When designer Mindy Montney adopted her dog, Cheeky, she went looking for pet products that felt as stylish and sharp as the fashion world where she’d built her career. They weren’t easy to find. “I remember going into stores and always feeling like I had to settle,” she recalls. “It was pretty clear there was room for better pet products.”
Montney launched her online shop Dog & Co. in 2014, with Cheeky by her side. What started as a creative outlet in a Bushwick studio grew into a Manhattan flagship and later a Bridgehampton location – each filled with tail-wagging toys, treats, costumes, and clothes. But behind the playful branding was the grind of running and scaling a small retail business. “At first it was me doing everything,” she says. And as Dog & Co. expanded, so did the enthusiastic customer base – and the pressures of managing two brick-and-mortar locations, with unpredictable expenses and heightened risk driven by more vendors and increased visibility.
For Montney, sustaining growth has largely meant aligning with customer support that helps strengthen her business and elevates how she operates. She’s found it, she says, through her American Express Membership. “Being a Card Member means being more than just a customer,” she says. “It’s a really nice designation for us to have as a small business.” With the American Express® Business Gold Card and Amex’s world-class customer service fielding her questions, she’s discovered financial tools that let her focus on the creative, community-oriented work she loves most.
A foundation for growth with Business Gold
From the start, the American Express® Business Gold Card served as Montney’s primary tool for purchasing inventory. “It was the only business card I ever applied for,” she says proudly, “and it’s the one we've used since the beginning.”
Because Dog & Co. works with dozens of vendors, Business Gold became the tool that allowed her to place inventory orders while earning rewards on her Card. In turn, she redeems these Membership Rewards® points to cover certain unexpected business purchases (“The last thing I want to do is spend $250 on our eighth printer,” she jokes), but also for moments of team building, like covering her employees’ travel to a dog show.1
Above all, the Business Gold Card has given her the flexibility and confidence to grow her business. It’s helped her manage expenses and maintain cash flow without relying on additional financing. “We haven’t had to take out a small business loan,” she explains, “and that’s been a big relief.”
Support that stays by your side
For all the benefits that come with the Business Gold Card, what Montney says she values most is the support that comes when things go wrong, especially when it comes to security.2 “As a small business owner, we know that fraud may come up from time to time,” she says. “Luckily we've been well protected [against fraud]” She explains that Dog & Co. works with many small vendors who still take card numbers over the phone, which means her information is sometimes at risk. And over the years, that risk has led to a few close calls.
She recounts an episode when someone had stolen their card number to sign up for a dating website and underwrite several flower deliveries. “I was like, wow, that person really went for it,” recalls Montney with a laugh. Instead of panic, she felt protected. Amex resolved the fraud issues right away, replacing her Card. “We’ve had numerous incidents like that over the years,” Montney admits. “But with Amex, we know we can usually count on them to help sort things out.”
The customer service experience stands out even more. “Anytime I’ve had an issue, it’s been so seamless,” she maintains. She especially appreciates the live chat feature she can access as needed.3 “I’m a big chat person, so being able to jump on while I’m in the store, without having to walk away from a customer, has been huge.”
Even in moments when a phone call is unavoidable, the experience reflects the same caliber of care, where advice is consistently sound, and support feels human. “In my interactions with Amex, I've really come to appreciate that there's a level of recognition and effectiveness. You don't have to speak to a manager.
A future ready to fetch more
Today, Dog & Co. has a clear identity, a devoted following, and a presence in two communities that feel like home to Montney. But she still has big plans: new designs, improved systems, collaborations, and experiences she hopes to bring to her customers and employees. “There are so many things we want to do,” she says. Knowing she has the backing to fuel that ambition makes success feel more achievable.
Story Footnotes
1 Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.
The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.
2 Not all disputes are resolved in the Card Member's favor.
3 The American Express® App and app features are available only for eligible accounts in the United States. American Express® prepaid Cards and Cards issued by non-American Express issuers are not eligible
To log in, customers must have an American Express user ID and password or create one in the app
