We recently connected with Ariel Reckart and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for this business by simply thinking about my dog, Tucker, and what is best for him. Every treat that we gave him seemed to upset his stomach, give him ear infections, etc. I thought that it had to be something in the ingredients, so I decided to look into making his treats myself. During that process, I began thinking that I could not be the only dog owner to be worried about the ingredients in my dog’s treats and wanted to help those people and their dogs as well. I had a feeling that it would go well because people really do love their dogs, they love to spoil them, and give them the best of everything. We all want the best for our pups! I didn’t know of any other businesses making dog treats at the time, so I began to research dog-safe ingredients like fruits, veggies, spices, and so on. Once I had a solid list of ingredients, I started to play around, figuring out ways to combine them and that led to actual recipes. Once I had the recipes down, I knew I was ready to take the leap and start my business. What got me most excited about this idea was that I would be able to not only give my dog what is best for him, but be able to share that with other people and their dogs!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve said before that all I want is the best for my dog and I know other people want that for their dogs, which is why I make dog treats with dog-safe, natural ingredients. I even make my own peanut butter for them! I think buying my treats can give dog owners peace of mind, knowing that what they are giving their dog is safe. They feel confident giving their dogs these treats because they can read the ingredients and know EXACTLY what is in them. Not only are the treats natural, they are affordable. I am most proud of being able to provide quality treats at affordable prices because I really wanted them to be accessible. I don’t think dog owners should have to spend tons of money to find safe, quality treats. I care about my dog…I would do anything for him and I want my customers to know that I also care about them and their dogs!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I started out by announcing my business on Facebook in February of 2022. My family shared it, my husband, Austin’s family shared it, my friends shared it, and eventually people I didn’t know yet were commenting, liking, and following. It happened very quickly for me on Facebook thanks to our family and friends. I created an Instagram account, where some family and friends also started to follow me. Building my audience on Instagram is a bit slower than Facebook, but Instagram has helped me meet people that I have partnered with, resulting in new friendships and lots of awesome business opportunities, such as this right here! I am still building my audience, but so far my advice to those just starting out is to PROMOTE! Do not be scared to put yourself out there and talk about yourself and your business. You really have to take on a second role, not only being a business owner, but a content creator as well. Your website and social medias are extremely important in marketing your business and your product.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I originally went to school in Maryland to be a teacher. I was a barista and I worked for a small business as a Marketing Assistant for a while, but quit to focus more on school. During my senior year of college, COVID happened and I ended up not really being able to find a job after I graduated, which was okay because Austin and I were planning to move to North Carolina anyway. We got a dog (Tucker) in January of 2021 and moved to North Carolina five days later, which was my pivot in life. Shortly after moving, I got a job as a teacher. After doing that for a while, I realized that I wasn’t really happy being a teacher and I needed to quit and take some time to figure out what I wanted to do and what would be best for me, which is where I had to pivot in my career. I wasn’t looking for work when the idea of Tucker’s Treats came along so I definitely think it was meant to be, the universe was just waiting for the right time! This is what I am meant to be doing and I am so happy that I did it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tuckerstreatsllc.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tuckerstreatsllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuckerstreatsnc/
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tuckerstreatsllc?_t=8Xoonmcf2aI&_r=1
Image Credits
Ariel Reckart