Lemos in Los Osos is celebrating 20 years of business. Pictured are Brandon Grillo, Ryder Davis, Tyler Campbell, Darcie Genito, and Peter Stewart. Photo by Dean Sullivan
A North Coast business is celebrating 20 years of serving multiple breeds of customers big on toys and treats.
Lemos Feed & Pet Supply in Los Osos is celebrating their 20th anniversary coinciding with the company’s 54th anniversary overall. Two decades is a milestone for any small business, but one facing competition from online sales, big box stores and even grocery stores, makes it an even bigger accomplishment.
“Reaching 20 years in Los Osos is a meaningful milestone for us,” said Tyler Campbell, the store manager who has worked at the location for 14 years. “This community has supported us from the beginning. Most of the customers are regulars, and we just build relationships with them. They know me from when I started here. I still have people call me “kiddo” and things like that.”
Campbell is 40 now and takes the kiddo in stride.
Since opening its doors in 2006, the Los Osos store, 2085 10th St., has become a resource for pet owners and livestock caretakers selling supplies for dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, goats, horses and some reptiles and rodents.
For those who are curious, the Los Osos store’s top sellers are dog food, dog treats and dog toys. Somewhat surprising is that chicken supplies might slightly nudge out cat supplies — no wonder felines are always judging us.
Campbell says that community support for the location has always been positive and customer service is a companywide goal.
“We’re going to tackle customers at the door and ask what they need,” he said laughing. “At our store you get people with a knowledge of what you’re asking about. You get a real person. We’ll stop what we’re doing if we’re working on something and focus on you until the need is met.”
Some of those needs continue out into the parking lot. Any product over 10 pounds is carried out to the car for all customers who want it. The store also posts flyers for missing pets and collects supplies to donate to those in need.
Beyond the aisles of toys, treats, pet carriers, feed, leashes, supplements and more, the company collaborates with others to offer other essential care needs. The employees receive monthly trainings on news products and updates on established ones.
“A company will come out from usually like the Midwest or something, and they’ll sit down with us for an hour, hour and a half, and tell us what’s new, what they’re about, that kind of thing,” said Campbell. “So, every month we have trainings on the different brands that we have.”
Over the decades, the pet supply industry has seen tremendous shifts in food, enrichment, wellness, and changes in the bond between humans and pets where pets are now considered important family members. According to Forbes, millennials are the largest generation of pet owners, and their attitudes towards pets have played a significant role in transforming the pet care industry. “Millennials prioritize their pets’ emotional well-being and health, resulting in increased spending on pet enrichment activities, such as toys, puzzles, and training classes. The demand for eco-friendly and sustainable pet products has grown among millennials, leading to the emergence of companies and brands focusing on environmentally conscious pet care options.”
As for the Los Osos location, Campbell says one of the biggest changes in the last 20 years is “the quality of the food and the treats — the quality of the brands, the foods and the amount of safety checks they go through. When I started, grain free was just catching on. Where now, almost half the food we carry is human grade.”
Relatively new to the pet care industry are CBD products, also carried by Lemos, which are non-intoxicating cannabidiol extracts derived from hemp plants, available primarily as oils/tinctures, chewable treats, and topical creams. They are marketed to help manage joint pain, anxiety, and seizures in animals.
“We have CBD products that that help out the dogs and cats with their hip and joint and anxiety issues.” Campbell said. “We also carry some homeopathic remedies to help out as well.”
Take note, human CBD products may contain unsafe ingredients for pets such as xylitol, chocolate.
Lemos also facilitates pet teeth cleanings that are anesthesia-free or with mild sedation offered by Howell ‘n Good Doggie Dentals and veterinarian supervised by Dr. Patrick Smith.
VIP Petcare provides wellness and preventative veterinary care through community clinics hosted at each Lemos location offering microchipping, vaccinations, Rx flea and tick control, heartworm prevention, testing and deworming, titer testing, and more.
Thirteen of the locations, excluding the warehouse, have self-service pet wash stations. Although animals that have been skunked are not invited to have a spa day, people have gotten creative with the pets that they bring in. A goat and a mini pig are among the multitude of dogs that have gotten bathed.
Lemos also make personalized I.D. tags on site, rent traps to relocate animals, do special orders for products, and sharpen knives, scissors and clippers.
In 1972, founder Mike Lemos started delivering hay and other ranch products to his neighbors. Agreements were made with a handshake, and the business revolved around Mike’s old flatbed truck. Today they are a regional business with 14 locations.
Lemos in Los Osos is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Of course, your pets are welcome. They can be reached at (805)528-8910 on online at lemospet.com/los-osos.
