Surprise Hits: FURminator terminates pet hair, cheaper brushes
Filed under: Columns
Would you spend $60 for a hair brush for your dog? No, you say? Well, that's probably because you've never seen the FURminator. The groundbreaking undercoat-removing device with the bright yellow handle is a must-have for pet owners. Really.
I was skeptical at first. Sixty bucks for a dog brush! My own hairbrush doesn't cost half that. But then I borrowed one a few times at the dog run, and I was completely won over. The FURminator may cost 10 times what some generic pet brush does, but it does at least 10 times as good a job.
Angie Porter, a St. Louis groomer, developed the tool that pulls out gobs of thick undercoat hair without pain for the animal or much effort from the human. Porter and her husband launched the company in 2003. Inc. magazine named FURminator Inc. the 39th fastest-growing private company last year, with 2007 revenues of $25 million, up from $700,000 in 2004. FURminator now sells a variety of shedding products, with smaller FURminators costing "only" $23.
The FURminator's success comes not only from having a superior product -- which it totally is -- but Porter also rode a wave of increasing pet spending. Since 2003, American spending on pets has gone from $32 billion to an estimated $45 billion this year. Suddenly, a $60 brush for my dog sounds quite reasonable.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-26-2009 @ 9:16AM
Lynne said...
I have a Furminator and have two cats that shed quite a bit. This is by far the best tool I have ever used to help remove the excess fur from the cats. And the best part of it is that my cats LOVE to be brushed with it- they purr and purr, like I am giving them a treat- when in fact, it is really a treat for my home! It is a win- win tool...DEFINITELY one that should be invested in.
A Cat Lover who hates shedding!
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6-27-2009 @ 3:15PM
Tracy said...
I bought the original Furminator from Drugstore.com for about $20. It was possibly the best $20 I ever spent. The Furminator has helped me to successfully & easily manage the hair from four cats and three dogs. The pets literally line up to get their turn. I keep it right on my counter top for quick and easy access. Well worth the investment.
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7-04-2009 @ 11:36PM
Jean said...
I bought one from my vet. The best comb yet!!!! A+++++
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8-02-2009 @ 6:54PM
Daleen said...
I bought one for my 2 dogs - unfortunately many of the teeth broke which is not what one expects from a expensive 'quality' product. Not impressed.
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