Mud Bay
Mud Bay Headquarters Location
Olympia, WA
About Mud Bay
Elsa Wulff opened the doors of the first Mud Bay store in 1988 believing two things: People should feel welcomed and happy they visited, and she had a duty to graciously help everyone who came to the store—even if it didn’t result in a sale.
What began as a single store opened by Elsa just outside Olympia, Washington, is now the largest pet retailer headquartered in the Pacific Northwest. And we’re still tightly focused on creating a culture that makes all feel welcome, while creating a helpful experience for everyone who visits us.
Our responsibility to be gracious doesn’t stop at our customers—we also want the best for our people, too. That’s why we’ve worked together to create an employee stock ownership plan to contribute to a meaningful career and secure financial future for all Muddies. And today, the people who work at Mud Bay continually make the commitment to one another to build a strong, lasting company we’re all proud to work for.
OverviewWhat began as a single store opened by Elsa just outside Olympia, Washington, is now the largest pet retailer headquartered in the Pacific Northwest. And we’re still tightly focused on creating a culture that makes all feel welcome, while creating a helpful experience for everyone who visits us.
Our responsibility to be gracious doesn’t stop at our customers—we also want the best for our people, too. That’s why we’ve worked together to create an employee stock ownership plan to contribute to a meaningful career and secure financial future for all Muddies. And today, the people who work at Mud Bay continually make the commitment to one another to build a strong, lasting company we’re all proud to work for.
98% of Muddies Are Proud to Work Here
As proponents of Zeynep Ton’s Good Job Strategy, we think that providing fair wages, good benefits and work-life autonomy for every Muddy makes us a better company. We’re also big believers in education. While the average retail employee gets seven hours of new-job training, Mud Bay has a year-long animal nutrition and training program to help Muddies thrive in their new positions.
In 2016’s Great Place to Work® survey, Muddies also gave Mud Bay high marks for great bosses, communication, atmosphere and other workplace essentials. While we’re not perfect in any area, we’re always evolving to make sure Muddies are heard and truly valued. Our goal is to develop life-long relationships with Mud Bay customers, and we know our people make that possible.
We Welcome All
It really matters that we treat our customers graciously, but it matters just as much that we treat one another—as well as our business partners, members of our workplace communities and our competitors—graciously. Treating others kindly and having fun while we’re working are essential to making Mud Bay the company we can be proud of.
Mud Bay strives to create a place of work where everyone is welcomed with an open heart, listened to with an open mind and treated with fairness and respect.
Mud Bay is an equal opportunity employer for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, marital status, veteran status, disability and other differences.
We’re also committed to providing environments that are safe and free of discrimination, harassment and violence.
BenefitsAs proponents of Zeynep Ton’s Good Job Strategy, we think that providing fair wages, good benefits and work-life autonomy for every Muddy makes us a better company. We’re also big believers in education. While the average retail employee gets seven hours of new-job training, Mud Bay has a year-long animal nutrition and training program to help Muddies thrive in their new positions.
In 2016’s Great Place to Work® survey, Muddies also gave Mud Bay high marks for great bosses, communication, atmosphere and other workplace essentials. While we’re not perfect in any area, we’re always evolving to make sure Muddies are heard and truly valued. Our goal is to develop life-long relationships with Mud Bay customers, and we know our people make that possible.
We Welcome All
It really matters that we treat our customers graciously, but it matters just as much that we treat one another—as well as our business partners, members of our workplace communities and our competitors—graciously. Treating others kindly and having fun while we’re working are essential to making Mud Bay the company we can be proud of.
Mud Bay strives to create a place of work where everyone is welcomed with an open heart, listened to with an open mind and treated with fairness and respect.
Mud Bay is an equal opportunity employer for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, marital status, veteran status, disability and other differences.
We’re also committed to providing environments that are safe and free of discrimination, harassment and violence.
Mud Bay offers a range of benefits to help you keep a good work-life balance, stay healthy and prepare for your retirement. Here are some of the benefits our people love:
First Year Journey: We train every new Muddy to understand cat and dog nutrition, physiology and health. This year-long training plan, which also covers small animals and our retail best practices, will give you all the information you need to succeed here.
Employee Ownership: Work at Mud Bay for 1,000 hours over 50 weeks in a year, and you’ve earned a year of credited service towards participating in our employee stock ownership program. We use graded vesting to reward Muddies who stick with us long term: you’re 20-percent vested after two years and are fully vested at six years.
Health Insurance: If you work 30 hours or more per week, you’re eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance through Mud Bay.
Healthy Habits: Quit smoking, and we’ll give you $100. Participate in a healthy group activity, and Mud Bay will reimburse you for the entry fee (up to $50 once a year).
Paid Time Off: Muddies may love their jobs, but it’s important for everyone to have time away from work to recharge. That’s why we give you time off for sick days, vacation days, and those I-just-need-some-free-time days.
Employee Assistance Program: Life has its moments and sometimes, we need help getting through them. When facing issues that interfere with your health, well-being, and productivity at work or home, Mud Bay’s EAP program provides a confidential and accessible network to put you in touch with the right kind of professional to help support you and your family.
Staff Discount: We like our people to know everything about our products, so Mud Bay offers a 25-to-40-percent staff discount on everything we sell. It also makes it easier to provide the best possible nutrition for your own cat or dog.
Pet-Friendly Workplace: Have a pet that’s a social butterfly? Polite dogs and cats who play well with others are happily welcomed into the store or home office while you work.
Who We AreFirst Year Journey: We train every new Muddy to understand cat and dog nutrition, physiology and health. This year-long training plan, which also covers small animals and our retail best practices, will give you all the information you need to succeed here.
Employee Ownership: Work at Mud Bay for 1,000 hours over 50 weeks in a year, and you’ve earned a year of credited service towards participating in our employee stock ownership program. We use graded vesting to reward Muddies who stick with us long term: you’re 20-percent vested after two years and are fully vested at six years.
Health Insurance: If you work 30 hours or more per week, you’re eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance through Mud Bay.
Healthy Habits: Quit smoking, and we’ll give you $100. Participate in a healthy group activity, and Mud Bay will reimburse you for the entry fee (up to $50 once a year).
Paid Time Off: Muddies may love their jobs, but it’s important for everyone to have time away from work to recharge. That’s why we give you time off for sick days, vacation days, and those I-just-need-some-free-time days.
Employee Assistance Program: Life has its moments and sometimes, we need help getting through them. When facing issues that interfere with your health, well-being, and productivity at work or home, Mud Bay’s EAP program provides a confidential and accessible network to put you in touch with the right kind of professional to help support you and your family.
Staff Discount: We like our people to know everything about our products, so Mud Bay offers a 25-to-40-percent staff discount on everything we sell. It also makes it easier to provide the best possible nutrition for your own cat or dog.
Pet-Friendly Workplace: Have a pet that’s a social butterfly? Polite dogs and cats who play well with others are happily welcomed into the store or home office while you work.
Mud Bay is a company of dedicated animal-focused and people-focused problem solvers, not salespeople.
Muddies delight in helping our customers find the best solution for their individual animal. If that requires a 15-minute conversation that ends with us referring them to another retailer—or even not recommending a product at all—that’s a good outcome if it’s what’s best for customers and their animals. We’re never interested in upselling or recommending products simply because they are part of a promotion.
As part of our commitment to our customers, Mud Bay also uses an intensive selection process to choose the foods we carry. It may take two to three years for us to evaluate a specific food manufacturer and determine whether they meet our standards for healthy food. Often this process involves site visits: where our people meet directly with the manufacturing plant operators, get to know key decision makers, and learn more about their sourcing and safety practices. We also see the ingredients that enter every bag, can or package. We dedicate extensive resources to research our food partners because we don’t believe we can recommend a food without knowing everything about its contents and the company that makes it.
We’re also committed to offering our customers the best possible price on our products, no matter what day of the week they shop or when they can afford to buy. So, while Mud Bay doesn’t have promotional sales, we do have everyday low prices that commonly beat the list prices of retailers in our area.
Culture/ValuesMuddies delight in helping our customers find the best solution for their individual animal. If that requires a 15-minute conversation that ends with us referring them to another retailer—or even not recommending a product at all—that’s a good outcome if it’s what’s best for customers and their animals. We’re never interested in upselling or recommending products simply because they are part of a promotion.
As part of our commitment to our customers, Mud Bay also uses an intensive selection process to choose the foods we carry. It may take two to three years for us to evaluate a specific food manufacturer and determine whether they meet our standards for healthy food. Often this process involves site visits: where our people meet directly with the manufacturing plant operators, get to know key decision makers, and learn more about their sourcing and safety practices. We also see the ingredients that enter every bag, can or package. We dedicate extensive resources to research our food partners because we don’t believe we can recommend a food without knowing everything about its contents and the company that makes it.
We’re also committed to offering our customers the best possible price on our products, no matter what day of the week they shop or when they can afford to buy. So, while Mud Bay doesn’t have promotional sales, we do have everyday low prices that commonly beat the list prices of retailers in our area.
Muddies are passionate about animals and the people who love them. Most of us have a cat or dog, and lots of Muddies have other pets, too. But whether we own a farm or no pets at all, we’re all dedicated to delighting our customers and providing them with useful and accurate information regarding cat and dog nutrition.
As a group, Muddies are down-to-earth, casual and from the heart. But we work hard, like to have fun, and we can be intense about doing our best. We have plenty of different opinions about nutrition, animal welfare and the future of Mud Bay, but we’re committed to working together.
We’re also a company of owners—almost every Muddy will qualify to become part of our employee stock ownership program. This encourages Muddies to take the long view, act like the business owners we are and do what’s right for our customers, our partners, Mud Bay and each other.
Our Values
Accountability: We follow through.
Education: We empower with knowledge.
Integrity: We do the right thing.
Generosity: We help others succeed.
Responsibility: We use our best judgment.
Fun: We create workplaces that are filled with laughter.
CommunityAs a group, Muddies are down-to-earth, casual and from the heart. But we work hard, like to have fun, and we can be intense about doing our best. We have plenty of different opinions about nutrition, animal welfare and the future of Mud Bay, but we’re committed to working together.
We’re also a company of owners—almost every Muddy will qualify to become part of our employee stock ownership program. This encourages Muddies to take the long view, act like the business owners we are and do what’s right for our customers, our partners, Mud Bay and each other.
Our Values
Accountability: We follow through.
Education: We empower with knowledge.
Integrity: We do the right thing.
Generosity: We help others succeed.
Responsibility: We use our best judgment.
Fun: We create workplaces that are filled with laughter.
When we open a Mud Bay, we become part of the community that surrounds us. Individual Mud Bay stores host adoption events, donation drives and celebrations on behalf of the neighborhood. You may also see us participating in festivals, fairs and other community events. As a company, we also donate to a wide range of charities—and in 2016 Mud Bay gave more than $650,000 of support in cash, food and supplies to care for shelter animals.
Mud Bay isn’t content with just donating our time or money to important animal welfare causes. We’ve also launched our own initiatives to improve the lives of dogs, cats and small animals.
FUTY Festival: Starting in 2015, Mud Bay launched the From Us, To You Festival. This event gives us a chance to honor and celebrate the many animal welfare volunteers who spend their time improving the lives of dogs, cats and other companion animals.
Seattle Humane’s Mudlet: In September 2017, we opened the first Mudlet in support of Seattle Humane’s animal shelter. This mini Mud Bay gives free gifts and nutrition advice to every person who adopts a cat, dog or small animal from Seattle Humane. We also donate all profits from the Mudlet back to Seattle Humane.
Shelter Packets: Every time someone adopts a new companion from one of our many shelter partners, we provide a $20 Mud Bay coupon to pay for food. For cats, we also give $10 to pay for litter, and dogs receive a free pound of bulk biscuits. When that coupon’s redeemed, Mud Bay also makes a donation to the shelter who hosted that animal.
Mud Bay isn’t content with just donating our time or money to important animal welfare causes. We’ve also launched our own initiatives to improve the lives of dogs, cats and small animals.
FUTY Festival: Starting in 2015, Mud Bay launched the From Us, To You Festival. This event gives us a chance to honor and celebrate the many animal welfare volunteers who spend their time improving the lives of dogs, cats and other companion animals.
Seattle Humane’s Mudlet: In September 2017, we opened the first Mudlet in support of Seattle Humane’s animal shelter. This mini Mud Bay gives free gifts and nutrition advice to every person who adopts a cat, dog or small animal from Seattle Humane. We also donate all profits from the Mudlet back to Seattle Humane.
Shelter Packets: Every time someone adopts a new companion from one of our many shelter partners, we provide a $20 Mud Bay coupon to pay for food. For cats, we also give $10 to pay for litter, and dogs receive a free pound of bulk biscuits. When that coupon’s redeemed, Mud Bay also makes a donation to the shelter who hosted that animal.
Number of Employees in Mud Bay
201 to 500
Mud Bay Revenue
R1bn to R5bn
Industry