BUSINESS

Zia Records plays on with 2nd annual sale

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Arizonan Staff Writer

Back by popular demand, Zia Records has brought back its Zia DayZ sales for a second consecutive year.

From Friday, Sept. 9, through Sept. 11, Zia’s eight stores in the Valley, Las Vegas and Tucson will host deals ranging from 20% off of almost everything in-store and online, goodie bag giveaways, triple Zia Rewards Points, limited edition Zia merchandise and exclusive vinyl releases.

“There's a holiday for everything, it seems,” said Zia Records spokeswoman Mary Papenhausen. “We wanted to celebrate our staff and our amazing customers. So, it was the day to stop and recognize them and say, thank you for everything they have done and for supporting us over the last 42 years.”

As costs continue to rise across the country on everyday goods like gasoline and groceries, Papenhausen believes that customers will be elated by this oneday-only discount.

“Things are very expensive, so to be able to give a give back to our customers and kind of give them a break for a day and having people save money is important to us,” Papenhausen said.

Customers will have an opportunity to score some sweet Zia swag as Zia opened up a bracket on its social media platforms for customers to vote on their favorite shirts.

After seven rounds of voting, fans decided on a tee from 2005 that features a design of a devil draped in a black cloak with an old-school logo printed below that will be re-printed and sold at all locations.

Customers who purchase the tee will get more than they bargained for as Zia will give customers a free Zia super pack, which includes a tote bag, temporary tattoos and a sticker sheet that features sticker versions of the shirts that were nominated in the contest.

In addition to the re-printed t-shirt, the first 100 customers to purchase at each Zia Records location will receive a Zia Goodie Bag which could include a $50 gift card among other prizes.

After the shelves are depleted by offering 20% off store-wide on Friday and offering unique giveaways on Saturday, Zia is rounding out the weekend by offering customers triple points on all purchases and trade-ins which can eventually be redeemed for half off on items.

In addition to offering deals on merchandise all weekend long, Zia Records will also accept direct donations for the Arizona Humane Society and Papenhausen teased that fans could also have the opportunity to get their hands on a new exclusive vinyl as early as Saturday.

She also teased that two exclusive vinyl records will be announced for preorders that week.

No matter which day customers choose to visit, Papenhausen is most excited to see smiles on customers’ faces and relishes another opportunity to give back to Zia’s loyal customers.

“I just really love how good it makes people feel and I just love the feeling that everybody's excited,” she said. “To be able to be a business for 42 years and celebrate the people who made it happen, it’s always fun to be around people and get engaged.

Zia Records is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1302 S. Gilbert Road, Mesa. and 3201 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe Information: Ziarecords.com 

Mary Papenhausen of Zia Records with a rack of exclusives as she prepares for Zia Dayz next weekend. (David Minton/Arizonan

Staff Photographer)

Chandler dog groomer slammed ‘in a good way’

BY KEN SAIN

Arizonan Staff Writerw

There were times when she was attending college that Chandler resident Jennifer Ness was swamped.

She said she’d look at students who came from well-off families and felt a little envious.

“I was like, ‘Gosh, I’m working my butt off. I’m working 40 hours a week, I’m taking day and night classes and I just can’t get ahead,’” Ness recalled.

She didn’t let that stop her, and today she is running two businesses.

She just opened a Furry Land Mobile Dog Grooming business in the Valley said that so far, it’s going well.

“I am booked right now until mid-September,” she said. “I’m slammed, but I will say but in a very good way.”

Ness’s other company is a construction consulting business that accepts contracts around the nation.

With the work ethic she learned during those tough days in college, she decided to add her second business, Furry Land and secured the franchise rights for all of Arizona.

“I want to own all of Arizona because with this business, you have to scale,” Ness said. “In order to be successful, you can’t just have like one or two vans…I don’t see why one day I won’t have 20 vans, maybe even more than that.”

Ness moved to Chandler three years ago.

She didn’t plan on buying there but the house she liked happened to be in Chandler.

Now, she said she can’t imagine leaving the city, saying she likes the mix of rural and suburbia.

Furry Land is operating only one van as of now in Arizona, one of the reasons they are so booked.

Ness said she’s been promised three vans by mid-September and seven by the end of this year.

She said many of their bookings come after a van does a grooming in a neighborhood. Not only do they see the van, but they talk to the neighbors who use the service. The reviews have been positive.

Mobile grooming is convenient, and Furry Land charges from $80 to $160, depending on the size of the pet.

Ness said convenience is only one reason to consider using a mobile dog groomer.

She said the industry began to grow rapidly during the pandemic when people were social distancing.

“Let’s say your dog is … nervous, or a little bit hyper or has a little aggression issues,” Ness said. “It’s a lot better for the animal.”

She said the dog is more comfortable because they are near their home, and they don’t get put in cages while waiting for a groomer to work on them.

They also don’t have a lot of other dogs around or people working. Ness claims it’s a calmer environment. She said she also makes sure her groomers treat every dog with care.

“My intention is I really do it for the animals, which some people are like, ‘Oh, it sounds a little cheesy,’ but it’s really not,” Ness said. “If you’re not doing it for the animals, then you have no purpose at all.”

Does Ness still resent those kids in college who didn’t have to work as hard as she did while running two companies?

No, she’s moved on.

She said a light bulb went off for her after she earned a scholarship while she was studying for a master’s degree. She was going to work hard and own her own business.

“I’m just as busy now, but it’s much different, busy,” said Ness, who owns three rescue dogs.

“[It was the] best decision I ever made, I was able to not only impact my life, but impact other lives and that gave me a lot of gratification.” 

Left: Jennifer Ness shows off her three rescue dogs, Coda, Bixby and Minnie. (Courtesy of Jennifer Ness) Right: Chandler resident Jennifer Ness started a Furry Land Mobile Pet Grooming franchise in Arizona recently. (Special to The Chandler Arizonan)

Furry Land Mobile Dog Grooming

Phone: 877-726-3345 Website: furryland.us/phoenix