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Kim
Malkasian works on her Web site with her pooch, Haley.
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Kim Malkasian of Brookfield has always
had an entrepreneurial spirit. It drove her from her original path as
a medical assistant to a fine arts degree and then on to owning her
own businesses. "After I graduated from UWM, I awoke to the fact
that my passion lay in entrepreneurship," she says.
Right now, Malkasian is operating two
of her own ventures; one is a promotional marketing business. The
other, Doggone Glamorous (www.doggoneglamorous.com) combines her
lifelong love of dogs and her innate business acumen. Doggone
Glamorous is an on-line retail outlet of just about any doggie-related
item you can imagine. It’s less than one year old and doing well.
"I’ve been told that it can take a year for an Internet
business to get going, but I know that I’m on the right track."
One of Malkasian’s top sellers is her
own invention, an all natural pet shampoo without chemicals called
Green Paws. "It’s a three-in-one performance shampoo that
cleans, conditions and deodorizes in one step. It’s bottled and
labeled right here in Brookfield," she says. Currently in
development is an all natural flea and tick shampoo, which she soon
will offer for sale.
It’s a labor of love when Malkasian
selects the stock for her shop. She looks for the most unusual items
she can find. On the Doggone Glamorous site, you’ll find a bronze
door knocker that looks like your Westie, or a set of ceramic tiles
emblazoned with the likeness of a black Lab, or perhaps a snow globe
containing a tiny collie.
Dog owners can search through an array
of products for their canine best friends. "My market is not the
local pet store shopper. My customers tend to want things that are
unique and artsy," Malkasian says. What products are hot?
"Customers want any product that looks like their own dog."
Malkasian is looking forward to a
successful year. "Staying on top of a very competitive market is
a challenge," she says. "Having a variety of unique, quality
dog gifts and providing responsive customer service is my goal."
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