Brothers Matt and Spencer Stillman are bringing years of experience in both pet products and the Battle Ground community to their newest venture, Paws Cascadia.
Paws Cascadia is a new pet store that opened recently in Battle Ground’s 720 W. Main plaza, near Safeway. The Stillmans selected the pet store’s name because the majority of products are sourced from the “Cascadia” bioregion, including British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and parts of California and Montana.
“I’ve been studying animal nutrition since high school, and it’s been a passion for us rather than just another business opportunity,” Matt Stillman said.
Matt Stillman added he has 23 years of experience in the animal nutrition realm, and Spencer Stillman has 16 years.
“I think if we had one core mission statement for our store … the most important thing for us is your animal gets the right thing, and then everything else is secondary to that,” Matt Stillman said.
For the shelves of their pet store, the Stillman brothers sought out the highest quality local products that don’t break the bank for pet owners.
Matt Stillman added there’s a common misconception that, in the natural pet food world, “there’s only one way to do them, or that it’s expensive.”
In most cases, after asking a customer about their pet’s problems or what product they want to try for their pet, Matt Stillman said that 99% of the time, he can do better than competing stores and at a lower cost.
“We want to save people money and help their pet at the same time, which is a different attitude than I think a lot of businesses have,” he said.
The Stillmans are not new to the community or business world. They previously owned Main Street Pet Solutions in Battle Ground, and former customers of theirs have recognized them when they walk into Paws Cascadia, the two said.
Currently, Paws Cascadia caters to just dogs and cats, but the brothers said they would like to expand into products for smaller household pets, such as reptiles, amphibians, avians and others as they continue to learn more about the area’s needs. Matt Stillman said the community’s needs have changed since the brothers operated Main Street Pet Solutions, which closed in 2015.
Since a soft opening for Paws Cascadia at the end of August and a grand opening event in October, the Stillmans have received positive community feedback, both Stillman brothers said.
Their pet products include food, treats and supplies for dogs and cats. The food ranges from air-dried, to broth, to dry food, frozen food and more.
Another thing that the Stillman brothers believe sets them apart from other stores is a 100% guarantee on all products, which is helpful for pet owners who aren’t sure their pet will like a new kind of food or if a collar doesn’t fit, Matt Stillman added.
“We can sell it to you, but it won’t do you any good if [your pet] won’t eat it or if it doesn’t fit,” Spencer Stillman said.
The Stillmans are considering a second Clark County location and new services, such as consultations for a pet’s needs, and more raw foods, they said.
Paws Cascadia is open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, except for major holidays. For more information, call 360-721-1162, or go to pawscascadia.etailpet.com.
