Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joyce Kang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Joyce thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Bibim Paws was originally founded after my first dog Gigi fell ill and died from a pet food recall back in 2012. Since then, I began researching more about the pet food industry and discovered the lack of quality control and dangerous loopholes that pet food companies were using to sell their products. Some dangers included the use of diseased meat, overdosing of synthetic vitamins and just an overall lack of transparency which lead to hundreds of recalls that harm pets annually. Bibim Paws is the first and only fresh pet food company in the nation to use only whole food and certified organic ingredients while also showing transparency to fellow pet owners so they can also learn what goes into their pet’s food.

Joyce, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started working in the pet care industry in 2008 and started building Bibim Paws back in 2012 after losing my dog Gigi to a pet food recall. My experience working with dogs and cats helped me understand the effects that certain types of diets had on pets. For example, I saw a major difference in the energy levels, health and longevity of dogs that were eating homemade diets compared to dogs who ate dried kibble everyday. For cats, I saw the devastating effects that dry food could have on their kidneys and urinary tracts as they grew older compared to cats who ate mostly wet food.

It was all a learning process and as I began the formulation of my pet food with the help of vet nutritionists, I learned more about the importance of balancing the right vitamins and minerals for pets. It was difficult to formulate a recipe without the use of synthetic vitamins but I was determined to make it happen because I truly believe in the power of bioavailability from whole foods.

I hope Bibim Paws helps pet parents understand the power that organic, fresh food can have on their pets and help them live their best (and longest) life. A lot of pet owners are intimidated or think cooking for their pets at home would be too difficult, but with Bibim Paws it is easy. We provide whole food supplements and kits to help pet parents cook at home with simple ingredients you can find at the grocery store. As pet parents begin cooking more at home for their pets, they will realize how simple and easy it really is to provide high-quality food at home without the need of commercial pet food.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During covid, I had issues with a lot of my suppliers since the supply chain began to intensify and slow down as the need for demand fluctuated. A lot of suppliers went out of business as well so it was hard to find a reliable source of inventory. There was nothing I could do but to continue searching and it affected my business greatly because I was not able to sell product due to lack of supply. I ended up having to actually go to certain stores like Whole Foods to buy ingredients from in order to continue supplying my customers with my products. The price was definitely higher compared to suppliers but I didn’t want to let pet owners down and in the dark when their pets needed their food.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I grew my audience organically and I think a lot of pet owners want to see transparency in what they are buying. Also if you have the passion for what you are selling, posting certain topics of interest should come naturally to you and being authentic to who you are and what you’re selling will show which in turn will appeal to audiences who are looking. Also building real relationships with other pet owners was important because I do truly care about their pets and I want to help pet parents learn about the pet food industry and give them the tools they need to give their pets the best life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bibimpaws.com
• Instagram: @bibimpaws