When Shelley Gardiner left her corporate career after two decades, she wasn’t sure what was next. At the time, her family was actively involved with Boxer Rescue, volunteering and providing foster care, thus aware how often these dogs struggled with health issues. Opening a health food pet store seemed a natural fit, and so with her family’s encouragement and support, she did. As sole proprietor of Boutique PennyPetz in Hudson, Quebec for over 11 years, Shelley knew from the get-go she had to stand apart from competition in unique ways: “We had to be strict with our offerings and only provide the best! Smack Pet Foods checks all of our boxes. We love the ingredients, the fact it’s Canadian, the customer service, and the care that is put into their products. Smack is approachable and honest. They stand behind their products and I trust them.”

Running a boutique focused on healthy pet foods means quality nutrition is key. For Shelley, this isn’t about just wholesome, real ingredients, but also digging deeper into where they get sourced, along with if the company is reliable, consistent, transparent and if their ingredients are traceable.

“Some pet food companies may have an ingredients list that looks good, however the rest can’t be determined simply by looking at the packaging. Our clients trust us and know we have done our due diligence and that if we are selling it, it’s good. Smack really does make it easy for us.”

Something Shelley appreciated was Smack’s transparency in sourcing chickens during the pandemic: “I love that a while ago due to Covid and supply shortages, the chicken had to be changed and Smack informed us. I really don’t think they had to but they did, and I remember thinking ‘good on them’.”

For Shelley, this aligns with her own core values in business -- to be honest, reliable and trustworthy, to treat clients like family and not just look at them as dollar signs, “I always encourage clients to look at good nutrition as a long term investment and to buy the best they can within their means. I have been told many times I am a terrible salesperson, and it’s true. Owning a pet store isn’t about selling, It’s about providing my clients with knowledge so they can make a well informed purchase they feel good about.”