Charley and Trent Rowan never planned to leave their corporate careers. The idea of owning a business only took shape in 2023, when Charley became pregnant and the couple began thinking differently about their future.
“We were looking for something we could do as a family,” Trent Rowan said. “Something we could build together and feel proud of.”
The decision meant walking away from the stability of corporate jobs in supply chain and customer service, a move that came with hesitation. Still, the Rowans said the excitement of creating something of their own outweighed the risks.
Trent and Charley Rowan, owners of petbar in Oak Forest, pose with their daughter during a family photo. (Submitted photo)
That leap led them to open a brick-and-mortar location of petbar Boutique in Houston’s Oak Forest neighborhood, where the business has quickly grown into what they describe as a community gathering place for dog owners.
The Rowan’s say their corporate backgrounds prepared them more than they expected. Years spent in structured office environments taught them how to collaborate, manage different personalities and stay focused on shared goals. Charley Rowan’s customer service experience proved especially valuable.
“Those skills are directly tied to how we give our customers the best possible experience,” she said.
Opening a physical storefront in an era dominated by online retail was not a decision they took lightly. The Rowans credit mentors and family members with business ownership experience for helping them navigate early challenges. They also pointed to petbar’s established model and the success of other franchise operators as a source of confidence.
In their first year, the most encouraging sign has been steady growth driven largely by word-of-mouth. New customers often arrive after recommendations from neighbors or friends.
“Hearing someone say, ‘My neighbor loves it here,’ means everything to us,” Trent Rowan said. “That kind of trust is huge.”
Oak Forest’s tight-knit nature has played a central role in the business’s success. The Rowans said they intentionally focus on building relationships rather than treating each visit as a transaction.
“We know our customers, we know their dogs, and neighbors run into neighbors here,” Charley Rowan said. “That’s shaped how we’ve grown.”
The transition from corporate life to self-employment required major personal and professional adjustments. There is no clear line between work and home, they said, and the business is always on their minds. They also had to become comfortable promoting themselves in public and holding themselves accountable without the structure of a traditional workplace.
“As owners, how you show up matters all the time,” Trent Rowan said.
Over time, as they hired and trained a trusted team, the Rowans were able to reclaim a healthier work-life balance. That progress, they said, has brought a deeper sense of fulfillment.
“Every milestone feels personal because it’s something we built,” Charley Rowan said.
That confidence has already led to growth beyond Oak Forest. The Rowans recently took over a second location in Conroe and say their first year of ownership has shaped how they approach expansion.
The lesson, they said, is to protect the personal touch that made the first location successful.
“Our relationships with customers and their pets are what set us apart,” Trent Rowan said. “That has to stay consistent, no matter how many locations we have.”
The couple believes their business reflects a broader shift toward personal, service-oriented work as technology and artificial intelligence reshape traditional office jobs. While technology can increase efficiency, they said it cannot replace trust, familiarity and human connection.
“At the end of the day, we’re in the business of people and dogs,” Charley Rowan said. “That part can’t be automated.”
For others considering self-employment, the Rowans acknowledge the fear that comes with leaving the familiar behind. Doubt, they said, is part of the process.
“But pushing through those early, hard stages makes the progress so much more meaningful,” Trent Rowan said. “Watching something slowly become real is incredibly rewarding.”
petbar Boutique Oak Forest offers dog washing and grooming services and is located at 1717 W 34th St Suite C1500, Houston, TX 77018. For more information or to book an appointment, visit petbarinc.com/locations/houston-oak-forest.