Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sherry Wemple, co-founder of Andy's Paw Prints, located in Franklin, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We do custom pet portraits from your photo. You get an amazing portrait, and we donate 25% of our profit to help rescue and shelter animals. When you purchase, you get to choose which one of our partners you would like us to make a donation to. Our clients are pet lovers, people who have had a pet pass away, and rescues and shelters wanting to do a fundraiser.
Tell us about yourself
Our love and passion for animals are what motivate us. We love animals and have pets ourselves. My husband Tim (the artist) and I, are Andy's Paw Prints. We lived in Joplin, MO, when the massive EF5 tornado went through. We witnessed total devastation and so many animals displaced or injured. We knew we needed to do something that would help animals in need with more than a donation of what Tim and I could give. My profession was banking, and Tim's was medical however he has always loved art. While I was volunteering at the Joplin Humane Society, I asked Lysa, the Director, about us doing pet portraits and donating to help them. She loved the idea, and Andy's Paw Prints was born. We now partner with more than 250 rescues and shelters. We named Andy's Paw Prints after a dog named Andy that we adopted from the Joplin Humane Society.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We have been blessed to create custom pet portraits of Military and Police K-9s, 911 Search and Rescue animals, adopted and rescued animals, and everyday beloved fur-babies. Our biggest accomplishment is "doing something that helps animals in need with every portrait we sell."
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
We are an internet-only business, and we rarely advertise. Getting in front of new connections and sharing engaging content. We work outside of Andy's Paw Prints, but we give it 100% of our time and attention.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Go for it. I was never a business owner prior to starting Andy's Paw Prints. Put in the hard work, your complete dedication, and research as much as you can on what it takes to be successful. Deliver the best customer service and customer experience.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Tim and I thank you for this opportunity. We love what we do. We feel blessed to do what we do. We have been in business for eight years, and it is our passion. On a side note, "my dream" for eight has been to share Andy's Paw Prints with Ellen on the Ellen Show. I love her and think it would be amazing to share my love and passion for animals with Ellen, who passionately loves animals. I would love to do a portrait for a celebrity! Silly dreams, but they are mine ♥
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.andyspawprints.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndysPawPrints
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andys.paw.prints/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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