Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Holly Baer, Co-Founder of Superior Feline, located in Chino Hills, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We formulate, produce, and sell nutrition and supplement products for pets, especially cats. Our customers are pet parents that are looking for holistic, effective solutions for their pets. Or maybe they're considering making their own cat food so that they have control over the quality and type of meat in the food they feed their furry kids.
Tell us about yourself
I've loved cats my whole life. We moved across the country in 2018 with our 4 cats in tow, and I was interested in a career change. With my husband's encouragement, I started the process of creating our business. He's a Microbiologist, so he sources and formulates our products, and I handle everything else, from designing the labels to building and managing the website to customer relations and everything in between.
Our furry kids and helping ALL pets live healthier lives motivate me each day! We created our products from the needs of our own cats, and it's so rewarding when our products help other cats and dogs! There's nothing that gets me more excited than hearing success stories from pet parents about how our products have helped their animals!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Figuring out how to start a business from scratch and actually make it happen! There's so much that goes into running a business, and I'm still learning and implementing as I go, but actually doing it is half the battle. After that, it's learning by doing and continuing to improve.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hard part is all of the details, keeping everything straight, the paperwork, the city, state, and government requirements, etc. I'm a detail-oriented person, so that helps, but the biggest asset is finding a project-management program that helps keep everything organized and planned out.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your research! Make sure there is a need in the market for what you want to offer.
- Don't jump the gun! For example, if you're starting an LLC, does your State charge an annual fee? Don't just fill out the paperwork and then get a surprise in the mail (can you tell I learned this the hard way?). Make sure you're READY to sell your products before taking on extra expenses and paperwork. "Get your ducks in a row" first.
- If you don't have a business background, invest in learning! I had no idea what SEO was when I first started! You don't have to go/go back to college. There are SO many people out there willing to share their knowledge - find the one(s) that resonate with you and learn from them. Then jump in, get started, and continue to learn and implement as you go.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.superiorfeline.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorFeline/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superiorfelineofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollybaer/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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