Scamp’s Pet Centers Shuts Its Doors
Scamp’s Pet Centers, an independent pet store chain headquartered in Portland, Ore., closed all six of its stores in June, according to Michael Twain, who owns part of the company.
“These are sour economic times and we have other businesses that are doing better,” Twain said in a telephone interview. “We have lots of other assets and businesses. We terminated this so we can focus on our import/export business and other things.”
The independent chain was a regular target of animal rights groups because it carried live animals, but Twain said protests and campaigns never hurt the stores’ sales. “Usually, we sold more animals when they were out there,” Twain said.
Even though online forums touted the chain’s closure as a victory for animal rights groups, Twain said there was no connection between protests and the closing of Scamp’s. “It was a pure business decision that we made. There is no linkage whatsoever,” Twain said.
Twain said his various other businesses—a consumer Web site, a cat litter manufacturer and a pet supply merchandiser—were outperforming the retail stores. “I’m just not interested in continuing with retail,” he said. “The other businesses are going so exponentially well, and that’s really where I want to spend my time.” [August 2009 PET AGE]
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