We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Lopez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
I heard about a wonderful pet store that sells quality products, cares about their customers and vendors, and supports their community, Pet Palooza, was my first client.
Was I nervous when I walked into the store with my cookies? No, I was excited! I believe whole heartedly in my cookies and the health benefits they can offer dogs and I was excited to be a new vendor. I walked into the store with my marketing kit and spoke with the manager. I tend to ramble and talk fast when I’m excited and I knew I was doing this because she asked me to please slow down. I told her my story about how I created my company and recipes. I then asked her to try one of my cookies. She didn’t blink, picked one up and started munching. Then munched on another one. At that point a few customers asked what we were doing, and they joined us in the munching! There were 5 of us standing at the counter munching on dog cookies, sharing stories about our dogs, and having a great time!
Not only did I become one of their vendors, but we also all became good friends!
Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Most people think I woke up one day and decided, “hey I want to create a dog cookie company”. Not really. I actually started making dog cookies when I had a dog rescue many years ago. It was just something I enjoyed doing for the dogs. Then one day when I was on vacation my mom who was dog sitting for my pups and bought them commercially made dog treats. My beagle Suzie almost died from those treats! I couldn’t believe the ingredients which included fillers and words I can’t even pronounce. There is a lack of regulations in this country when it comes to dog food and treats. Just because a product is on the shelves does not mean it is safe or healthy. At this point I decided to start making cookies for my dogs and dogs of my friends and family. It wasn’t until 15 years after I started making cookies that I decided to start my business. After years of research and taste testing I have created cookies that are healthy and delicious, and pet parents are happy! My cookies are great for ALL dogs!
My compassion and connection to animals and my belief that all animals are sentient beings is the reason I decided to produce vegan dog treats. I had a few people laugh because, as they said, “dogs should eat meat”. I understand where these pet parents are coming from. I had to explain that because of what humans are doing to the animals such as hormones, pesticides in the environment, and irresponsible breeding, the numbers are growing of dogs that are allergic to meat and fish. My cookies are vegan for two reasons, not killing animals and for those dogs that have allergies. I want ALL dogs to be happy!
My compassion for animals and the environment has spilled over into making my company sustainable. Our environment and what is happening to our planet and wildlife is extremely important. All my fruit and veggie scraps are either fed to the wild animals or they end up as a part of my compost pile. Packaging and shipping materials are all upcycled. We all need to look at ourselves and decide that we can all make a difference.
Most importantly I learned to believe in myself and that is all with the help of God. He leads my life, and He leads my business.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
A true belief in my products, in myself, and what I could offer pet parents helped to build my strong and positive reputation in the dog community. Along with honesty and sense of humor! Pet parents want someone they can relate to and trust. It didn’t take long for my clients to realize that I will always put their dogs above all else.
Pet parents know that I will tell them the truth regarding a healthy diet for their dogs or advice regarding health issues. I have even recommended other dog treats because I want their dogs to be happy! My vision and transparency have given pet parents comfort in knowing that what I bake, and who I am, can be trusted for their dogs and for themselves.
I enjoy what I do, and it shows!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Starting a business is never an easy decision. Things sort of fell into place, so I said to myself, Let’s Do It! Businesses will always encounter stumbling blocks, small bumps and large mountains. I want to keep this interview upbeat, but I need to share my experience.
Wookee Cookees was on the way to going National! I made it to the point that all small businesses strive for.
However, God had a different plan for me and my business.
When my cancer returned, I had some important decisions to make. Talk about a stumbling block! I prayed a lot, spoke with my brother, and realized God’s plan was for me to leave my home and business to seek lifesaving care. So, I walked away from my life as I knew it, travelled hundreds of miles and started over. I lost about 90% of my business but am alive today to tell you my story! I want you all to know that not once did I consider giving up! I had faith and knew everything would work out, and it has. My business is back on track and growing once again! Life throws us curves and we have no choice but to keep going! Never, ever give up!
Contact Info:
- Website:www.wookeecookees.com
- Instagram: wookeecookees