Buddycare x Christies: Getting to Know Our New Partner 🐶

Getting to Know Christies 🐶

We recently announced that Buddycare is now available to purchase from Christies, and we’re incredibly excited about this new partnership.

To celebrate, we wanted to learn more about the story behind Christies, the brand, and the people who make it special. We caught up with Christies owner, Colin, to chat about the journey so far and discover more about the business and what’s ahead!

1. Let's go back to the beginning...Can you tell us the story behind Christies? What inspired you to start the business? 

The business started in 1992 selling horse and large animal grooming products. Colin grew up on a farm and was a well renowned cattle groomer who imported livestock grooming products from the US and sold them to other breeders as a sideline business. 

Over the next few years, it grew into a full-time job for Colin and his wife. Colin was always interested in business and the aim was to create a business which sold quality products, as well as providing exceptional customer service. To this day, these core principles are still front and centre in the business. 

The business commenced selling pet grooming products in 1996 while still selling the large animal ranges. This continued until 2011 when the large animal business was sold to allow Colin and the team to focus solely on growing the pet grooming supply business.  

2. Looking back over the past three decades, what have been the biggest milestones in Christies journey?

There have been many milestones in the business, but the main ones would attending Crufts as an exhibitor for the first time in 2003, launching our first website back in 1999, which was innovative at the time and winning many national awards for our marketing and customer service, as well as Grooming Supplier of the Year. 

3. What qualities do you look for when deciding to introduce a new brand to the Christies range?

First of all the products have to perform in a busy grooming salon, then we ask ourselves:

Does this range represent good value for the groomer?

Where will it sit in our portfolio of brands?

Is the packaging attractive with a strong marketing message?

Will it suit our customers and are they aware of the brand?

What is the brand story?

4. What was it about Buddycare that made you want us on Christies?

✨ Very attractive packaging, with a wide range of great performing products.

✨ A strong marketing and social media presence, supported by excellent customer reviews.

✨ Excellent communication with our purchasing team, along with great training and support for our sales team.

There has been excellent collaboration between the marketing teams, and so far, Christies & Buddycare feels more like a partnership than a traditional supplier/customer relationship. 

5. From your conversations with groomers, what trends are you seeing in pet grooming and pet care right now?

There is more emphasis on time saving techniques and products that help to increase efficiency.

6. You've worked with thousands of groomers over the years. What's the best piece of advice you'd give to someone opening their very first salon?

I have two pieces of advice: 

1️⃣ Don't undersell yourself on the prices you charge. Groomers invest heavily in time and money to receive the best training and buy the best equipment and products. Ensure that the prices you charge, where possible reflect this and your standard of work.

2️⃣ Buy the very best equipment you can afford from a reputable supplier

7. What's been your favourite memory from the Christies journey so far?

There are too many to just choose one, but seeing our team members progress in their roles and move into leadership within the business has been a real highlight.

Another favourite has been listening to customers feedback such as “I love Christies, they really care about their customers, and they just make me smile"

8. Finally... just for fun!

Dogs or cats? Dogs! 🐶

Favourite dog breed?  Border Collie 🐾

Tea or coffee? Coffee ☕️

Early bird or night owl? Early bird ☀️

One word to describe Buddycare? Exciting 😆

We loved speaking to Colin and really getting to know Christies and we cannot wait to continue our journey with them.

Buddycare is available to purchase on Christies now!

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