Meet Michele Hanson Pahan | Owner and Creator of Riley’s Natural Pet Supply

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michele Hanson Pahan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
In 2014, my husband and I left other careers outside of the pet industry to open our small business in my home town of Littleton, Colorado, that I have grown up in for 58 years. Nine months after opening our store, I tragically and unexpectedly lost my husband. The most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make was deciding to walk away from our dreams and all we had created, or keep the store open and navigate my way through our shared business where we had very specific skillsets.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a Certified and Licensed massage therapist of 30 years and previous nutrition, massage, and health instructor, I have always been dedicated to holistic health, both in my personal and professionally life, as well as with my pets. With my passion for holistic health, opening up a natural pet supply has always been a dream of mine. What sets Riley’s apart from other pet supply stores, is that we are a small, family store, that focuses on personalized customer service. We take pride in tailoring to each pet and customers specific needs, budget, and health. Our staff is highly trained to assist every customer that walks in our door.

Opening our store came naturally, maintaining our store presents new challenges each year. We had a great mentor in this industry before we opened, who gave us incredible guidance, and my late husband and I wrote a very comprehensive business plan after studying the industry and engaging small business courses. As for overcoming challenges, we kept opening the doors each day, offer exceptional customer service, set goals to conquer each obstacle and make each day better than the last. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that in the hardest time of our lives, we CAN survive, and thrive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Red Rocks Amphitheathre is one of the most natural and historical landmarks in the world. Any concert or hike in this beautiful region of Colorado would be well-received by any visitor. Baseball games at Coor’s Field and a night in Downtown Denver would be quite enjoyable. As someone who lives in the mountains, a visit to Downtown Evergreen to see the shops, restaurants, and paddle boating at Evergreen lake makes for a memorable day after visiting Mt. Evans, one of Colorado’s 14,000′ mountains.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my hometown of 58 years, the incredible Columbine Community of Littleton, Colorado, who helped me grow the store through continued support, referrals, and welcomed new protocols and changes with the Covid-19 pandemic.

I also want to thank my general manager and employee of seven years, Lauren and my sister, Cherie, both of whom have dedicated incredible heart and soul to keeping our doors open during the most challenging times of our country and in my personal life.

Website: https://rileysnaturalpetsupply.com/

Instagram: @rileysnaturalpetsupply

Linkedin: Michele Hanson Pahan

Facebook: Riley’s Natural Pet Supply

Yelp: Riley’s Natural Pet Supply

Other: TikTok: @rileysnaturalpetsupply Nextdoor.com: Riley’s Natural Pet Supply