31
thePeorian.com
The Present
Junction City, she added, was
in an area she wanted to be in
because it was close to the parts
of Peoria where a pet boutique
would more likely be frequented.
That again, was a lesson learned
visiting pet boutiques in Florida.
“
I knew where I needed to be and
I think this is a perfect match,”
Reck said.
She chose Pooch Couture for
the name of the store “because I
knew I wanted to appeal to the
girly side of dog ownership. You
know, pink and frilly, stuff like
that. Spoiling them. But then I
began to realize people pamper
their dogs whether they are big
or little dogs. It doesn’t matter,”
she said while holding her own
pooch, sweater-adorned Macy,
who comes to the store with her
nearly every day.
Reck doesn’t stop with frilly
clothes and such. She often at-
tends seminars on pet care so she
can be able to answer customer
questions about food, grooming
and other subjects as well as give
advice if asked. “I want to keep
learning about the newest things
so I can better serve my custom-
ers,” she said.
She doesn’t train dogs herself,
but encourages trainers to leave
information about their services
in her store for customers to
review.
Pooch Couture’s biggest sellers
are treats and toys, Reck said,
but she couldn’t put her finger
on which type of toy was most
popular. “Every dog has its own
personality. Macy prefers softer,
plush toys that squeak. Other
dogs prefer chew toys, some like
balls or pulls toys. A lot also can
depend on what type of training
they’ve had. For example, service
dog trainers prefer their dogs get
tougher toys,” she said.
Her pet attire includes St. Louis
Cardinals and Chicago Cubs
items. Asked which sells more,
her answer was along the line one
might expect in central Illinois:
“
I’d say it is pretty even for the
most part, though the Cubs might
have a slight edge.”
Reck said she may some day
open a second store, like in a
Chicago suburb. After all, that’s
where her boyfriend lives. “We’ll
have to wait and see about that.”
POOCH COUTURE
Junction City Shopping Center
5901
N. Prospect Road, Suite 1,
Peoria
(309) 693-0900
Hours: Monday through Saturday,
10
a.m. to 6 p.m.
Offers a variety of pet products,
including snacks and food, as well as
pet apparel, grooming services and
nutritional advice.
Pooch Couture offers a variety of pet products, from the snacks that are kept in bins to pet beds to clothing and other
items. It also offers grooming services for dogs of any size.
