs and a desire to create something meaningful in the wake of personal tragedy. This journey began when Christina, dissatisfied with her current job and recalling her happiest times working with dogs, decided to turn her passion into a profession. The loss of her mother in 2002 was a pivotal moment, leading her and her father to establish Mom & Pups, a pet boutique offering pet supplies and grooming. Within a few years of opening, the store would soon become a community staple on Marietta’s Whitlock Avenue, where it has resided for the past 17 years.

Carving a Unique Niche

Unlike other routes into the pet industry, such as becoming a veterinarian or a dog groomer, Christina identified her unique strength: an uncanny ability to discover and share exceptional pet products. This skill proved to be the cornerstone of her retail business success. After a few years of operating the store, Christina saw the opportunity to incorporate dog grooming services into her business. Despite lacking the specific expertise to be a dog groomer, Christina used her extensive experience in the dog industry to inform her about the necessary setup and equipment for the business.

Community at the Heart

Over the years, Christina witnessed significant changes, both in business trends and the broader marketplace. The rise of expansive online retailers like Amazon and Chewy has reshaped the retail landscape, presenting growing challenges for small businesses like Mom & Pups to compete. Christina recounted instances where customers would visit her store, interact with her products, share stories about their pets, and then opt to purchase similar, often lower-quality items online.

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The COVID-19 pandemic presented a formidable challenge that accelerated the movement towards online retail. Yet, during this period of global uncertainty, Mom & Pups didn't just survive; it thrived. Christina attributes this resilience to the strong bond the business has forged with the local community. Her commitment to her customers goes beyond mere transactions. She shared a touching story of delivering and personally transferring dog food for older patrons who couldn't manage the task themselves. This level of service exemplifies what it means to be an integral part of a community and extends service far beyond what a national retailer could or would provide.

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This community spirit reaches beyond her own business. In instances where Mom & Pups couldn't accommodate a large grooming request, Christina would refer clients to other local shops, embodying a belief in shared success and community support.

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A Family Affair

After 20 years of working with her dad, now semi-retired from the store, she reflects fondly on their experience working alongside each other. A former chemical engineer who took early retirement from Amoco shortly before her mother's illness in 1999, he was always the one to fix things, staying true to the engineer at his core. Their partnership in Mom & Pups has been a source of joy and strength, helping to navigate the challenges and changes of the past two decades.

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Turning Passion into Purpose

Christina's story with Mom & Pups is more than a business narrative; it's a journey of passion, resilience, and community engagement. It illustrates how personal experiences and genuine care for others can create not just a successful business, but also a cherished community institution. Through ups and downs, Christina's love for dogs and her community has remained the unwavering heartbeat of Mom & Pups, a true testament to turning a passion into a purpose.