We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Eastburn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I grew up in Arizona on a lake wakeboarding and skiing since I was a little girl. I have always been drawn to the water, being on it has always been so therapeutic to me. I also have always been obsessed with dogs, begging my parents for my own pet since grade school. During college I knew I wanted to eventually obtain a job in San Diego working on the water so when I moved out here are you got a job at San Diego de adventures learning how to run their business as well as teaching people how to paddle board and taking one out on JetSki tours. Then one day on my off day I took my rescue dog Jack out on the water and saw how much he loves being out with me, that is when the light bulb lit up.. the idea of putting both of my passions together, being on the water and around dogs. No one that I knew was giving anyone an experience with their dogs out on the water so I started to take out some friends to see where it could be. The excitement that I would see with people out on the water with their dog it’s built up as fire inside where I wanted to start to teach everyone. I then met the owners of West Coast paddle sports where they mainly did paddle board rentals and lessons and they took me in under their wings to not only teach me about the business but wanted to see SUP pups grow as well. With in five years I was working with West Coast paddles sports, the demand of my private lesson kept growing! I never imagined that SUP Pups would be my own business, but I wanted to see where I could take it. Now I feel unbelievably blessed that I have created a niche business meeting amazing people and their dogs giving them the best experience out on the water together, in hopes that they will find a new passion that can do on their own. With that I started to meet so meet so many new friends and they wanted to keep getting out on the water, now we host fun events getting back to local dog charities and rescues as well as holiday paddles and birthday paddles. I am so excited to see each year the success and new opportunities that come with SUP Pups!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I owe the love of the water to my Dad, when I was a little girl I was blessed with a childhood of going to the lake every weekend in the Summer, being on the water gave me this amazing feeling of serenity. Growing up I also had this deep love for animals, especially dogs. I begged my mom for my own dog when I was in elementary school. Then after graduating college I knew I had to move closer to the water, I was always drawn to San Diego, visiting Campland by the Bay every year growing up with my family.

Once I moved to California with my rescue dog Jack in 2014 after graduation, the hunt for a job on the water began. San Diego Bay Adventures on Harbor Island gave me the opportunity to learn all about Water Sports Tourism, I was in my element. Then on my off day, I took out Jack on a paddle board and we instantly fell in love. The idea of SUP Pups was born and I finally felt like I had a purpose on earth, to give people the opportunity to find serenity on the water with their dog like I did with Jack.

Now 7 years later, SUP Pups has developed into a successful career once partnering up with West Coast Paddle Sports. Taking out thousands of dogs and their owners, seeing their eyes light up with this new found passion.

SUP Pups is a paddle board company that specializes in teaching you how to SUP with your Pup. Starting off with private lessons for you and your dog, teaching you the basics, safety and technique of the sport while educating you the best way to introduce your dog to the board. Every dog will have a different experience depending on their personality, fears and anxiety. But with the specialized and experienced technique, I am able to give these dogs comfort knowing they will be ok, and the owner their confidence taking their dog out on the water. I have been running SUP Pups solely by myself, some people don’t even remember my name, but simply know me as the SUP Pups Girl. I am proud to say as well that I do not know many people that do what I do and I am so blessed that I have been able to build this amazing reputation in San Diego, not only just teaching people but gaining valuable friendships along the way.

My brand and reputation is what I am most proud of. That I am able to give someone all the knowledge they need to paddle out safely with their dog, but also help them obtain their own equipment and know the best boards, how to transport their equipment. My pure happiness is when I see an old client reach out to purchase their own board, and then see them set out on the water regularly with their pup!

Not only do I offer the private lessons, help you get your own equipment set up, but I also love to have a little fun with social events like Dog birthday parties, Holiday paddles and Donating lessons!

I love giving back to the pup community and I found an amazing way by taking out people who are fostering an adoptable dog, capture the adventure and help share their story so they have a better chance finding their forever home.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Going into SUP Pups I never really imagined that it would become a full-blown career for me, it was more of meeting new people in San Diego and helping them fall in love with a sport that I did with my dog. SUP Pups was a way for me to get out on the water, be with my dog and meet new friends. Yes we all want to make money to survive, but starting SUP Pups that was not my main intention, I just wanted to do something that I love. By that I believe it is all about the connections that you make and helping each other out. I believe anyone with good intentions and a kind heart will succeed in life, not letting obstacles get you down and learning how to overcome that. Honestly it is the community that SUP Pups has built that has made me successful and the amazing people and dogs that I have met along the way.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Social media has been huge for me the development of everyone getting Instagram’s for their dogs. Everyone loves to share the new activities that their dog does and seeing them in a new light, and at SUP Pups photos and videos of them out on the water is included. I do not believe in upselling someone and trying to charge for photos and videos is a good idea. I believe that if someone is trying to do that then they are in it just for the money. At SUP Pups, I want to show you how cute you and your dog is on the water and know that if I send the photos and videos directly to you. then you are going to want to share with all your friends and followers… to me that is the BEST marketing tool

Contact Info:

• Website: www.suppups.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sup_pups
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/suppupsUSA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sup-pups-san-diego-2

Image Credits
Photos taken by Joe Obani and Samantha Eastburn