Bob and Courtney Poore stand in their store, Nooga Paws.

• Name: Nooga Paws

• Owners: Bob and Courtney Poore

• Location: 313 Manufacturers Road, Suite 111, Chattanooga

• Opened: August 2012, holding a one-year anniversary party Aug. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Service: Nooga Paws is a natural pet market that focuses on healthy, natural foods and recycled, post-consumer products. The shop maintains a product mix that's about 70 percent food and 30 percent goods such as collars, leashes and toys. Co-owner Bob Poore tries to buy from local vendors as much as possible and puts his sales staff through a college-level nutrition course before they take the floor. The store also features two wash stations for owners to give baths to their pets.

• Prices: Prices at the shop vary widely by product, and Poore tries to provide options for pet owners at all income levels.

• Staff: Seven

• How it got started: The Poores sold their house, took out a small business loan and put a six-figure investment into opening Nooga Paws a year ago after one of their dogs developed some fatty tumors. The Poores realized they'd been feeding their dogs a diet that included colored dyes and some derivatives of antifreeze and launched Nooga Paws as a place for pet owners to learn about their pets' diets and easily find natural options. "We know it would be a grind; we knew it would be hard, but we really wanted to do it," Bob Poore said. "It's a fun thing for us, and we feel like we're selling something that matters."

• Five-year goal: While first-year sales have exceeded expectations, the store is just now settling in to a comfortable groove, Poore said. The company's five-year goals are shifting but could include future expansions and growth, he added.

• Website: noogapaws.com

• Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Phone number: 423-531-6113

-- Compiled by Shelly Bradbury, who may be reached at 757-6525 or at sbradbury@timesfreepress.com.