What a great book! What a great cause!

I was contacted recently by Joanne Wannan, author of a fabulous new book called "New Lives: Stories of rescued Dogs Helping, Healing and Giving Hope." The book is about 18 awesome and amazing dogs who were rescues from high-kill shelters, abusive situations, or the streets, and are now working in animal therapy and as service dogs.

Wannan is having a contest to inspire and encourage animal lovers everywhere. She has launched the contest on her blog http://www.inspiringrescuestories.com/get-signed-up/. The contest offers some huge incentives for people to create a short video explaining their pet adoption or rescue story. She has over $1,000 in prizes, including a $25 gift certificate from Busch Pet Products!

In addition to all the great things you can win, Wannan is also donating 15% of the profits of her book sales through the end of March 2010 to the shelter or organization the winner chooses!

Do something good and get something good! Always a GOOD thing!

Hello new friends!

Hello to all my new friends! Thanks for joining in on this true experiment in my life...owning and running a pet business. I watched my parents do it for many years (and they still are)...they own a boarding kennel. A very nice boarding kennel that I would like to own someday. In the meantime, I'm "settling" for my online pet supply store. I say settling, but it's been a crazy ride and I don't want to get off! I love finding new products that I go Ga Ga over and when my customers do too, then I'm on the right track!

I am learning new things each and every day. I will say this to anyone who decides to jump into this world as I have...TRUST YOUR GUT! Don't second guess yourself. You know your goal and you know how to achieve it. It takes time and patience (of which I have zip, zilch, zippo), but just when I am down, something happens to bring me back up again! Such is the life of a small business owner.

I love what I do and I hope it shows in my site, my posts, and my life. I wouldn't have traded all the money in the world for my upbringing. Dogs (and all pets) bring such happiness and enrichment to our lives...why would you eve want to be without a pet? The photo above is my parents house dog, Wendy. She is the true last of their line of Busch Beagles that they bred, raised and showed for 40+ years. She's 14, losing her hearing, her rear is weak, and she's become bossy, but we all still love her! The top picture was taken last fall. The bottom photo was taken several years (and several couches) ago. I think she knew she was the boss then too...can you tell?

Again, welcome to The Dog Blog (cats welcome) blog...I hope you will enjoy your visit!

Let's try a FREEBIE and see what happens!

I've struggled with finding ways to promote my business and get more followers on this blog. I'm certainly not as consistent as I'd like to be, but with time comes experience, right?

I did just apply for a grant through Intuit's Love A Local Business program...cross your fingers! My fans and friends really stepped up to the plate for me. They said some nice things and I don't want to let them down!

If you haven't checked out the great items I have on my website, you simply must. I have so many unusual and cool things for pets. It amazes me on a daily basis the creativity and originality of designers who have decided they can do better. The quality is superb, the workmanship amazing...made in the USA at it's best!

So, to get you folks to see what all the fuss is about, I'm giving away a $15 gift certificate to get you started! Look around the site, see what you like. Email me with questions! That's all it's all about! I think you will see that I've found some fantastic items that you never knew existed! So much fun!

IT'S SO EASY TO ENTER! Become a follower of my blog before February 28, 2010...that's it! Winner will be chosen from followers list on March 1, 2010. Winner will be announced on this blog that evening. SO EASY!

HURRY! Don't miss out on getting your pooch or kitty some cool stuff from Busch Pet Products!

Happy and Prosperous New Year...here we come!

I have really neglected this blog...I can only blame myself and the rich, fruitful holiday season we had here at home. It was busy, crazy, lovely and fantastic and now on to conquer 2010! I can only see bigger and better things on the horizon. Not only are my husband and I looking to start a family and build a house, I can confidently say the Busch Pet Products business is growing and evolving...both in the petsitting and products areas.

First, we picked up a line of dry dog food. I was hesitant at first. I knew some, but not much, when it came to kibble. I did know certain brands of dog food were NOT good (I won't point fingers or name names), but finding a food to fit my area and demographic seemed like a monumental task.

Lucky for me, I've made some fabulous friends and contacts during my time on the road in St. Louis selling Miss Autumn's Barkery Organics dog food. Two of my favorite stores, Muddpuppies in O'Fallon and Pets in the City in Soulard, have been true mentors for me! They make me want my own physical store NOW! They helped me in deciphering what's out there and what my customers may like. I finally settled on the NutriSource company. They make NutriSource, Pure Vita, and Natural Planet Organics. I like their company (Minnesota, one plant, all ingredients made in USA) and their products (three levels, three price points, lots of flavors). Check them out here http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com. As I find more customers who are looking for the products in my area (apparently I am the ONLY one in southeast Missouri who carries the company's products), I am building a solid customer base.

I probably won't add much more dry food until I get a physical store. In the meantime, I am working to add more local customers who have chosen to feed NutriSource and Pure Vita, as well as Natural Planet Organics. I wouldn't be selling the products if I didn't like the company!

Survived Turkey Day and on to Christmas!

Yes, after three petsitting jobs in a neighboring town and three different stops at families' houses, we survived Thanksgiving. Lots of great food, great talk, and great times, but I was completely exhausted! I should have kept better track of how many miles I put on my car!

I wanted to stop on reflect on how far I've come over the past year and look ahead to 2010 and beyond. Just over a year ago, I was giddy with excitement over the opening of my website. I had no idea what to expect...would I get tons of orders? would I get no orders? The latter was more correct, but they have steadily been coming in and just when I get down about a lack thereof, I get an order! Someone must be listening to my prayers!

I've learned so much over the past year (and the one before that in planning this crazy adventure). I'm still learning and growing and I hope I'm serving my customers well. I recently may a foray into the world of wholesaling my own items. I wholesale a wet dog food made locally, so I had the experience there, but my own products are another story. I have begun small...my catnip pillows seemed reasonable enough. I took some to a friend's store in St. Louis and she bought some! Yippee! I also took some to our local natural foods store. She called yesterday and sold all of them! She also placed an order for 36 more! Get out the sewing machine! Woo hoo!

So, I have many blessings to be counted and I hope many more. As crazy and out-of-control as this adventure has been, I still love it and I hope I am doing some good for pets all over. Next time, I'll sit down and discuss how much I want an actual storefront...as if everyone doesn't already know that! Ha!

Finally, I did want to show off a new toy...the Humunga Stache. I can't stop from laughing over this! Check it out!

Print catalog

So, after my ad ran in Star Magazine, I got several requests for a print catalog. Frankly, I hadn't considered a print catalog since I first decided to open the website. So...after getting several phone calls and finding out that everyone does NOT have internet, I'm putting together a catalog.

Let me tell you, this is a lost art! In today's world of computers and the internet, I'm struggling to get this thing done. I don't lack the know-how, "talent" or the software, but I want to be sure that this catalog is as good as the website! No easy task! I do have most of the write-ups ready to go, now on to the photos and then...duh duh dum...the printing. That will cost me some dough. I'm hoping I can find a local place who will help. Staples will gladly charge me 49 cents for color copies, one-sided, and I found a local printing company that will charge 39 cents for the same. I even thought about finding an online printing company. I just want it to look good, but be reasonable on my shrinking pocketbook! *Isn't that the way of the world?

I'm cautiously optimistic about a catalog. I think it may be a good way to reach a different audience. I also thought about leaving a copy at each of the vet's offices here in town, in hopes of tapping into my local customers.

We shall see!

Frustrations and not enough hours in the day

I have always been a person who wants something yesterday...that definitely holds true with my learning of how to use QuickBooks. I know, I know, "It's so easy!" they say, but I am having the darnedest time figuring the whole thing out. I'm sure I'll look back on all of it and think, "If I had only been patient..." but why should I be?

I also just joined the PIR...Pet Industry Retailers group. I was recommended to the group by Amy, who owns Pets in the City in STL (http://www.thecitypet.com). I think it will be a good thing for me. I can ask questions and learn from established business owners.

I've been trying so hard to cultivate my Facebook fans, but it seems that since FB changed a couple things around, the lemings have revolted. FB has a way of doing that every so often and the fans and followers and what not all think it is so horrible...so they form groups. I get it, I know, but I want my fans to stay with my page!

With the time change, I am hoping for some much needed time to work on the business. I was sick all last week with a nasty stomach bug and eve though mentally I was in pretty good shape, physically I had no energy to do all those things I want (and need) to do to keep my site in peoples' minds for the upcoming holiday season.

Definitely been a trying day. I'll take some deep breaths and see where that gets me. Until later!