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thePeorian.com
W
hen Lindsey Reck
visited a few dog
boutiques on a trip
to Florida a few years ago, she
had the feeling a similar venture
could work in Peoria.
At the very least, she wanted
to give local pet owners another
option in their quest to spoil their
four-legged friends.
The owner of Pooch Couture at
Junction City Shopping Center,
Reck was not barking up the
wrong tree.
“
I think I made the wise choice
to go into this business. I mean,
if I was going to go into business
for myself, which I had wanted
to do for a long time, I really
thought this was something I
would enjoy,” said Reck, 26, of
Peoria.
“
My mother had her own retail
shops while I was growing up so
retail was in my blood. But my
mother did warn me having my
own business would consume
my life. It has pretty much, but I
don’t mind. I really do enjoy it. I
have no regrets,” she said.
Her parents, she added, sup-
ported and encouraged her to
go for it. She went to a pet goods
trade show in Chicago, started
making connections and began to
build her business.
At Pooch Couture pet own-
ers will find toys, pet clothes,
bedding, collars and leashes, pet
carriers and grooming supplies.
It also carries a variety of holistic
pet food that Reck said is of the
highest quality and made in the
U.S. As she said on her website,
,
“
Your pet needs special nutrients
and proteins to live a long and
happy life. You can help your
pet to a long and happy life by
providing him with one of our
brands of food … designed to
make your pet excel in every
aspect!”
Pooch Couture also has spa
services for cats and dogs.
Groomer Charmaine Morris will
work with any size canine as well
as groom cats by appointment.
Different grooming packages are
available and can be viewed on
the website.
“
I wanted to provide as much
service as possible. I think I do
that. If I would ever expand it
would be in the grooming area,
though,” Reck said.
She graduated from Bradley
University four years ago with a
degree in communications and a
double minor, in marketing and
business management.
After deciding to open her own
business, Reck started small, with
a 4-foot by 4-foot kiosk at North-
woods Mall. “I wanted to have
a store front but I also wanted to
start small to see what kind of
response I got. And I got a really
good response with the kiosk.
That’s why I went ahead and
looked for store space,” she said.
Specialty Retail: Pets
IT WAS THE
RIGHT TREE
Young entrepreneur
puts pets first in
unique boutique
Paul Gordon
Lindsey Reck, owner of Pooch Couture at Junction City Shopping Center, brings her companion Macy to the store
with her almost every day. Macy is wearing one of the types of pet sweaters sold at the store.
