Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who mentioned she didn’t like to shop at certain pet boutiques because of the high prices and snooty retailers. She mentioned that, while she is incredibly attracted to the beautiful merchandise, she is often intimidated by the atmosphere. Personally, you can’t drag me out of a pet boutique, but I completely understand the issue this friend of mine was having. It’s a critique I’ve often heard from others. After this conversation I was inspired to dig around the web to see if I could find merchandise that had the “boutique look” without the intimidation factor. I was beyond surprised to find a collection of great items from an unexpected source, Bed Bath and Beyond!
Clockwise, from top left: Animal Planet Portable Pet Kennel, Skinneez Stuffing-Free Dog Toys, Pet Can Cover, Pooch Treat Bomb Pet Toy, “Woof!” Bone Square Placemat, Pet Supply Organizer
Of course, there is always going to be the merchandise you’re going to want to skip right over. With larger retailers, you aren’t going to have the benefits of a carefully curated boutique. So long as you know what to look out for, you can create your own collection of boutique-worthy finds. I like to look for items with basic and classic shapes, vibrant color combinations, and expensive-looking materials. When looking for toys, I prefer to pass on fuzzy cartoon characters and focus on plush animals and functional rubber toys with clean lines. I also gravitate towards brands I’m familiar with and are known for their quality like Cesar Millan’s Dog Whisperer Collection. Often times you can find these types of credible brands with larger retailers like Bed Bath and Beyond.
Clockwise, from top left: Animal Planet Pet House, Evri-Pet? Pet Cleaning Dispenser & Bags, Pet PacSac Quilted Portable Pet Bed, Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer Collapsible Pet Feeder, Mini Black And Cream Paw Scoop, Large Deluxe Pet Carrier
Whatever your reason for wanting to walk past pet boutiques, rest assured that stylish and well-designed products can be found in the most unexpected places. With an editing eye, you can make sure that every product you bring home fits in with the rest of your fabulous finds. Trust me, even the most pampered pooch (or picky partner) won’t know the difference.
