Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Teresa Jacques, owner of The Cakehound, located in Columbus, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Cakehound started as an all-natural bakery for dogs but has grown into a retail space where we feature pet products from 7 other small women-owned businesses, most of which are local to Ohio. We are the perfect spot to spoil your pet with products that you can trust, from our rawhides to our specialty cakes.
Tell us about yourself
I started working in the pet industry over a decade ago to fill the gap in my schedule and haven't looked back. There's something so special about making a special treat or cake for a dog. They love to gobble them up, and the experience brings so much joy and delight to the humans. During the height of the pandemic, when everything was still closed or canceled, it was really difficult to stay motivated. I realized the impact that not seeing dogs on a regular basis and getting to pet and feed them was having on my psyche. When someone would arrive for a pickup with their dog in the back seat, it made me so happy! Between the insane amount of adoptions and increased focus on pet health, and mental happiness, my business grew. This growth pushed me to open my own storefront, which is now in German Village, Ohio. I get to make treats, select products from several other small businesses, and see dogs all day long, and I get to bring my pup Bogart with me every day- what's not to love?!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner so far is opening my storefront in the midst of so much uncertainty. I have found that trusting my instinct and natural ability to stay organized and lead a team has been just as crucial as asking for help and seeking advice from others who have taken this path. Sometimes the hardest part of a project like this is realizing you're not alone.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of being a business owner is maintaining a good work/life balance. The to-do list is almost never crossed off, and it's easy to keep working into all hours of the night.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Make sure you have a good support system intact, enough capital to get started, and enough in reserves, and be able to be flexible.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thecakehound.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecakehound
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecakehound/
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.