At Up Pup ‘N’ Away, dogs and cats can travel in comfort
Passengers traveling through Hollywood Burbank Airport can now buy their furry companions a treat or new gear during their trip.
Burbank pet supply store Up Pup ‘N’ Away celebrated the formal grand opening of its kiosk in Terminal A on Monday.
Pet owners can choose from a variety of pet toys, collars, treats and calming sprays for their cat or dog. There is also a plethora of gifts for people, such as novelty socks, T-shirts, stickers and even politically themed poop bags.
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Marwick Kane, chief executive of Up Pup ‘N’ Away, got the idea to open a pet store in an airport while volunteering for Los Angeles International Airport’s “Pets Unstressing Passengers” program, where various dogs and their handlers walk around the terminals to greet passengers and alleviate their stress.
“I quickly realized that passengers have nowhere to shop for dogs or cats,” he said.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than two million pets travel via airplane.
He had aspirations to start the business at LAX. However, Kane said that the cost of opening a shop at that airport was out of his price range.
Instead, Kane and Tracy Tabb, chief marketing and operations officer for Up Pup ‘N’ Away, opened a brick-and-mortar location at 3117 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank in 2015, and Kane said it has since been a go-to spot for pet owners.
Kane said that their popularity among pet owners is due to their inventory, of which most of the products they sell are made in the United States. If he can, Kane selects products that are made and assembled in California, and if possible, within Los Angeles County.
“We’re trying to aim for more of that,” he said. “Eventually, we’d like to be 100% made in the United States.”
Like the brick-and-mortar store, the kiosk at Hollywood Burbank Airport has taken off with passengers. Many items in the inventory are quickly selling out and need to be restocked almost on a weekly basis, Kane said.
The pet products aren’t just a hit with travelers. Many of the kiosk’s repeat customers are airport employees.
“We have regular airport employees shopping with us and getting toys and treats every month,” Tabb said.
Kane said he was anticipating most of the sales to come from passengers who are flying out to their destinations. However, he and Tabb learned that a good chunk of their sales come from those who arrive at Hollywood Burbank, returning home.
“You don’t ever shop for your dog or cat while you’re away on vacation because you never have time to go to a pet store,” Tabb said. “But then you see our kiosk and say, ‘Oh my God, I can bring treats or toys home, and they’re going to think I’m amazing.’”
While Hollywood Burbank is the first in the Southern California region to open an Up Pup ‘N’ Away kiosk, Kane said he still has his sights on opening a store in LAX and possibly at LA/Ontario International Airport.
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Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com
Twitter: @acocarpio
