Your pet business, Your way

What would you do if someone copied your pet business?  That’s what happened to Debbie Humphreys from Redhound for Dogs, not once but TWICE. The first time was a department store who copied knitting kits she’d made for dog jumpers. The second was someone who ripped off her entire product, buying her designs, and using the exact pattern. In this episode Debbie shares what it’s like to find out...

Would you love to feel comfortable and confident when you send an e mail out to your subscribers? And not worry about being ‘annoying’ or ‘pushy’ because you know they’ll be so chuffed seeing your name pop up in their inbox? If so, you’re going to love this chat with the brilliant Rob and Kennedy from Email Marketing Heroes. Sending e mails can be stressful and overwhelming at first but it doesn’t...

Are you thinking of starting a pet blog or a blog for your pet business? Having a blog gives you a creative outlet to share whatever you like, whether it’s showing off your pet or putting something you feel passionate in the spotlight. It’s a platform you control, where you’re not at the mercy of ever changing social platform trends and algorthityms. Particularly with the changes happening on soci...

Promoting your business can feel like a full time job along with creating your product or delivering your service. And imagine what it might be like if you had TWO businesses to think about? This week’s podcast guest is Louise Humphrey from Paws4Running and Studio 44 Pilates and that’s exactly what she does. Two sets of social media, newsletter subscribers, websites and communities, plus a podcast...

In this episode I'm talking about a topic that comes up a lot. Why I DON'T do done for you PR. Deciding to set up a coaching business rather than offering done for you PR has meant it has taken me a LOT longer to be able to bring in enough income to have this as my sole revenue stream. And it is still a work in progress. In this episode I'm talking about why I made this decision, and how learning...

Is improving your Instagram on your to-do list? Then you will LOVE this episode with Helen Perry from the ‘Just Bloody Post It’ podcast. Helen has grown a huge, engaged following on the platform and shows how small businesses can do the same on her own Instagram account, her podcast and online courses and workshops.  In this chat, Helen shares loads of brilliant marketing advice that can be a...

Would you love to feel more bold when it comes to sharing what you do in your pet business? This week I’ve been doing a Be Bold Bootcamp five day challenge working with people who want to do this. Who know they have an awesome product or service that is really going to make a difference for pet parents. Who want to share the value they bring to pets and pet parents and do it in a way that feels ri...

In just four years Stephanie Zikmann has gone from being a local dog groomer to an authority worldwide as The Holistic Dog Groomer. She’s written a book that led to a series of children’s books, has a regular column in Edition Dog magazine, runs the Holistic Grooming Academy and has spoken at events all over the world. Stephanie’s passion is the emotional and physical needs of her canine clients,...

Would you love to be more bold when it comes to promoting your pet business? Perhaps you’ve felt frustrated because people less experienced or qualified than you, or who use outdated and questionable methods are everywhere? Or if you’ve a product, you might feel invisible while competitors are sharing endless posts about how they’re ‘smashing it.’ If you can relate, I imagine it’s not that these p...

Are you looking to make more of an impact with your pet business? Would you love to elevate yourself as THE expert in your field or shine the spotlight on your pet products? Then you’re going to love my podcast with pet business marketing coach Dom Hodgson. We talk about how to make an impact with your pet business and Dom shares some really simple steps to follow to make this happen. Discove...

Looking for ways to get publicity for your pet business as we go into Spring? Spring is in the air which means lighter mornings and evenings, no need to wrap up and some much needed sunshine. And we can spend more time outdoors enjoying life with our pets.  After a dreary winter, it’s time to lift our spirits, and think of ways to connect with our customers and potential clients through our c...

Have you seen news stories about awareness days and wondered how they come about? There are hundreds of awareness days taking place every week and you CAN use them as a way to get press coverage. As long as the awareness day relates to you and what you do, and you're able to create something relevant, you can use them to generate story ideas. In this podcast learn how to use key dates to pitch to...

Do you have an anxious dog and get frustrated when other dogs approach them, jump on them and stress them out? When owners say, 'It's ok, they're friendly,' or, 'They just want to play,' or 'They need telling off.' If so, Sarah Jones' story is one you will want to hear. When her Cocker Spaniel Bella became anxious and reactive, Sarah went on a mission not just to help her own dog but thousands of...

Looking to raise the profile of your pet business by entering Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday? It’s a community award where you get the paws up from the multi-millionaire entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragon’s Den. It is amazing for your pet business profile, a brilliant and super easy way to get press coverage, and you become part of Theo’s supportive community too. Last month, February 202...

Have you ever thought about approaching large retailers like John Lewis or Pets at Home to work with you? In this podcast episode I'm speaking to Chris Costello from Product Guru about how you can do this through their pet huddles. The Pet Huddle takes place in Birmingham on March 31st and there are a few spaces remaining. It's a recording from an interview in my Facebook group, and you can watch...

Have you ever suffered from comparisonitis? You might have found yourself looking at other pet businesses or in a similar space and thinking ‘oh my gosh they do so much more than me?’ Fretting as you see them chat about their waiting list, client base, even their media wins, and spiral yourself into self-doubt? Whilst it’s healthy to be inspired by others, comparisonitis can have a huge impact on...

Are you looking to invest in training in your pet business but feel unsure about what's right for you? There is so much information out there when it comes to ways to grow your business. From learning practical skills and theory to help you deliver your service or create your product. To thousands of marketing and social media experts, plus tech, coaching and much more. And where do you start? The...

Katie Gwilt is founder of The Kat Lady and in this episode she shares how she set up her business as a holistic cat groomer and behaviourist. Katie always loved cats, and found herself running her dream business of working with her feline friends after a terrifying experience with her health. After taking time to recover, she set her heart on supporting cats and their humans, helping cats in need...

Crufts is back for 2022 after a two year break and if you’re involved, this is a chance to get some press coverage. If you’re there showing a dog, taking part in Scruffts, joining in the dog sports or showcasing your product you can pitch to the press about it. In this podcast episode I’m sharing how to get press coverage from Crufts. And if you’d like to get a little more support or ask any quest...

Dragon's Den fans - this episode is for YOU! Have you ever watched the show and wondered what it would be like to go before the Dragons on the BBC 1 series? Well this week's podcast guest did - and got investment. Debbie Greaves from Barking Bags wowed Sara Davies and secured a £35,000 investment in her dog walking bags. She held her own in the Den, even when newbie Steven Bartlett scoffed at her...

Did you know that it's possible to use Twitter to get amazing press coverage in huge titles?  Like the Metro, the Telegraph, the Daily Mail, Your Dog magazine, Psychologies, huge websites like Yahoo and Buzzfeed and Unilad.  And the everyday journalists are on there looking to hear from people like YOU who run small businesses. People who might want to talk about their experiences,...

Have you ever had a lightbulb moment and followed it through? This week on the podcast I'm speaking to Karen Rhodes from Luxury Dog Hampers and Suffolk Pet Services. Karen was watching a TV show about Fortnum and Mason three years ago and had a thought, 'I wonder if I could make this for dogs?' Rather than forgetting about it, she made it happen, and now runs the HUGELY successful Luxury Dog Hampe...

Would you love to raise the profile of your pet business by being featured in the media? If so, taking part in the 12 week Get Your Pet Business in the Press programme will give you everything you need to find stories in your pet business and share them with journalists. In this podcast I'm sharing what to expect from taking part in the programme, how it works, plus interviews with three ladies wh...

Is getting on the radio one of your PR goals for your pet business? Being interviewed live is fantastic for giving people an insight into you as a pet professional but can be daunting too. Anna Webb is a seasoned BBC Radio presenter and a regular guest on shows like Jeremy Vine, Trisha and Alan Titchmarsh. She’s a dog trainer, canine nutritionist and co-hosts Barking At The Moon on BBC Radio Londo...

Are you thinking of taking part in a five day challenge and want to make the most of the time you set aside? Free online challenges provide a brilliant way to learn something new in a short space of time, delivered by an expert. You can add to your skillset and experience what it’s like to work with the person hosting the challenge. If learning how to feature in the press is something you’d like t...