Creating a profitable owner operated business takes clear vision and dedication, often driven by a personal passion. This is the story of how one local woman took a circuitous route to building a successful downtown Rahway staple.
Pampered Paws owner, Karim Policastro, has always loved animals and dreamt of one day becoming a veterinarian. However, family obligations kept her from fully committing to the rigorous study and time required to get through veterinary school. Restaurant work afforded the flexibility she needed at the time, but working with animals continued to beckon.
To gain experience she worked at a veterinary clinic but soon discovered that she couldn’t take being surrounded by the suffering of really sick pets. Realizing that this was not the best setting for her to build her career she shifted her focus to earn a cosmetology license. She recognized that many of the skills necessary to work with people were transferable to work with pets. So, she enrolled in a 10 week course in NYC to become a state board licensed groomer.
She knew that she wanted to own and operate her own business. As a Rahway native, there was no question that she would open her shop in town. She moved into her Main Street location twelve years ago and has been serving the greater community ever since. With the support of longstanding satisfied furry friends, their owners and effective word of mouth referrals, she now draws customers from Staten Island, Queens, South Jersey and beyond.
Pet grooming can be a competitive business demanding expertise, creativity, and great customer service. Karim is grateful that she has run into very few business obstacles over the years. She attributes much of her success to her practice of treating both owners and her charges with integrity and respect. She treats each animal as she would her own pets and makes sure their owners leave satisfied. She keeps on top of the latest in pet trends and pays attention to the unique needs of individual breeds. As she gets to know an animal, she might notice if something changes in their general well-being and will alert the owner to a condition they may not have noticed.
If your pet needs sprucing up for spring check out Pampered Paws for professional results.
