For Abigail Terrazzano and Adeline Webb, dogs, and cats are more than just a job. It’s a way of life. They met each other working at a national box store as groomers, and they wished for a more personal experience for the animals and their owners. Just like many entrepreneurs, they had a way to differentiate themselves in the marketplace but had the massive task ahead of them of starting a business.
“We both loved dogs and cats,” Terrazzano mentioned, and that’s what set them down the path to opening their own business. They individually had a similar idea of opening a grooming salon. When they met, it was serendipity. Being an entrepreneur, and a business owner means being a good problem solver and having the dedication and determination to make things work. It takes a unique set of skills and personality traits to be able to take it all on. Terrazzano and Webb fit the bill.
The two get along perfectly with their humor and passion for animals. But, also their attention to detail makes them good business partners. The animals appear immaculate after their session with Sit Pretty is over. Don’t believe me check out their Instagram feed for the before and after pictures.Both joked at their social awkwardness but were not awkward at all. Both women were kind, inviting, and fun, which made the interview process go off without a hitch.
“We’re perfectionist, and we just want every experience to be like ‘wow that was awesome,'” Webb says. During the time we were filming they were grooming two Pekingese followed by two Great Pyrenees. The owners of the Pyrenees spoke highly of Terrazzano and Webb and have been long-time customers. Both the Pekingese and Great Pyrenees were show dogs and needed extra attention to detail. The space that Sit Pretty occupied at 4 Carmichael Street, Essex, Vermont was warm, clean, and welcoming. The large windows fill the space with light and gave the room vibrancy. Both Webb and Terrazzano sat on a vintage couch that sat in front of a wallpapered wall that featured a neon Sit Pretty logo. They mostly use the sofa for taking photos of the animals after they have groomed them. They have an Instagram feed @sitprettygrooming that features their latest work.
When it comes to the community, they love giving back by donating groomings to the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSOCC). After posting to Instagram to their amazement, the first two dogs they groomed for HSOCC became adopted. It was a great way to give back and earn a little exposure for their business. Plus, the adopted dogs must love their new homes. It was a win, win for everyone involved.“They love you; they appreciate everything you do,” Webb says when she explains why she loves dogs. “My mother-in-law jokes that I don’t ever get excited about [human] babies, but when there is a puppy in the room I am overjoyed,” she continued.
As an interviewer, I was interested to learn why Terrazzano and Webb were attracted to animals. “Unconditional love,” Terrazzano said. That’s not something you hear when it comes to business. I could read the sincerity on their faces. This wasn’t just a business; this was a passion for the two, and the proof is in the pudding.
Sit Pretty is currently nominated for a Seven Daysies Award, and for being in business for less than a year that was a significant testimonial to their company’s success in the community. “Opportunities made it very easy… we were in the middle of so much, and they reached out to us,” Webb says while petting the Great Pyrenees. “It’s been a very positive experience.”
“Even going in to make a deposit was so nice,” Terrazzano says. She had a big smile on her face. It’s not something you typically would expect from a banking experience. But, the one-to-one hands-on experience Opportunities gives their members is truly a unique offering in the financial world. Just as Terrazzano and Webb’s passion for their business, Opportunities incorporates love and compassion into their mission, and take the time to learn more about their members. Webb and Terrazzano took out a line of credit and a small loan to outfit the space, purchase equipment and to have some working capital. Now Sit Pretty is a thriving business!
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