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Eagle Street to Welcome New Business, Not Replace Baby ItemsBy Jen Thomas - July 10, 2007
 | | Persnickety Toys on Eagle Street is renting out additional space for "The Bark n' Cat," a new pet shop. |
North Adams - New England's Best Toy Store is set to welcome a new neighbor to their Eagle Street home.
Local animal-lover Christa Abel plans to showcase her eco-friendly and organic pet products at the space vacated in January by the Sugar Llama as part of the expansion of Persnickety Toys. With a little help from Monique Suters, the proprietor of Persnickety Toys, the small section of the toy store, called "The Bark n' Cat," will feature what Abel called "quirky, cool, one-of-a-kind type products" for dogs and cats.
"What I'm hoping to do is sell unique and interactive pet toys," said Abel, who hopes the section will open within the toy shop within the month. "I'm focused on things you can't find at a general supply place."
Abel said she plans to feature "Busy Buddy" chew toys, high-quality healthy treats, Planet Dog-brand toys and an assortment of hemp leashes and collars, among other creative and environmentally-friendly products. However, customers will be able to determine what kinds of items they want to see displayed.
"What's in the store will be based on what people are looking for," said Abel.
A four-year North Adams resident, Abel's business idea grew out of her part-time Northern Berkshire pet-sitting venture, Pet Minders. With three dogs and three cats of her own already at home, Abel and her husband, Garrett Lechowski, became interested in alternative pet products, healthy foods and challenging pet toys and games.
"My husband and I are both obsessed with pet stores and products," said Abel. "We like toys that are a little bit more difficult, a little bit more creative - toys that aren't commercially available."
Abel has specific guidelines for the types of distributors and manufacturers with whom she'd like to do business. The Bark n' Cat will give priority to products purchased from companies that desire the highest quality of products, items that are organic and free of artificial ingredients, chemicals, synthetic preservatives, and suspect animal by-products and toys geared to entertain both people and their pets, especially those crafted to directly stimulate pets.
Abel said she would ideally like to purchase her products locally from small companies that create the products themselves. She wants her shop to feature products purchased from local and/or regional vendors in an effort to support nearby economies or from small specialty businesses, rather than mainstream outlets.
"I want it to be similar to Persnickety in that it's a little bit of everything all over the place," Abel said.
The Bark n' Cat will be operated as an extension of Persnickety Toys, not as an independent store and primary maintenance duties will be assigned to Suters.
"It seemed like a natural marriage between the two - the kid toys and the pet toys," said Abel. "I'm really just looking forward to being displayed in the space."
Abel and Suters said the space at 13 Eagle Street should be ready sometime in the next few weeks; the shop already has new paint and new carpeting. As part of the expansion, Persnickety Toys will also feature an extended line of baby items, including clothes and strollers.
"I would like to see another business in town survive," said Suters.
A social worker turned pet enthusiast, Abel said she's eager to take on a new role: businesswoman. She suspects the new venture will be a challenge, though.
"I don't know too much about business; I just want to see what people do with their animals," she said.
Jen Thomas may be reached via email at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, ext. 23.
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| For those of you who want baby items, do not fear! Those are coming as well!!! The pet product enterprise is just one section of a rather large expansion project of Persnickety Toys! They are "incubating" my endeavor. There is a need for good pet products here, as well. We have 3 feline and 3 canine "babies"! All babies will be provided for! | | from: Christa Abel | on: 07-12-2007 |
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| WOW, I think it's great that we are going to have a unique toy store for pets. I have one dog and I love to spoil him and to be able to get something new and changelling is exciting to me, I can't wait!!! | | from: LISA | on: 07-12-2007 |
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| Maybe this is a call for some other entrepreneur to open such a business. If they work at it they can make it succeed in North Adams. | | from: | on: 07-11-2007 |
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| Ya, I am also disappointed - I was looking forward to the clothes and what not. What happened? | | from: | on: 07-11-2007 |
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| What happened to the gift store for infants and babies??? This is an area of retail that North Adams could use improvement on. Especially gifts of a "higher-end" nature. | | from: Dave | on: 07-10-2007 |
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