Wag N’ Wash, specializing in supplies and services for dogs and cats, has opened a Maple Village location intended to appeal not only to pet owners but also to potential franchisees.
“They wanted something close to the corporate office because that’s where they have all their meetings with the franchise people interested in buying locations,” explains general manager Scott Hampton, a twenty-eight-year veteran of Livonia-based Pet Supplies Plus, whose corporate parent acquired Wag N’ Wash as a complementary brand last year.
The flagship store, in a former nail salon next to the upscale Plum Market, offers “all kinds of natural dog food and treats,” he says, including a bakery case and “a lot of frozen food, which seems to be really popular right now. We got like eight freezers full of dog and cat food and ice cream for dogs.” The selection of toys and apparel has also generated its share of sales in their early weeks. Delivery and curbside pickup are available, but it’s ultimately the services that are key to drawing business to the store.
There’s pet grooming by appointment, and the self-serve dog wash, starting at $20, is available on a walk-in basis. “Our style is different because we have wash attendants that actually can help you with washing the dogs or nail trims, cleaning of the ears,” Hampton says.
Wag N’ Wash, 353 N. Maple Rd. (Maple Village). (734) 325–9554. Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. wagnwash.com/store/mi/ann-arbor/3022-ann-arbor