The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Self taught talents found at local pet boutique
Whether it’s creating works of art or sewing together custom clothes and costumes for pets, Jennifer Brhel, co-owner of The Posh Pet Boutique, is self taught in it all.
Brhel, who now sells her art alongside custom pet fashion, started drawing ever since she was a child, using coloring books to draw from, she said. She recalls drawing with her grandfather and every night for many years.
“I’ve always been creative,” Brhel said, who is a current Willowick resident. “I draw, I sew and I taught myself.”
Before The Posh Pet Boutique, a 2-year-old business located at 7361 Center Street in Mentor that provides custom pet fashion, Brhel used to be a groomer. While taking the role of a groomer, she found herself making clothes for dogs and attempting to sell them at the shop, said Rich Greer, co-owner alongside Brhel.
“Unfortunately, grooming didn’t work so well and she had to give up selling the clothes,” Greer said. “So, when she left grooming, she went to do her artwork. While doing her artwork, she decided to go in a friend’s shop — Life’s Simple Treasures when it was in Downtown Willoughby.”
After pursuing her artwork at Life’s Simple Treasures, Brhel decided she wanted to go back into making clothes for dogs, Greer said.
“She came up with the name and I told her I would sponsor her, and that’s when we were one little shop,” Greer said. “Life’s Simple Treasures and Tiffany Rose (Antiques) decided to go together on Mentor Avenue. I said look, they’re antiques and collectables — nothing in common with what you do. Why don’t we get our own place and here we are.”
The Posh Pet Boutique is like a “puppy party,” Brhel said. Those who come through the doors with their dogs become friends, she said, but since it’s a niche business, it can be challenging to find the market and people to make it enough.
“I think there’s a bigger market if we went more global and more with the website than just this,” Brhel said. “My dogs liked to be dressed, but I don’t think many people in this area do. We have quite a bit who come in and buy stuff and we have a lot of repeat customers, but I think we need to branch out more to different states.”
“I believe we have a spot here that will make money because there are enough crazy out there dressing their dogs,” Greer added. “The thing is, people don’t know about us. We do what we can. It’s one of those businesses that — I don’t know how many phone calls we get a week from people who think we’re groomers.”
When it comes to creating costumes or outfits for dogs or cats, Brhel keeps up on different fashion trends, she said. At times, Brhel will go through periods where she is focused on making one thing, Greer said.
“(Pets) are like your children. People bring their dogs to weddings and stuff, so now I have a line of formal wear,” Brhel said. “Sometimes I look at what people are wearing, and sometimes I just look at the fabric and figure it out. Or, people will come in with ideas.”
Brhel always likes to have something to aim for, she said. She enjoys helping people and giving back to the community, she said.
“I just pursued it,” Brhel said.