Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stacey J. Nelson, president, and owner of Tweedle Pet Products LLC., located in Delray Beach, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Tweedle Pet Products are Natural, Organic, Gourmet, Artisan, NON-GMO, Gluten, and Grain-Free pet treats for dogs, cats, exotic birds, and cookies for Pet Parents. Our pet treats are raw, dehydrated, and baked, containing no antibiotics, artificial preservatives, additives like glycerin, No added salt, bulking agents or fillers, artificial dyes or colors, no animal by-products, steroids, or hormones. I also custom blend certified organic essential oils to create, Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Repellents and Fragrances, "Safe for Humans and Pets." These products contain no DEET or other chemicals. Many of our products are products for people and pets sensitive to common food allergies, but many non-allergic customers also enjoy Tweedle Pet Products.
Tell us about yourself
My yellow Labrador Retriever Surry's Talk Of The Town, a.k.a. Miss Tweedle, was the inspiration for Tweedle Pet Products. Tweedle developed food and skin allergies at an early age. I also discovered she had a congenital heart defect known as Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia, causing her diet to not include salt in her food and treats. There were not too many quality products available when searching for food and treats, and I started reading more and more labels to learn about the available products and their ingredients.
In 2008, Tweedlesmom, a.k.a. Dr. Stacey J Nelson, a licensed Marriage Family Psychotherapist in Boca/Raton/Delray, saw clients who had pets that suffered from suffering the toxic pet food recall, beginning in 2008. I decided I needed to do something about this problem that others had, and discovered many pets had negative reactions to wheat, soy, corn, added salt, and animal protein in their food. I became passionate about developing recipes to help not only my Labrador Retriever but also to help other pets suffering from food sensitivities.
In October 2008, Tweedle and I were training at The Palm Beach Obedience Training Club. I stuffed samples of treats I had created into my overalls' pockets and used them to teach my Labrador. Needless to say, a crowd of dogs started sniffing at my overalls, and I shared a few samples with other class members. Many went wild with delight from these treats I had put together. Tweedle Pet Products was offered for sale at Whole Foods Markets Florida Region within one year.
Tweedle's website with our store was developed. Beginning in 2009, Whole Foods Market had carried fifteen (15) Tweedle Pet Products. For seven years, I continued to notice my UPC Codes or skews of our products were not being properly rotated. We discontinued selling Tweedles in Whole Foods Market. We also financially supported research by Dr. Meg Sleeper at The University of Pennsylvania's Vet School about The Genetic Components of (TVD) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia in Labrador Retrievers for many years until the project ran out of funding.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am committed to using the finest quality ingredients produced in the USA to produce Tweedle Pet Products Natural and Organic. I am committed to producing the best quality Pet Treats and organic bug repellents that smell great and work well, to the best of my ability. I refuse to sacrifice quality to increase sales for profit only.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a small Independent company without major distribution is a challenge. We rely on word of mouth to increase the sales of our products. Our budget is not a large budget in order to afford the high prices of Search Engine Optimization. People looking for quality for their pets will search for what they want and will eventually find us. I am blessed that I have retained customers from 2009 to the current year of 2022.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be as honest and transparent as you can be - mean what you say, and say what you mean Never underestimate the importance of Relationship with your customers. I love meeting my customers face to face, I truly enjoy being a vendor at festivals, art/craft shows, green markets, and at other events. I love the opportunity to help educate a customer about the importance of reading labels, and understanding which ingredients can potentially cause food sensitivities, and allergic reactions.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Feeding our beloved pets what we ourselves would eat (i.e., human-grade ingredients) is a blessing and an opportunity to contribute to the well-being of a dog, cat, or exotic bird.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.tweedlepetproducts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tweedlesmom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_tweedlepetproducts/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TweedlesMom
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/36lDpdE
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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