Boston General Store - Your Dog's (and Our) Favorite Local Shop
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
Boston Fetch is shining a spotlight on one of our favorite dog friendly, local shops in Boston - Boston General Store. BGS is a one-of-a-kind purveyor of unique, charming, useful, and well crafted goods for humans and dogs alike! With locations in Brookline and Dedham Boston General Store is a great destination for anyone in need of a thoughtful gift, bespoke office or home supplies, kitchen wares, and (most importantly for Boston Fetch fans) treats, toys, and supplies for your furry friend! We wanted to know more about their process of supplying Boston’s and Brookline’s dogs with the best products around and thankfully Ashlee Cooper, Content & Community Engagement Specialist, was kind enough to let us know more about their crafted selection of dog favorites!
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
BF: You have a very unique and highly curated collection of great toys, treats, and accessories for pets. How do you find these makers and what draws you to their products/brands?
Ashlee Cooper: Like a pup sniffing out peanut butter, it’s our mission to find the best products for your pets. That includes well-made, eco-friendly toys like our Harry Barker rope toys or handmade plush toys with reinforced stitching from P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle and You). Stocking our shelves with Polkadog treats was a clear choice because they are packed with wholesome ingredients and are hand crafted on Boston fishing piers.
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
BF: Our Pet Care Professionals bring the dogs of Boston Fetch into Boston General Store all the time (sometimes to shop, other times for a free biscuit!) The shoppers, staff, and especially the dogs love it. Why has BGS decided to be a dog-friendly retailer?
Ashlee Cooper: That’s easy! Shop dog Olive, sidekick of BGS founder April Gabriel, paved the way for us to be dog friendly. Our pets are our family members — sometimes the best-behaved ones! We want everyone in your family to be treated to something special at the shop. We love hearing about the pups taking detours to the shop to grab a treat behind the counter.
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
BF: What is your favorite pet supply or accessory currently for sale at Boston General Store? And why do you think it is of value to you or your customers (and their pets!)
Ashlee Cooper: That’s a great question. The Doggy Bag includes a variety of fun and flavorful toys and treats that are sure to get some tails waggin’! We also love the Reusable Pet and Lint Brush. It’s a great low-waste alternative to lint rollers and is made in Germany by Burstenhaus Redecker using natural materials like beechwood and rubber. Fabdog’s Floatie Toys, made for both surf and turf, will keep your pup busy all summer long! Choose between a duck, turtle, or lobster with durable neoprene and recycled materials.
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
BF: Are there any pets in the BGS family? If so, are they the official taste testers of all the goodies you sell?
Ashlee Cooper: Absolutely! We have several pets at BGS and they are first in line to test out any goodies! Bean, a Great Pyrenees Husky mix, thoroughly enjoys the yummy Himalayan Yak chews while Winnie, a Terrier mix, loves tossing around P.L.A.Y.’s squeaky Hot Dog Toy. Read more about the BGS pet crew.
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
BF: As a boutique retailer in Boston what pet supplies and accessories would you like to see and sell? Are there any products you or customers are looking for that are currently not on the market?
Ashlee Cooper: When it comes to pet toys, keeping things fresh and new is important for pups who need lots of stimulation. We love seeing what our favorite pet brands come out with each season, and we’ll be adding new holiday-themed toys to our mix later this year.
As far as products our customers are looking for that aren’t on the market, we know what our canine customers are looking for. They’d like to see something that makes their owners lose track of how many treats they’ve had from behind the shop counter!
Photo Credit: Boston General Store
We want to thank Ashlee Cooper and the rest of the gang at Boston General Store for their thoughtful responses. The next time you are grabbing a pup cup at J.P. Licks on Harvard St. or visitng the Dedham Summer Farmer’s Market stop in with your pup to peruse their finely curated selection of pet supplies, and grab a biscuit on the way out!