SUPERZOO is coming August 12-14, 2026 in Las Vegas, with an education day Tues, Aug 11, - and if you sell products, make products, or work behind the scenes in the pet industry, this is your must-attend event.

Candace sits down with Mike Karsting, Senior Vice President of World Pet Association (WPA) and the driving force behind SUPERZOO, to talk about what makes this show essential for independent pet retailers, emerging brands, and anyone on the product side of the business.

They discuss:

🐾 Why SUPERZOO is "the melting pot of the pet industry" (if you touch pet in any way, there's something here for you)

🐾 The New Product Showcase strategy and how Candace found a $25k client through the showcase

🐾 Education passes, grooming demos, networking meetups, and the Beach Party (there's something for everyone)

🐾The Groomer's Innovation Stage and new on-floor classroom you won’t want to miss

Plus the Pets+ SUPERZOO sample box, why vetting attendees protects exhibitors, and Mike's advice for juggling education, shopping, networking, and parties! 

ABOUT MIKE KARSTING Senior Vice President, World Pet Association / SUPERZOO

Mike Karsting has served as Senior Vice President of World Pet Association for the past five years, bringing more than 30 years of experience in event marketing, production, and management across both trade and consumer platforms.

Prior to stepping into the SVP role, Karsting spent 18 years with TEN: The Enthusiast Network, including the last decade as Vice President of Events. There, he led the planning, production, and execution of major properties such as the EnduroCross series, Motor Trend International Auto Show events, as well as numerous custom car shows and live concerts. Karsting later produced multiple X Games throughout the world and served as Marketing Director at MotoAmerica and previously held a leadership role at Professional Bull Riders.

As SVP, Karsting leads the strategic development and execution of the company's live B2B portfolio, driving growth through innovative event strategy, partnership development, and operational excellence. Leveraging on his extensive background in motorsports, automotive culture, and live entertainment, he is committed to delivering impactful experiences that elevate exhibitors, sponsors, partners, and industry attendees.

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Candace and Morgan are back from sunny Orlando after a long week at Global Pet Expo 2026 - and this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights, favorite product discoveries, and Morgan's fresh first-timer perspective.

They discuss:

🙌 The brand that dominated with marketing everywhere - a masterclass in visibility)

🙌 Interactive booth experiences that win  

🙌 Smart founder moves  

🙌 Unique product discoveries that are eye-catching, space-efficient, and conversation-starting

🙌 Product trends worth watching for 2026 and beyond

Plus the challenge of walking the entire show floor (Candace still missed entire sections!, the deals that happened on Friday, and why having a consumer mindset on your team matters.

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Recorded live at Global Pet Expo on Day 1 (education day), this episode features a conversation Candace never planned to have - until she sat in Luis Zamora's session and realized this was exactly what Pet Boss Nation listeners needed to hear!

Luis presented "Profiting from the Pet-Inclusive Economy Through Strategic Partnerships" at the Pet Summit, and instead of being a sales pitch for his platform (PetsVivo), it was packed with actionable strategies for small businesses to build partnerships that actually work.

Because most pet businesses are stuck doing casual referrals - handing out business cards, hoping for the best, never tracking success - instead of building intentional, mutually beneficial partnerships.

They discuss:

🙌 What PetsVivo does and how they are helping businesses attract the most in-demand demographic: pet parents

🙌 The difference between casual referrals and strategic partnerships 

🙌 Creative partnership ideas you probably haven’t even thought about yet

🙌 Why Luis started PetsVivo inspired by his two dogs, Tuck and Banzo

Plus resources from the Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative (PIHI) and why cat parents are getting the short end of the stick on pet fees! 

ABOUT LUIS ZAMORA Founder, PetsVivo

Luis is the Co-Founder of PetsVivo, the pet operating system for housing and hotel properties. Before PetsVivo, he spent 6+ years in the investment world across film finance, real estate, and early-stage tech, giving him a strong perspective on how capital and consumer behavior are shaping the rapidly growing pet economy.

He lives in Austin, TX with his partner and two rescue dogs, Tuck and Banzo (short for Garbanzo). When he’s not working in the pet space, you can find him playing soccer or volleyball, hiking with his pups, or out by the lake.

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Global Pet Expo is just days away - and if you're investing the time and money to be there, you need a content creation plan.

This episode brings a brand new team member Morgan Seabloom (Marketing & Operations Coordinator for Dante and Dory's) alongside Candace to share their pre-show prep checklist and 5 content buckets to help you capture everything worth capturing!

Because trade shows aren't just about placing orders. They're content creation gold.

They share:

🙌 How to prep your phone before the show and the camera settings to turn on NOW

🙌 Why you should schedule a Facebook Live ahead of time 

🙌 The 5 content buckets every pet business should be using

🙌 And Morgan's special tip around what to do with “bad footage”

Plus an invitation to Candace's birthday bash at ArtVark Pet Products booth #1462 on Thursday at 3pm Eastern (cake cutting at 4pm - mimosas, goodie bags, and spoiling included)!

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A message came through Dante and Dory's website contact form. It was detailed, critical, and specific- complaining about pricing, construction timelines, employee compensation, and the value of shopping local.

But something felt off.

The team ran the message through an AI detector: 100% AI-generated.

In this episode, Candace unpacks the entire experience - from the initial reaction to the deep dive into what it could be (competitor? phishing probe? mass AI blasting? real person hiding?). And more importantly, she shares what Dante and Dory's is doing differently because of it.

She shares:

🙌 The message itself and the 4 possibilities of what this could be (and why it matters)

🙌 How each complaint - pricing, value of shopping local, construction timeline, employee compensation - became an opportunity to look inward

🙌 What Dante and Dory's is fixing because of this message

🙌 Why even fake complaints can sharpen you if you let them

Plus the reminder: you're doing something hard. You're building something real. And the fact that someone - even an AI - needed to come at you sideways says more about them than it ever will about you! 
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Be honest: when was the last time you looked at your calendar and knew exactly what you were promoting, posting, and doing in your business three months from now?

Do you even know what you're doing next week? Or do you wake up on Tuesday and think: Wait, did anyone post today? What am I supposed to post?

If this hits a little close to home, this episode is going to change how you run your marketing - starting right now.

Spring is here. The clocks just sprang forward. Q2 is days away. And this is your biggest marketing opportunity of the year! 

She shares:

✅ The difference between reacting and executing (and why it's not about talent, budget, or time)

✅ Why Q2 is genuinely the most opportunity-rich season in the pet industry

✅ What a real marketing plan actually looks like 

✅ The monthly themes, key dates, promotions, content plan, and team alignment you need

🙌 PLUS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Pet Boss Nation's Monthly Marketing Planner is now available as a standalone subscription for $59/month!

For the first time ever, you can get the exact monthly marketing roadmap that Pet Boss coaching clients have used for 4+ years - without joining the full program.

This is the tool that clients say is one of the best reasons they stay.

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How many donation requests have landed in your inbox lately? Today? This week? This month?

Silent auctions, raffles, gift baskets, event sponsorships - can you donate a gift card?

And if you're honest, how many of those people ACTUALLY buy from you?

It's easy to feel frustrated. One-sided. Used. Like people only remember you when they need something.

Because what if donation requests aren't charity decisions? What if they're marketing decisions?

In this episode, Candace shares how to stop resenting them and start leveraging them.

Listen to hear:

✅ Why donation requests feel SO draining

✅ How to attach lead generation to every donation 

✅ The exact system Dante and Dory's built to track donations 

✅ How to create an intentional donation strategy (not an emotional reaction to every request)

You know those businesses in your community that are everywhere? That's not an accident. That's a strategy. And you get to decide if you want to play that game - and how.

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Is email marketing dead?

Well, Candace sure hopes not - because she's been sitting on over 2,000 customer emails from Dante and Dory's for the last 5 months and has done absolutely nothing with them.

And as a business coach who sends emails like a well-oiled machine at Pet Boss Nation, that admission is a little uncomfortable to make.

But here's the truth: email marketing still delivers an average ROI of $36-$42 for every $1 invested. And 60% of consumers say email influences their purchasing decisions.

So it's time to stop treating it like it's dead.

In this episode, Candace shares the exact 5-email framework she's implementing at Dante and Dory's - so you can take action too!

She shares:

🙌 Why email marketing is NOT dead (it's just neglected and underutilized)

🙌 The 2025 stats that prove email is still the #1 customer retention tool

🙌 Why you OWN your email list (but you don't own Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok)

🙌 The KPIs she'll be tracking 

Plus the reframe you need: If you're already collecting emails, already paying for software, and already working hard to get traffic - NOT using email consistently is leaving money on the table.

This is a slow season. There's no risk. Candace is taking it. Will you?

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It's cold. People are sick. Business feels quiet. Sound familiar?

Candace is coming to you fresh off 10+ days sick with the flu - three of them completely in bed - and using this slower winter stretch at Dante and Dory's to get honest about what the numbers are really saying.

This episode is about what actually happens when sales dip, and what smart pet business owners do instead of waiting it out.

She shares:

🙌 Why slow sales aren't a story - they're feedback (and what to do with them)

🙌 The real numbers from Dante and Dory's and what that difference means over a month

🙌 The self-wash room investment decision she is making this month

🙌 Three questions to ask yourself when you're frozen or in a slow period

Plus an honest conversation about communication - with your team, your partner, and yourself - and why clarity is what turns fear into action.

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It's 4am and Candace's toddler just woke her up. So instead of lying in bed hoping to fall back asleep, she's recording this episode.

Because sometimes leadership shows up tired. Sometimes it's messy. Sometimes you just get it done anyway.

In this quick episode, Candace shares:

⭐ Why sometimes responsibility shows up at inconvenient times

⭐ Global Pet Expo announcements - where you can find (and celebrate!) with PBN

⭐ New keynote booking - she's speaking at the ODD Ball (Owners of Dog Daycares Conference) in January 2027 in Albuquerque, New Mexico

⭐ SuperZoo talks and in-person events at Dante and Dory's in Galesburg

The real message: Your brain doesn't clock out as a small business owner, and that's okay. Don't feel guilty if it's not perfect - just get it done.

Whether you're listening to this early in the morning or late at night or in between everything else you're carrying, you're not behind. You can get ahead whenever you can.

Sometimes building a business starts before the coffee even kicks in.

And P.S. She was able to go back to sleep after this recording and a few Slack responses to the team, lol.

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