This holiday season brings puppies, bikes and everything nice

Local business owners who groom pups and sell bikes are finding success.

Last month, Lollipups Grooming & Treats, 9577 Osuna NE, expanded its dog grooming business. The company started selling retail items like brushes, dog treats and toys.

Co-owner Jennifer Acuna has been grooming dogs for the last eight years.

In December 2022, she saw a Facebook post by Kohl Merling, who had posted that he was looking for a co-owner for a dog salon he had just purchased.

“I just reached out,” said Acuna, who met Merling for the first time after she had responded to the post.

Merling also owns Sandia Pet Waste Removal.

The store opened in late 2022 and has hired more dog groomers to meet demand. Lollipups recently expanded into the neighboring building for the retail side of the business.

“When I’m speaking to my clients about grooming, a lot of them don’t know what they need,” said Acuna.

She explained that as a dog groomer, she sees every angle of a dog and she knows what things get overlooked.

“A lot of dogs have matting on their underarms or inner legs and behind the ears,” said Acuna.

She also mentioned the importance of brushing a dog's teeth, especially with the holiday season coming up.

Business picks but around the holidays because owners are trying to get their pooch looking cute for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Acuna said she will give visiting dogs a treat to keep them happy and relaxed.

Fat Tire Cycles

Fat Tire Cycles is a local Albuquerque shop that has offered its customers bikes, rentals and repair services since 1994.

Erik Faria took over as owner of the business in 2021. He started as a tire fitter in the shop in 2005.

“I worked here all the way through 2021 doing various jobs,” said Faria.

As owner, he expanded the store to its third location, 12501 Candelaria NE, last month.

All three stores are having a whole stock sale to get ready for the new year.

“Everything that is in stock currently is on sale,” said Faria. The store needs to make room for next year's new stock of bikes.

Faria said sales picked up during the pandemic when people and families were looking for things to do outside.

“Three years ago we sold a ton of kids' bikes," said Faria. “Last year, we hardly sold any BMX or kids bikes.”

Bike sales pick up around the holidays. But it comes with an age-old problem: How do you wrap a bicycle for Christmas?

“Use a bell or something related to the bike,” said Faria.