If you’re a dog or cat owner, you can shop at an ordinary pet store. There are many across Canada that will meet your pet’s essential needs. But for people who want to add a dose of whimsy to the joys of pet ownership, there’s Dogfather & Co., where the cats and dogs – and people – get to have a lot more fun.
This is evident from the moment you step through the door of either of the store’s two locations. You’re immediately hit with blast of colour – from treats that look like desserts; chew toys that resemble notable figures; and rows of sassy pet outfits, many of them sporting cheeky slogans.
If you’re lucky, there will be also be cute dogs frolicking at your feet.
To help customers navigate it all, Kristina Rapson says it’s important for her and the rest of the staff to have a real conversation with everyone who comes through the door. As director of operations for Dogfather, she says attentive service has been one of the keys to its success.
Great customer service also explains how the original store got so busy that it had to open a second location. Rapson has learned that Interac Debit contactless payments lets customers and staff keep chatting all the way through the payment process – and more dialogue means better customer loyalty.
While many of us would dearly love the opportunity to spend whole days around dogs and cats for a living, Rapson admits there are aspects to the job – such as puppy “accidents” and losing revenue to chargebacks – that she’s happy to avoid. Inviting customers to pay with Interac Debit contactless payments won’t stop a pup from being unruly in her store – but, as these videos explain, it can be a retailer’s best friend.
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Note: Interac Debit contactless payments was previously called Interac Flash.