Do Pets Run This Place? Learn About Jupmode’s Community Impact from Marketing Specialist, Kim Collins.
From Rebecca:
As I considered what to feature this month for FLUFFuary, I kept thinking about my own goals as a small business owner in Toledo. Jessica and I have always prioritized using our skills and resources to give back to the community, specifically through working with animal rescues. We have also begun intentionally supporting the pet-lover community in Toledo by having dog-friendly events and sharing education and insight where we can. What other small businesses in Northwest Ohio share our passion for pets?
I didn’t need a minute to think about it, Jupmode came to mind immediately. Their brand has incorporated pets from day one. Resident shop dog, Penny, is truly the face of the business and Jupmode has a merch collection that is just for pet owners. At one point, my own dogs had polaroids on their “puppers only” board. The Jupmode brand has combined the love of this city and the love of pets in a beautiful way.
The other part of Jupmode that stands out to me is their hard work to give back to the community. Since COVID hit small businesses extremely hard, the team came up with a way to offer some support to their Toledo peers by creating the Here for Good program. Jupmode also hosts a Toledo Community Shirt as a fundraiser for a different non-profit organization every other month. Many local shelters and pet rescue organizations have taken part in both programs.
Reaching out to ask Jupmode to collaborate was honestly a little scary for me. Don’t laugh! Our business is small and doesn’t have a following as vast as theirs. I felt like I really didn’t have much to offer in exchange for their time. But they must have believed in my project because they said yes.
Here enters Kim and her adorable rescue dogs, Cooper and Riley! Please keep reading to hear all about these sweet pups and their human and her job and the company. Kim went our of her comfort zone to trust us to take photos with BOTH her dogs at the shop and you have to see how wonderfully they did.
*Also peep Penny at the bottom of the article.
From Kim:
Tell us about you.
My name is Kim Collins, I'm the Marketing Specialist at Jupmode. I have two dogs and a husband who I love spending time with. In my free time I love to search for vintage items for my home (and other people's homes via my small business), go on hikes at my favorite Metroparks, and spend time with my friends and family.Give us all the details about your dogs.
Our eldest dog, Cooper, is 9 years old. We've had him since he was about 1.5 years old. We adopted him from the Toledo Humane Society and it was the best decision we've ever made! Every day with that little nut has been the best day ever.Almost four years ago, we decided he needed a buddy. At this time, we began our search and fell in love with Riley, who we adopted from the Wood County Humane Society. He's now approaching five years old. Each of them has so much personality, and those personalities are completely their own.
They both have their quirks and we love every one of them. They're both super snuggly when we're at home. They absolutely love a soft, cozy spot on the couch. Often, the couch isn't enough, and they'll help themselves to a throw blanket or pillow on the couch too.
Cooper is almost always in one of our laps (he's 40 pounds, but very compact and becomes a lap dog surprisingly easily), and Riley is rarely far away. They love playing with their buddies at daycare, chasing squirrels in the backyard, and chasing each other around the table at dinnertime.
Tell us about the Jupmode brand.
Jupmode is a retail brand celebrating Toledo, Ohio (and a little beyond) and a custom decoration business specializing in screen printing, embroidery, promotional products, signage, and vehicle wraps. Jupmode was established in 2007 by John Amato, who began by making Jim Tressel Sweatervest tees that he sold at OSU games. It grew into a small shop in Perrysburg, then a much larger shop in downtown Toledo on Adams Street, and now a MUCH larger facility in downtown Toledo on Monroe Street.Our mission as a retail brand is to spread positivity and love for Toledo, as well as other regions we identify with such as Ohio and the Midwest, and even a little Michigan! We love our community and we love being able to support it however we can. We celebrate nostalgia and community above all. We care deeply about our retail customers and our custom customers, and those relationships make it all worthwhile!
Explain your position at the company.
I'm currently the Marketing Specialist at Jupmode. I've been with Jupmode full-time for seven years. Before that, I worked in the retail store part time. I have loved Jupmode since they began, and I was thrilled at the opportunity to work in their Adams Street location in the retail store.I enjoyed my time here so much that once I finished my degree at BGSU, I began working full-time as a graphic designer for the retail brand and marketing team. I transitioned over fully to the marketing team in 2025, which leads us to today.
Share how Jupmode is active in the Toledo Pet community.
Jupmode loves animals, and even though we've historically been partial to dogs, we love all kinds. Our retail store has always been dog-friendly, and we even have a Puppy Wall where we post Polaroids of the dogs that come visit us. We've carried pet themed shirts for quite some time, including our "Ask My About My Dog" shirt.We've also made John's dog, Penny, our official mascot. She comes to the office almost every day, for the primary purpose of begging us all for food at lunch time, but also for taking really great naps in her dog bed.
How has Jupmode impacted local animal rescue organizations?
Many of us at Jupmode are adopters, spanning many local rescues, so when we started our Community Shirt program, it felt extremely natural to make sure that we're incorporating our local shelters. With our Community Shirt program, every-other month we select a local non-profit and design a shirt which we sell in our store. Those proceeds benefit the selected organization.We've worked with many organizations, but as it relates to the animal rescue community, we've worked with Toledo Humane Society, Lucas County Canine Care & Control, Lucas County Pit Crew, Planned Pethood, and most recently Paws & Whiskers Cat Shelter. While this isn't an adoption shelter, we've also worked with Nature's Nursery. During the month that we sell their t-shirts, we also aim to educate the community about their mission.
Support Jupmode by exploring their website and following them on social media.
Bonus Content Penny:
Penny was adopted by John (Jupmode’s owner) and Maura Amato from Deacon’s Hope Rescue as a puppy. She is the mascot, moral support and furry heart of the company. She brings a smile to customers and reinforces a positive environment for employees. She’s truly a “good dog”.
