THE BUSINESS
Marcie Culver started her business because of a need for personal and professional life balance. What started as a small dog-grooming business in her home has grown to a full-service pet spa with 3 locations and over 70 employees.
Marcie’s Pet Spa opened 18 years ago, and every few years, the business outgrew its space and expanded to new facilities. During those years, the business also added boarding, daycare, and training services. One secret to their success is considering the staff a part of the family and creating a positive work lifestyle.
Katie, the Human Resources/Business Manager, said of her role on the team, “It doesn’t feel like work to be here because I WANT to be here.” Marcie’s son Nolan designed their current West Salem building space and holds a full-time management role on the team. Nolan said, “What makes us unique is the family vibe on our team. We trust our employees to make decisions, and we were thrilled to be able to start offering employee benefits a few years ago.”
Her other son Adam and with his girlfriend Kylie manage the Ripon location. Marcie’s partner, JR, is the full-time financial advisor for the business. Many team members started out as volunteers at Marcie’s Pet Spa and have stayed on as employees for several years. The business recently began an internship opportunity through a community disability program as well.
THE COMMUNITIES
Marcie said, “We know how important the community is to our success. What works in one location will not work in another. We have lots of loyalty to our communities. We are thrilled to partner with area groups like the Humane Society, to which we provide emergency grooming services. We also love to work with groups like the Boys & Girls Club or Girl Scouts to help educate young people about pet care.”
Nolan added, “We are so grateful to everyone who helped us along the way and those who continue to support us. We are especially thankful for Brickl Brothers who helped us with the construction of our new space, and who are also clients at the pet spa!”
THE OBSTACLES
Nolan said, “Location has been an obstacle over the years. First, we were outgrowing space quickly which required multiple moves. Then, we dealt with an expiring lease, which motivated us in the decision to buy. However, we ran into the problem of finding the right piece of land. A few parcels didn’t work out and we were running out of time. It was a miracle when we were able to obtain this seven acres of land in West Salem to build our needed facility and still have room for growth.”
Accomplishments with SBDC at UW-La Crosse
- SBDC Consulting
- Funding strategy and resources
- Financial projections
THE ASSISTANCE
The staff at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-La Crosse helped connect Marcie and her team to financial resources, ultimately obtaining an SBA loan through a local bank. SBDC Consultant Mike Walker guided the team through the process of growing a business. Marcie said, “He kept in touch with us and had good follow-up. He was great at explaining what steps we needed to take to plan for our business even years into the future.”
Learn how the SBDC at UW-La Crosse assisted this small business.
THE ADVICE
Marcie advised anyone wanting to start their own business to start small, and not get too big too quickly. She stressed how important it is to really meet the needs of the individual community. She mentioned that her team participates in school activities and local fundraisers and really engages with the three communities where their business is located.
Listen to Marcie’s advice for anyone wanting to start their own business.
Published August 2025