Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Bowman.
Hi Kate, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
About 25 years ago I had a very sick dog named Doodad. I was a veterinary technician at the time and despite trying all kinds of prescriptive foods and pharmaceuticals to get his IBD under control, he continued to rapidly decline. I happened upon a book that talked about the benefits of treating your dog holistically and how changes in diet could really benefit your pet. I decided to try him on a raw food diet and the rest is history! Doodad lived to be 18 years old and his life was drastically improved. I would talk to friends or people I’d meet about him and they’d often ask for assistance in feeding their own pets. In 2002 I got a yellow Labrador puppy from a raw foods breeder. I named him Clipper after the Clipper ships that sailed the Chesapeake. That was how Clipper’s Canine Cafe was started 22 years ago! We now offer a variety of all natural pet food and supplies for your cats and dogs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It certainly has not been a smooth road for us. We’ve faced many hardships with the flash flood in 2018 that destroyed our store, Covid, changes in the economy and my skull fracture which kept me out of the store for a year. Through all the negatives we’ve also had many positives and our very loyal customers have kept us going year after year.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think what separates Clipper’s Canine Cafe from others is our passion for nutrition in our pets and our close relationships with customers. We provide the healthiest alternatives for your pets and strive to sell unique products that might not be available in your big box stores. I’m proud of the Clipper’s Canine Cafe team. All of our employees have been customers first. I respected and knew they cared for their pets the way I care for my own. Many of our customers have become good friends. We know their pets and look forward to seeing them and chatting with their owners. We’ve had some customers for many years and have gone through the pain of pet loss and bringing new pets home. I truly value those relationships and friendships that have been made thanks to Clipper’s.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mother, Ann Bowman, started this business with me 22 years ago. She has been a huge part in keeping this business going whether it’s greeting customers or taking care of placing orders and handling the books. When I suffered a skull fracture she kept the business afloat while I was out of commission for an entire year. I also have 3 part time employees that are phenomenal! They’re knowledgable about the products we sell and they’re all very hard workers. Although my Mom and I ran Clipper’s alone for the majority of our 22 years, I’m not sure how we’d make it without our three employees we have now. They’re so passionate about their jobs and they each bring different qualities to make the store better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clipperscaninecafe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clipperscaninecafe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clippersk9cafe
