With the rise of apartment developments in LA Koreatown, new residents are flocking to the neighborhood, fostering the growth of service-based businesses. Koreatown’s pet service industry is expanding steadily as more pet owners from the younger generation choose Koreatown as their home.
On the Korea Daily’s 2024 Koreatown business directory, there are up to 30 grooming and pet supply stores run by Korean Americans in Koreatown, and more than 40 if you include veterinary clinics.
According to industry experts, the main customer base comprises Gen Z and Korean American seniors.
Studio 2000, specializing in pet photography for 30 years in Koreatown Plaza, has recently enhanced its offerings for pet clients.
“As more and more customers consider their pets as family members, half of our custom photo printing services are pet photos,” said Jihyun Moon, CEO of Studio 2000. “We have started a 3D printing service that prints pet photos on tumblers, mugs, and other items, and the customer response has been overwhelmingly positive.”
The most competitive pet business in LA Koreatown is pet grooming. There are about 30 businesses in the Koreatown neighborhood alone. Grooming costs $60 to $75 for a service that lasts about an hour to an hour and thirty minutes.
“Considering the size of Koreatown, the high concentration of grooming businesses is a sign of high demand,” said an industry insider. “Korean-American professionals have excellent pet grooming skills, and the share of non-Korean customers is gradually increasing because their prices are reasonable.”
“Even with high inflation, we have only increased the cost of our services by five dollars,” said Miyeon Kim, owner of Puppy Style. “The overnight service cost ($60-65) is also about 50% of major stores’ price,” she said, adding, “We also sometimes provide teeth cleaning and claw clipping to our regular customers for free.”
“Over the 15 years that we’ve been in business, the share of repeat customers has risen to 80 percent,” Mung Puppy Store said, noting that owners don’t change pet grooming service locations as often as they would like because they want their pets to have a low-stress, relaxing environment.
However, brick-and-mortar pet supply stores are facing stiff competition from online stores that offer lower prices and a wider selection of products.
As more pet owners turn to online shopping, an online retailer popular among Korean Americans, Hotdeal, is gradually expanding its pet products.
“Our three best-selling items are Jonggeun-dang LabiVet Probiotics, Dental Chews, and Fucoidog treats,” said Hotdeal, adding, “Nosework toys, which combine training and playing for the dog, are popular among the owners, as it is known to relieve stress and provide emotional stability for pets.”
The pet healthcare sector is also growing rapidly in the Koreatown business market.
In particular, as pet dry rooms that dry pets’ fur after bathing have become very popular in Korea, pet appliances have emerged in the Koreatown industry as well in the past year.
Some of the most popular products include Cuckoo Nello Air Shower & Pet Dryer and Caresys Smart Pet Dry Room, although they could be a bit pricey. The Cuckoo’s Nello Air Shower and Pet Dryer is priced at $999.99, and the Caresys Smart Pet Dry Room is priced at $799 to $999.
“It dries quickly, removes dirt from fur easily, and is easy to clean,” said a spokesperson for Cuckoo Americas, adding, “We offer rental services as well as purchase, reducing the financial burden on customers.”
With the influx of the younger generation into Koreatown, pet-friendly cafes have increased, while some pet care companies specializing in dog walking and daycare services have appeared.
According to Yelp, there are more than 10 pet-friendly coffee shops in Koreatown, including Alchemist, Memory Look, Loft Cafe, and Sharp’s Specialty Cafe.
Pet Care LA offers dog walking, cat care, overnight, and pet sitting services. Dog walks are $25 for 30 minutes, and power walks are $30.
BY EUNYOUNG LEE, HOONSIK WOO [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
