LESSONS in life and discussions about business around the kitchen table ultimately led three sisters to open one of the most successful animal feed and supply stores in Bermuda.As Harold and Joan Terceira discussed their various business ventures, their daughters Nadine, Karen and Carol listened carefully and realised early on that the secret to success was turning your passion into your career. For the three sisters this meant combining their love of animals with their inherited good business sense.

When they first opened Noah’s Ark Feed and Supplies in Devonshire 14 years ago, the bulk of their supply consisted of large animal feed.

Karen adds that the business was started out of necessity when PW’s - where she bought all her horse feed - announced it was dropping feed lines.

Their uncle Norman, who owned a large stable, suggested she rule out the middle man by importing directly from the supplier in the US.

The idea to open a PW’s-type store was born and Karen and her sisters approached their father, who was a little sceptical at first, but offered them space in his Devonshire warehouse. And the rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

They laugh about it now, but when they first talked about opening a business, their father suggested they buy a local haberdashery that was closing.

The thought of thousands of buttons, zips, cotton and sewing supplies was too much for the girls who add: “We buy clothes, we don’t make them!” and are thankful that their father changed his mind and allowed them to pursue their dream.

Unfortunately Harold Terceira died a year after the girls opened their store and never witnessed its incredible growth in size and popularity.

The business had more than doubled when the sisters added an extensive range of pet food and pet supplies to their inventory - making it the largest in Bermuda.

“Customers asked us to bring in more variety and we also realised early on that we couldn’t support ourselves just on large animal feed,” Karen admits. “This also meant we were able to expand the store.”

In the beginning Carol ran the store by herself while Nadine and Karen held onto their “day jobs” and helped out after-hours and on weekends, but within the first year the business proved so successful that they quit their jobs and joined their sister.

Today Noah’s Ark has nine fulltime staff and increase every summer with the addition of a handful of students.

The one thing they all have in common is their love of animals, including a Pyrenean Mountain Dog named Samson who visits the store from time-to-time with Carol, who also has a Cockatoo.

“When I got the Cockatoo a new cage I had to go from a queen size bed to a double to make room for it,” Carol says with a laugh.

Karen is the horsewoman in the family and grew up riding professionally. Today she still has a few horses including a retired mare, who worked as one of her fathers’ carriage horses, a Rottweiler, a cat and a fish tank that could easily compete with the one at the store.

“I actually had to move into a larger apartment to accommodate my fish,” Karen adds.

Nadine, the eldest sister, is allergic to cats, but when the store opened they found an abandoned feral kitten and before long the critter, aptly named Tiger, became a part of her family.

In fact, his markings are so unusual that it was suggested they enter him in a cat fanciers event. Unfortunately Tiger had other ideas and bit the judge.

“I don’t know why because he absolutely loves the customers,” Carol adds with a giggle. Tiger spent a lot of time in the store in the early years, but as traffic increased, Nadine decided to keep him home instead.

Noah’s Ark isn’t as much a pet store as a feed and supply, but they do have a 48-foot fish tank stocked with a wide variety of colourful fish.

Besides the enormous, but incredibly gentle Samson, the only animals to be found in Noah’s Ark are those brought in by customers, usually on Saturday mornings.

Carol recalls one dog which would find its favourite toy no matter where in the store she hide it.

“No matter how many times I move that toy, he will find it every time,” she laughs.

“Customers have even accused us of scenting our bags. They say when they get home their animals go crazy,” Carol adds. “And one customer says her dog gets so excited when she drives past here, that she has no choice but to pull in and buy him a treat.”

Besides the regular four-legged visitors, the best part about working at Noah’s Ark is the fact that the sisters get to work with family. Nadine’s children, Stephen and Amanda DeCouto, also recently came on board.

“We’re family and we’re together. And when things are just right, it’s a great place to work!” Carol adds.