Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Receives Recognition for Community Contribution and Business Success

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming in Ridgewood opened in 2017 to spoil pets and cater to customers with a caring, personalized touch. In recent months, the woman-owned small business has faced current challenges head-on to thrive and support the needs of the local community, employees, neighbors and their beloved pets.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Ridgewood owner Maureen Barrett was recently selected by GlobalGiving to receive a $5,000 Covid-19 relief and recovery grant from the Red Backpack Fund, made possible by the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation. Grantees were selected based on outstanding applications, an urgent need for Covid-19 business relief and demonstrated capacity to overcome setbacks.

To give back, thank customers for continued support and honor local heroes throughout Ridgewood Glenrock, Hohokus and Midland Park, Maureen is paying it forward by offering a First Responder Free Pet Bath program. For hospital personnel, firefighters, paramedics and police first responders, the store will provide free luxury baths to their dogs every Sunday throughout the summer. Plus, first responders receive a 10 percent discount on pet food on Sundays this summer. Grooming/bath appointments must be made in advance and ID is required.

Due to the popularity of the first responder program and as regular store hours are ramping back up, three new full-time retail and grooming employees have been hired.

The store is also using a portion of the grant to refresh retail stock and purchase a new grooming table, to better serve their furry clientele. Because so many people adopted dogs and puppies during quarantine, Maureen was inspired to create a dedicated Puppy Provisions section in her store. In addition to puppy food, new puppy parents will find teething toys, small collars and leashes, no-pull harnesses, cuddly plush toys and aroma dog sets at the store.

“Mike and I are so blessed to have chosen Ridgewood as our home for Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming,” said owner Maureen Barrett. “The residents of Ridgewood and the surrounding communities have been incredibly supportive during these challenging times. We are so appreciative that they choose to shop local and support small businesses in our community.”

To care for their customers and staff, the store now offers local delivery of retail items, like pet food, treats, toys, chews, accessories and other essentials. Plus, they have added free, nearby home pick up and drop off for grooming clients. Inside the store, safety procedures including face masks, touchless payment options, hand sanitizer and increased store cleaning and sanitizing routines have been implemented. Safe social distancing is practiced throughout the store, as well as in the pet grooming areas.

A solid foundation of success bolstered Maureen and her team for the business trials of the past few months. Earlier this year, the Woof Gang Bakery company, the leader in specialty pet retail and grooming with locations across the U.S., named Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Ridgewood among the company’s exceptional franchises.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Ridgewood was awarded the company’s Most Improved Franchise for year-over-year growth in retail and grooming sales. Maureen, along with Mike Andersen and their team, works tirelessly to build connections and serve customers with care and dedication. They are active in the tight-knit community of Ridgewood, they are the familiar faces and trusted resources that local clients rely on, and the store is a hub of the neighborhood pet community.