We recently connected with Kate Huiskens and have shared our conversation below.
Kate, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
If our pets deserve a spot in heaven with us, then they deserve as good of a spot and life on Earth with us too.
My mission with Naturly Pets is to teach pet owners “Don’t Fear Fresh!”. Our dogs and cats are designed to eat animals and hunt, they are scavengers. There are concerns and worries with giving dehydrated treats and chews to our pets. The biggest fear for pet owners is their pet getting an obstruction in their intestine by a bone. Contrary to popular belief, dehydrated treats and chews are generally safe and can actually be a fantastic addition to your pet’s diet. Dehydrated treats are carefully crafted through a slow drying process that removes moisture while preserving nutrients. This makes them more easily digestible compared to overly hard or brittle alternatives. Because moisture is slowly pulled from our treats and chews during the dehydration process the bones end up becoming a nice crunchy treat versus splintering from cooked bones. I want to help not only provide a great natural treat and chew for pets but also provide the right resources to my customers to help them not fear fresh when feeding their pets. As always I tell everyone to consult their vet with any uncertainty. Feeding fresh to your pet will give them the ultimate gift by helping expand their time on Earth.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I hold a bachelor of science degree in Marketing & associates degree in Business Administration from Lourdes University. I then attended the International Institute for Procurement & Market Research and obtained my CRA (Certified Research Analyst) Certification. After attending the International Institute for Procurement & Market Research I took online classes through Harvard and obtained a certificate through them in Business Analytics.
My love and passion for animals has grown into a business. I have spent years studying and researching animal nutrition and behavior. I strongly believe in a deliberate, common sense approach to creating and maintaining vibrant health for companion animals. My husband is a Zookeeper at our local zoo which has introduced me to exotic animals and have the chance to observe them more, and learn about their behavior & diets.
Naturly Pets was created through my love and passion for animals and understanding the importance of feeding natural to our pets. My love and years of research, participating in different online nutrition courses, and seminars, I began making raw diets for my own dogs and cats, and natural diets for my parrots. Naturly Pets offers natural treats and supplements that are made from meats and produce that are from local farms in Ohio.
My Vision at Naturly Pets is to provide the proper resources and treats to pet owners so they can provide the best optimal health for their pets rather its dogs, cats, reptiles or parrots! Rather you want to put your pets on 100% raw or incorporate some of it into their diet, I’m here to help with the process by providing you great resources for you to make the personal decision and answer any questions that you might have. Improving your pet’s health does not need to happen overnight and it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Outside of being an entrepreneur I work for my county’s Economic Development office. I’m dedicated to committing to & fostering economic growth and empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. In the ever-evolving landscape of economics and business, I remain committed to continual learning and adaptation. By staying abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and global economic shifts, I ensure that the initiatives I spearhead are not only relevant but also positioned to anticipate and navigate future challenges.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been the good old fashion face to face networking. While I do have a social media and an online store for my business. My biggest success in sales and building brand loyalty has been by simply having conversations with potential clients and creating a relationship that way. I show dogs as a hobby. I have two gorgeous Basenji’s that I take to dog shows. This is the prime audience for my business, I’m surrounded by hundreds of dog owners and handlers. Meeting someone in person allows for genuine, authentic connections that go beyond digital interactions. You can read body language, share a smile, and establish a rapport that forms the foundation of lasting business relationships .Face-to-face interactions build trust faster than online exchanges. Seeing the person behind the business adds a human touch, establishing credibility and fostering a sense of reliability that is crucial in business. In a world that’s increasingly digital, don’t underestimate the power of a handshake, a conversation, or a shared experience. Face-to-face networking remains a timeless and effective way to build a clientele that believes in you and your business. So, get out there, shake some hands, and watch your network and business flourish!
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
$100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau- This book is honestly the back bone of how/why Naturly Pets got started. I learned how to cheaply start a startup. In the book, Chris gives you the step-by-step to identifying a profitable idea, marketing on a budget, and building a customer base if you don’t have money. The $100 Startup is a book about entrepreneurship, but it’s about more than that. It is a profile of successful startup businesses, that have been significantly successful for their owners, with a minimum initial investment. The manifesto in the prologue calls it “a short guide to everything you want,” and really, that’s what this book is about. It is a blueprint to start you on the path to doing better work. My favorite quote from this book is “Value is created when a person makes something useful and shares it with the world.” This quote resonates strongly with me as a business owner. Entrepreneurs often create value by identifying unmet needs, developing innovative solutions, and bringing these solutions to the market. The act of sharing aligns with the entrepreneurial process of reaching customers and clients. The quote captures the essence of how value is a dynamic and participatory process. It is not a static entity but is continuously shaped and enhanced through the creative efforts of individuals who are willing to share their contributions with the world. This philosophy underlines the interconnectedness of creation, sharing, and the realization of value in various aspects of life and work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.naturlypets.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturlypets/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086776123554
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynhuiskens/