Cati Sesana was sitting at home trying to help her mom find a local store in DC that would have a cute sweater for her dog but she couldn’t find anything outside of the big box stores. Last month, he opened Canino Dog Boutique to solve the problem.
“I was like ‘Let me do some research,’ there are stores like this in New York but I don’t know anything in DC,” she said.
However, Sesana had a long journey from researching the pet boutique business to her opening day. Sesana played water polo at George Washington University and majored in music, so she didn’t know much about starting a business.
One of his first tasks was to figure out what he was going to sell.
“At first I was only going to make accessories or clothes and not treats or food,” she said. “But I got really deep into pet nutrition and what makes your dog last longer.”
He remembers the first problem he had in finding food for his dog, Aiko and wanted to eliminate the worry for his customers.
“I only carry two brands of dog food, so I kind of take away a lot of those decisions like, ‘What am I going to do? What is right for my dog?’ so I only know and trust brands,” she said.
As for her clothes and accessories, she only sells products from small, local shops without distribution to major retailers. One of the local stores that Sesana bought told him that he was their first retailer and since then, business has improved.
“By shopping here, you help other small businesses and all kinds of domino effects,” Sesana said.
As a first-time business owner, Sesana knows all about the hurdles of trying to get a small business off the ground.
“The biggest challenge was finding a landlord who would give me a chance,” he said.
Sesana visited spaces in many high-traffic shopping areas, such as Georgetown and met many landlords who loved her concept but first-time business owners didn’t.
“I think the pandemic has scared landlords into giving smaller businesses a chance, because so many have closed,” he said. “But then the personality of a neighborhood kind of gets destroyed. … Why would I go to 14th Street when I can shop from Lululemon online?”
Finally, Sesana was given an opportunity for a space just off 14th Street on Belmont Street. Conveniently located next to Streets Market and across the street from Doozydog! Club.
On Nov. 6 he opened his doors and worked every day since then. The store is open Monday through Friday, from 10:30 am-2:30 pm, 4-7 pm and on weekends 10:30 am – 4 pm Sesana is currently the only employee.
“I’m the company’s graphic designer, customer service, and dog walker!” he said, gesturing to his dog who was lying on his doggie bed.
After Sesana closes the shop, he’s out at night playing drums in a band.
He says being a musician has given him the right mindset to get through the long days at his boutique.
“Slow days are tough, but I can zoom out and see the bigger picture,” he said.
Canino Dog Boutique is located at 1409 Belmont St NW, Washington, DC 20009
