How a Local Pet Store Used a Puppy Social to Beat Big Box Retailers

Small Business Success with Fexingo: Local Companies, Main Street Stories, and Community Commerce · Jun 21, 2026 · 10m · transcript

In this episode of Small Business Success with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the story of Paws & Claws, a local pet store in Portland, Oregon, that turned a simple weekly puppy playdate into a community-driven customer acquisition engine. Owner Maria Torres saw foot traffic dwindle as PetSmart and Chewy dominated the market. Instead of slashing prices, she started a free, hour-long 'Puppy Social Hour' every Saturday morning — no purchase necessary. Within six months, 70% of first-time attendees became repeat shoppers, and store revenue grew 40% year-over-year. The hosts unpack…