By Hallie Brown
From an idea in a marketing class to a downtown Greenville store, Anne Nutter, president and CEO of Paw Paws USA, has turned a class project into a profit.
Students in the marketing class had to come up with a product idea and Nutter chose dog collars, with her dog, Peanut, being the inspiration.
Nutter started making dog collars and her classmates were her first customers.
“I started to get orders in class and I had basically a bunch of broke college students around me that were willing to pay me $20 for a collar or $25 and then I noticed they were like wanting to customize it a little bit,” Nutter said. Her classmates wanted the products customized to include certain colors and pet’s names, so Nutter began adding the signature details her products still have today.
As Nutter’s business grew, she moved from making the products at home to a workspace on McBee Ave. She opened a small store below the workspace in 2009.
Eight years later, when Nutter was ready to open the flagship Paw Paws USA store, she knew just where she wanted to be. “I just love downtown,” she says. “I just love the vibe.”
The store at 651 S. Main Street has an in-house production facility where the handcrafted nylon ribbon collars, leashes and harnesses are made.
The products are crafted using a special stitching technique that makes them particularly durable. Nutter’s custom creations feature fun and colorful designs inspired by men’s ties and fashion trends. All materials used for the products are sourced from the USA.
Not only does Nutter sell collars, leashes and harnesses, she allows small businesses to sell products in her store, too.
The products range from chewy dog treats to birthday cakes for your special four-legged friends.
Store hours: 11 a.m. – 5p.m., Mon.-Fri.; 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sun.
For more information: pawpawsusa.com
