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CityDog special edition 2013
If, like Marie, you are ready to follow your passion and start your own pooch-centric business, make sure you do your research before you turn in your two-week notice. Marie says, “Trust your instincts, but also do your homework. If you are passionate about something, you have no choice but to follow your dream. Also, when times get tough, it’s important to remember what inspired you...your dog.” The other key to Marie’s success is knowing when to delegate. “Set aside the ego and recognize your weaknesses,” she says. “I knew I couldn’t do it all and would hold the company back if I tried, so I hired a CEO to fill that all-important position.”
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Wellness: Itchy Skin | Behavior: Get a Job | Books We Love | Calendar of Canine Events | The Last Woof | and much more!
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Hiring good people who are passionate goes a long way toward the success of your business. Also, standing behind your product. “In the beginning I gave away 1,000 pounds of frozen food to pet shops and sometimes even the freezers to store it in. I was that confident the product would sell,” says Marie. Also, allowing your product to evolve to fit your customers’ needs is an important step in the growth process. While still available frozen, Stella and Chewy’s is also available in a freeze-dried format. “Having a freeze-dried product creates less of a barrier to entry. It’s easier to get people to try the product because of its convenience,” says Marie. Last year, the company also launched a line of single-serve freeze-dried cat food for its cat loving clientele. One last piece of advice: give back. Marie and Stella & Chewy’s are committed to improving the health of pets, but also to saving the lives of less fortunate animals. Each year, the company makes in-kind donations representing hundreds of thousands of dollars to animal rescue groups and no-kill shelters. In 2011 alone, Stella & Chewy’s made over 400 donations to large and small organizations across the country. Paws up to that! While Marie’s beloved Chewy passed in August 2011 at the ripe old age of 16, Stella is still going strong at 16 ½ years old. “I feel lucky and grateful and can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t walked into that shelter and found Chewy,” says Marie. “I got everything I could ever want, essentially my life’s work. He gave me that.” For more information about Stella & Chewy’s, visit stellaandchewys.com. Also, come meet Marie in person at the eighth annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Search, September 22, 2013 at Fremont Oktoberfest. For more information about the model search, turn to page 35.
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