Pet Business Disruptors
Giving an in-depth look into all aspects of the pet Industry, Pet Business Disruptors tackles everything practical you need to know to succeed in the pet industry. Whether it's starting a pet business, finding a pet industry job or selling to the world's largest Pet businesses the Pet Business Disruptors will explain how to do it and how they DID it. Aimed at everyone from entry-level to corporate CEOs within the industry Clayton and his guests cover new trends, new products and industry movements. Showing insights into what's happening in different markets and tackling common problems and challenges faced by...
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Why the Pet Distribution Model is Broken (And How to Survive It)
<p>In this episode of Pet Business Disruptors, host Clayton sits down with Megan Stoll, the founder and owner of Pet Power Studio in California.</p> <p>They dive into Megan's journey within the pet industry, starting from her early days at a holistic pet store in Colorado in 2014, to running her own distribution company, and ultimately opening her own successful retail store. Megan and Clayton discuss the unique challenges and pitfalls of the distribution side of the industry, the specific difficulties of operating in Southern California, and why having a dedicated strategy for local, independent retail is crucial for...
Disrupting Feline Nutrition: Why the Pet Industry Forgot About Cats
<p>In this episode, Clayton sits down with Jae Kennedy and Adrienne Lefebvre, the founders of Two Crazy Cat Ladies, to explore the often-overlooked world of feline nutrition within the broader pet food industry. Jae and Adrienne share how their journey began in 2005 while working for a pioneering pet supplement company, which eventually led them to launch their own brand dedicated exclusively to cats in 2015. They discuss the deep flaws in modern feline diets, the highly addictive nature of commercial kibble, and the urgent need for species-appropriate, moisture-rich foods designed for obligate carnivores. </p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>The...
Reimagining Dog Food: Ruby Balaram on Fresh Feeding and Real Ingredients
<p>In this episode, Clayton sits down with Ruby Balaram, co-founder of Real Dog Box and Director of the Feed Real Institute, to explore her transition from a 14-year legal career to the pet food industry. Ruby shares how her husband's dog's cancer diagnosis inspired a shift to a raw diet, eventually leading them to launch a successful air-dried treat and chew subscription business from scratch. </p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>From Law to Pet Wellness: A devastating cancer diagnosis for a family dog pushed Ruby and her husband to rethink pet nutrition, switching the dog to a raw...
From Restaurant Kitchens to Pet Nutrition: Scot Hill’s Woof Creek Journey
<p>In this episode, Clayton sits down with Chef Scot Hill, founder of Woof Creek, to explore his unexpected transition from the restaurant industry into the pet wellness space. Scot shares how the COVID-19 pandemic and a new puppy with allergies inspired him to apply his culinary philosophy to pet supplements, detailing how Woof Creek's grassroots beginnings at farmers markets and his relentless commitment to ingredient transparency. </p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>From Kitchen to Pet Wellness: The COVID-19 pandemic forced Scot to close his restaurant, leading him to reevaluate food as a functional item to help his new...
Reviving Heritage: The Evolution of Wilsons Pet Food with Craig Wallace
<p>In this episode, Clayton sits down with Craig Wallace, Managing Director of Wilsons Pet Food, to explore the journey of reviving a historic Scottish pet food brand and navigating the modern pet nutrition landscape. Craig shares his transition from human food manufacturing into pet food, detailing how Wilsons evolved from traditional mixers and cold-pressed lines to dropping raw production entirely in favor of shelf-stable, fresh-cooked meals. </p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>Reviving a Legacy Brand: Wilsons of Dundee, historically one of Scotland's largest pet food companies, avoided closure and shifted from producing traditional 1980s-style mixers to making innovative f...
From Bootstrapping to Regulation: Demystifying Pet CBD with Earth Buddy’s Sean Zyer
<p>Clayton sits down with Sean Zyer, founder of Earth Buddy, to discuss the evolution of the pet wellness and hemp sectors. Drawing on his extensive background in pet food manufacturing and distribution, Zyer breaks down the journey of building a clean, science-backed pet CBD brand from a commercial kitchen to independent pet retailers across the United States. The conversation dives deep into the realities of manufacturing, the shifting distribution landscape, the science of full-spectrum versus CBD isolates, and the pressing legislative hurdles currently threatening the hemp market.</p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>The Origin of Earth Buddy Was...
Standing Out in a Crowded Pet Supplement Market with Big Paws Marketing
<p>In this episode, Clayton sits down with Pamela Keniston, founder and CEO of Big Paws Marketing, to explore the rapidly evolving dynamics of the pet industry. They dive deep into the challenges pet supplement brands face regarding FTC/FDA compliance and label claims, the realities of high-cost clinical studies, and why standing out in a flooded market requires more than generic branding. </p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>Compliance and Label Claims Carry Real Risk: Supplement and pet food brands frequently push boundary lines with exaggerated health claims, risking regulatory enforcement from the FDA and FTC or costly lawsuits.</p...
The Wild West of Pet Supplements: What Owners Need to Know
<p>In this episode of "Pet Business Disruptors," host Clayton interviews Cat Henstridge, widely known as "Cat the Vet," a UK-based small animal veterinarian and vocal advocate for evidence-based medicine. They tackle the rapid spread of online misinformation, the extreme polarization of pet diets, and the lack of regulation in the pet supplement market.</p> <p>Key Takeaways</p> <p>Reclaiming "Holistic" Care: Cat argues that conventional vets inherently practice holistic medicine because they evaluate and treat the entire animal. She strongly opposes how alternative medicine advocates have co-opted the term to push treatments that lack scientific backing.</p> <p>...
Margins, Retailers, and Habitual Buying: Unlocking Growth with Ben Penrose
<p>In this episode of "Pet Business Disruptors," host Clayton speaks with Ben Penrose, the founder of STRIQE and an expert in high-level sales and distribution strategy. Ben breaks down the often-misunderstood "theory of selling," moving past generic advice to reveal exactly how independent pet businesses can scale, secure distribution, and maximize the lifetime value of their customers.</p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>The Theory of Selling: Success in the pet industry requires more than just a great product; it demands a deep understanding of sales mechanics. Ben emphasizes that many founders fail because they do not grasp how...
Navigating the Complexities of Exiting a Pet Business: Insights from Kaz Kelly
<p>In this episode of "Pet Business Disruptors," host Clayton speaks with Kaz Kelly, an experienced entrepreneur in the pet industry with a rich background as a detector dog handler and RSPCA investigator. Kaz shares her journey of founding a successful doggy daycare business in Brisbane, Australia, and the lessons learned during her exit process. They discuss the importance of preparing a business for sale, the emotional challenges of transitioning ownership, and the common pitfalls that many business owners face when selling.</p> <p><br></p> <p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p> <p>Importance of Preparation for Exit: Many business owners, especially...
