Meet Betsy Oei | Owner of community-based independent pet boutique

We had the good fortune of connecting with Betsy Oei and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Betsy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks has always been an integral part of my life. For as long as I can remember, my “risky” decisions have turned out to be the most impactful ones. It may appear to some that my decisions are rash and impulsive because once I decide to take action I am all in. But the research and game theory scenarios have been completed. In deciding to open my new business, I had worked on my business plan for years in my head. I played out decisions and consequences while watching other business models rise and fall. I knew the principles that I would adhere to no matter what and what choices could be adjusted to create a successful business both personally and financially.

Knowing internally that “risky” decisions may only appear to be unsound, I embrace being considered a risk-taker. I love to prove people wrong and I love to do that boldly. I love to go against the norm and have never really been seen as a conformist. This makes life exciting and keeps me in a position to never be satisfied with a situation. Without taking a chance on an employee, a process, or an entire business idea, you never know what could happen.

The first business I owned was a dog daycare in 2002 and that was also a tremendous risk financially and careerwise. At the time, dog daycares were a new concept that had to be introduced and explained to potential customers. The industry was brand new and the few entrepreneurs that decided to open businesses worked together to standardize best practices across the country. We wanted to make sure that daycare centers for dogs would have similar cleaning, space, and safety requirements. To the outsider, my business probably appeared impulsive and haphazard, but it was actually meticulously planned and coordinated for several months before even securing a physical location.

Taking risks (and following through) has shaped who I am and what I am about. Safety in conformity is boring. So I like to take risks with almost every aspect of my life, except physical feats where my feet are disconnected from the ground.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Lickers and Whines is Smyrna’s newest pet boutique with heart and soul—a community-based store where tails are always wagging and the fun never ends. What makes us special is that we’re not just another pet store; we’re an intimate place where dogs and cats are welcome to come inside and play while their humans casually shop local. It’s more than a store; it’s a community hub where pets play, humans connect, and every purchase supports local shelters.
I’ve been planning this business in my head for more than twenty years. During that time, my husband’s job had us moving around a lot while I was busy raising three beautiful children. Because of all that moving, I got to experience pet stores across the country, and I always noticed what was missing—that sense of community, that welcoming space where pets could actually be pets while their owners shopped. Now that we’ve put down roots in Smyrna, I decided it was my turn to fuel my passion and open the kind of local, small-business-minded pet store I’d always envisioned.
The financial aspect was probably my biggest challenge. I was determined to open this store without taking out major loans or being financially obligated to family members, so I saved money over the years until I could finally make my dream a reality. Having had over twenty years to develop this business in my mind, I felt like all that was left was finding a location where the community would be responsive to a local, small business pet store. Smyrna has not let us down—we are beyond thrilled and blessed to be here and bringing joy to this wonderful neighborhood.
Our shop offers handmade toys, fresh-baked treats, and eco-conscious goodies—all crafted by small businesses. What I want people to know is that every single choice I make is deliberate. I’ve personally picked out every item, and I know the story behind each one and why I chose it. When I’m selecting inventory, I’m thinking about all kinds of people and their different tastes and needs, making sure I include everyone. It’s rewarding to learn about other local small businesses and create relationships with local suppliers, though I’ll admit it can be overwhelming to stock a store like this when you want to represent so many amazing small creators.
We engage the community with events like social hours, play dates, Market Mutts, and doggy pool parties.. We have our Doggy Social Circle where pets can enjoy free toys while playing—I encourage all my customers to bring their pets in! Most importantly, we hold regular animal adoptions and devote an entire wall to adoptable dogs from numerous local shelters. This shelter support isn’t just lip service—it’s central to who we are. I want to create a safe, inclusive space where everyone who walks in knows they’re welcome, and that extends to the animals who need homes most.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since opening is that it’s not just about what I like—it’s about what my clients are in the market for and what their dogs and cats are responsive to.
What brings me the most joy is watching the community we’re building together. I see the same dogs coming in week after week, getting excited as soon as they see our storefront. I watch shy dogs become social butterflies in our play area. I see pet parents connecting with each other, sharing stories and advice. And when we have adoption events and I watch a shelter dog find their forever family right here in our space—that’s when I know this twenty-year dream was worth every moment of planning and saving.
This business follows my heart, and my heart says every pet deserves to be loved and spoiled as much as possible. But more than that, it says every community deserves a place where the love between humans and animals can flourish openly and joyfully.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m pretty new to Atlanta—I’ve only been here since last August—so I’d probably take my best friend to explore the places I’ve discovered and fallen in love with so far. We’d spend time in Midtown for some fun, but most of our week would be centered around Smyrna Market Village, which is why we chose to move to this area.
We’d definitely hit Zucca for their amazing victory pie, then head upstairs to the speakeasy for some great drinks and that fun 80s atmosphere. I’d also take her to Stout Brothers because they have an awesome selection of beers. We’d walk around the village green and meet all the neighborhood dogs—that’s been one of my favorite things to do here. And of course, we’d go hiking around Roswell and Marietta with our dogs, because that’s what makes this area so special to me!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My inspiration comes from my pack—both past and present. I have three dogs and have had multiple dogs since my senior year in college. I’ve always treated them as my children (yes, I also have three actual human children). My dogs provide unconditional love at all times, and they deserve to be spoiled and loved just as much in return.
My shop is dedicated to several of my current and past babies. My most recent loss, Manu, was my true soul dog. He was going to be my shop dog—he should be standing in the doorway right now watching for his friends, laying by my side at the desk every day. Now I do this for him, because he would want to help make other dogs happy. He would want pet parents to smile knowing their dogs are going to enjoy a new treat or toy. I encourage all my customers to bring their pets in because I need all that animal love—you can’t put a price on it.
But my biggest shoutout has to go to the incredible staff and volunteers with the Lifeline Animal Project. I have moved several times in my adult life and have gotten to know wonderful people and organizations all across the country. However, since I moved to the Atlanta area in the summer of 2024, I have been absolutely blown away by the dedication of the people working with Lifeline Animal Project. They run the county animal shelters in Fulton and DeKalb counties, along with the Community Animal Center, and these people work tirelessly and thanklessly to care for and find homes for thousands of dogs and cats every year.
What strikes me most about Lifeline is not just the sheer volume of animals they help—though that’s incredible—but the genuine love and care they put into each individual animal. They don’t just process pets through a system; they truly know these animals, their personalities, their needs, their stories. When we partner with them for adoption events at Lickers and Whines, I watch these volunteers light up when they talk about each dog or cat, sharing details about their quirks and preferences like they’re talking about their own beloved pets.
The work they do is absolutely essential to our community, and frankly, they don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve. Every single day, they’re making life-or-death differences for animals who have nowhere else to turn. Their dedication inspires me daily and reminds me why community support for animal welfare is so important. It’s why we devote that entire wall in our store to showcasing adoptable pets, and why every purchase at Lickers and Whines supports local shelters. These organizations are the unsung heroes of the animal world, and I’m honored to support their mission in any way I can.

Website: lickers and whines.com

Instagram: lickers_whines

Facebook: Lickers and Whines

Image Credits
Jenna Levy (me in front of the store)