A good pet owner treats their animals like family. They think carefully about what goes into their food, who they trust with their grooming, and where they shop for the treats that make a tail wag. Bellevue has always been a community full of good pet owners, which is exactly why James Williams chose it as the home for his Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming (WGBG) franchise. Part specialty pet boutique, part professional grooming salon, and part neighborhood gathering spot for the dog-obsessed, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is a place where pets are both celebrated and pampered, We sat down with Williams to talk about what drew him to the franchise, what makes Woof Gang different, and why Bellevue turned out to be exactly the right community.
What inspired you to bring Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming to Bellevue?
We had an interest to bring the WGBG services to Bellevue (West Nashville) area because we felt that the brand of our services fit the community. The Bellevue and surrounding areas have continued to see residential growth and an increase in the pet population. We feel that WGBG provides a local neighborhood option for pet care that focuses primarily on our dog grooming services mixed with unique specialty retail products and treats. Our aim is to become a long-term member and partner with the community.
What sets Woof Gang apart from a traditional pet store or grooming salon?
WGBG offers options different than the big-box pet stores with our personalized grooming experience, exclusive high-end retail products, including healthy food, and gourmet treats. Our WGBG retail associates handle the scheduling, phone calls, sales, and other administrative tasks, allowing our groomers to focus on the personalized grooming services for a better spa experience. All of our groomers are passionate about their work and love what they do. They are experienced in managing animal behaviors and committed to the health, safety, well-being, and care of all pets.
How did you personally first become involved in the pet industry?
I became involved in the pet care industry as a pet owner myself. Back in 2024, I went in for a grooming experience at one of the WGBG locations in North Carolina and my personal experience was one of the best that I've had with grooming services. I began inquiring about the operations, the franchise, and opportunities to grow in the Nashville market. At the time there weren't any WGBG locations in the Middle Tennessee market. My wife and I liked the franchise opportunity and decided to partner with WGBG to open within the market. Currently, there are three in Middle Tennessee, six across the state and over 400 locations in 34 states across the U.S.
What have you learned about the special relationship people have with their pets since opening the business?
This is a simple response.There's a strong human/animal bond that's unlike relationships among people. As pet parents, we feel the heartbeat and emotion of our pets and they likewise of us. That is essentially why it's important for the WGBG spa experience to be as stress free as possible for our furry friends and a service that meets the expectations of the pet parents.
Grooming can be stressful for some pets. What steps does your team take to create a comfortable, personalized experience for each dog?
Our grooming services are scheduled as individual appointment similar to that of an actual salon-style spa treatment. Assigning a designated appointment for each service allows the groomer to dedicate his/her time in a stress-free one-on-one personalized pampering session. We also work to ensure that the appointment time matches the temperament of each pet. For example, scheduling dogs that are more reactive for earlier or later grooming sessions during times with fewer pets in the grooming area.
What are some of the products or treats that customers have been especially excited to discover at Woof Gang?
Our store carries some unique homestyle bakery treats, all-natural treats and chews, dry and wet pet food, toys & accessories, as well as some health and wellness products. A lot of our customers like the unique bakery and birthday cookies and treats to celebrate birthdays and other "good boy" and "good girl" occasions. We’ve also found the natural chews and Woof Gang brand variety flavor chips to be a big hit as a training treat or snack for our furry friends.
What are your future goals or plans for Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Bellevue?
The goal for WGBG-B is to grow and engage locally as part of the community and become not only a local business, but to be a true neighbor within the community. We realize that pet parents entrust us with providing care to their loved ones, which for many people are often considered as part of their family. Therefore, it is important to show how we care through each grooming service or retail experience, the "Woof Gang Way."
WoofGangBakery.com/pages/locations/bellevue
"There's a strong human/animal bond that's unlike relationships among people."