Tired of watching customers scan your products and find them cheaper online?

This episode is your game-changer! We're sharing a special recording from one of our exclusive Pet Boss Nation Lunch & Learn sessions featuring Art Nakagawa from Artvark Pet Products, who's revolutionizing private labeling for independent pet businesses.

In this power-packed session, you'll discover:

🎯 Why private labeling makes your customers "sticky" to YOUR brand (not your competitors')

🎯 How Candace ordered 71 SKUs for Dante & Dory's with manageable minimums

🎯 The real difference between working with manufacturers vs. middlemen

🎯 Product sourcing transparency: where these products actually come from

🎯 Low minimum order quantities (some as low as 50 pieces!)

🎯 How to handle customer questions about quality and sourcing

Plus, get the inside scoop on everything from UPC codes to liability concerns, seasonal holiday labels, and why digital printing beats elastic tags for small businesses! 

Whether you're a retailer looking to differentiate, a groomer wanting lobby products, or any pet business owner tired of competing on price alone, this episode shows you how to build your own branded product line without the traditional barriers.

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Have you ever wondered what pet business managers really need to succeed? 🧐

In this unprecedented live recording from Pet Boss Nation's first-ever manager retreat, 12 incredible pet business managers from across the country share their stories, challenges, and breakthrough moments in real time.

From a conference room in Galesburg, Illinois, these brave leaders stepped WAY outside their comfort zones to share their experiences on the podcast - many for the very first time. What unfolds is pure magic: authentic conversations about growth, leadership, and the power of finding your tribe.

You'll discover:

🐾 Why these managers desperately needed this connection (and maybe your manager does too!)🐾 How DISC assessments revealed their leadership styles 

🐾 The common challenges every pet business faces (spoiler: you're not alone in your struggles!)

This episode proves that investing in your team isn't just nice to have - it's ESSENTIAL for business growth! Whether you're a manager feeling isolated or an owner wondering how to better support your team, this raw, authentic conversation will inspire and encourage you!

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Ever feel like your business projects are taking FOREVER? 🕐

You're not alone! In this candid Behind Closed Doors update, Candace shares the 5 game-changing lessons that have emerged from 7 months of building Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium.

The 5 T's you need to know:

🎯 Time - Why everything takes 3x longer than expected (and how to stay sane anyway)

🎯 Technology - How modern business tools make starting a pet business easier than ever

🎯 Team Buy-In - Why getting your team invested in the vision matters more than perfect timing

🎯 Talk to Your Reps - The untapped goldmine of knowledge from sales representatives

🎯 Talk About Yourself - Why Candace has been marketing for 7 months before opening (and you should too!)

Plus, get the inside scoop on bank approvals that didn't go as planned, city council meetings, and why Candace is hosting 20 pet business owners for back-to-back retreats right in Galesburg!

This episode is pure gold for anyone planning an expansion, starting a new venture, or wondering if they're "behind" on their business goals.

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🎄 Christmas in July Special: Q4 Planning Replay! 🎄

Candace has been there– in the thick of the busiest time of the year, watching the days quickly slip by on the calendar without any promotions or events planned, wondering how she's going to move all that holiday inventory when she can't seem to remove herself from the day to day tasks inside her business…

And guess what? 

➡️ Throughout all of her successes (and a few failures!) during Q4, she learned EXACTLY what type of support other business owners in the pet industry need right now.

Smart pet business owners know that July is THE time to start prepping for the holidays! While everyone else is scrambling in October, you'll be calm, prepared, and profitable.

In this episode, you will:

🎁 Get the inside scoop of Candace's brain during those overwhelming Q4s 🎁 Learn three key things you need to be thinking about RIGHT NOW

🎁 Discover the exact resources you need to plan out the rest of this year

🎁 And more!

Remember: A calm Q4 starts in July! Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you for listening to this episode today.

✨ Purchase the Holiday Success Kit at Learn.PetBoss.com/HolidayKit

✨ Join us in the Pet Boss University by visiting PetBoss.com/University

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Ready to unlock a revenue stream that can't be replicated online? 💰

Meet Joe Zuccarello, who's spent 40+ years in the pet industry managing everything from 250-employee luxury pet resorts to coaching hundreds of businesses on explosive growth. His secret? Grooming services aren't just an add-on - they're the competitive advantage that transforms struggling businesses into profit powerhouses.

But this isn't your typical "hire a groomer and hope for the best" approach. Joe's strategy flips everything you think you know about staffing upside down.

Get ready to discover:

🚀 The exact space, equipment, and setup requirements to launch grooming operations without breaking the bank

🚀 The biggest setup mistakes that cost new grooming operations thousands

🚀 What "bougie" really means in grooming (hint: it's not nail polish and bedazzling!)

🚀 How to integrate grooming seamlessly with retail to boost attachment rates and customer loyalty

Whether you're a retailer looking to add services, a service provider wanting to increase revenue, or someone planning their dream pet business (like Candace with Dante & Dory's!), this episode breaks down exactly how to build grooming operations that actually work.

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What do you do when you realize you can't help every single dog owner in your city alone? 🤔

You build a network! And that's exactly what Kristin Holzapfel did with Pampered Pupperino and her incredible organization, Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates.

Kristin has cracked the code on something most industries struggle with: turning competitors into genuine collaborators through education, strict standards, and authentic relationship building.

Here's what makes this episode special:

🌟 The exact grassroots strategies Kristin used to find and recruit 70+ professional pet sitters

🌟 How she created a "code of conduct" that prevents client poaching and builds trust

🌟 Her journey from attendee to speaker at the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters conference

🌟 The real challenges of managing both a pet sitting business AND a regional network

If you've ever felt isolated in your pet business or wondered how to build genuine professional relationships in your market, this conversation will give you a roadmap for creating the community you've been searching for.

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Ever wondered what it REALLY takes to open a brick and mortar pet business from scratch? 

Spoiler alert: It's messy, magical, and takes about 3x longer than you think it will! 😅😅

In this raw, unfiltered episode of our Behind Closed Doors series, Candace pulls back the curtain on the wild ride of building Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium. This is the real story of what happens between "great idea" and "grand opening."

What you'll discover in this candid update:

🎯 Why everything takes 3x longer than anyone tells you (and how to stay sane anyway)

🎯 The Facebook Marketplace strategy that's saving THOUSANDS on fixtures and displays

🎯 The art of decision-making when you're trying NOT to be everything to everyone

Plus, you'll get the play-by-play on everything from HVAC nightmares to bakery case finds, and why gold spray paint has become a life saver!

If you're planning your own expansion, considering a brick and mortar move, or just need a reminder that entrepreneurial overwhelm is totally normal, this episode will make you feel less alone and more inspired to keep pushing forward! 

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Feeling like you're not where you thought you'd be halfway through 2025? 💪

Take a deep breath. You're not alone, and more importantly - you're not behind.

This isn't just another "rah-rah, you got this!" pep talk. This is a strategic reset session designed to help you transform the next six months into the most profitable, purposeful stretch your pet business has ever experienced.

In this power-packed episode, you'll discover:

🎯 Why comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel is killing your momentum (and what to do instead)

🎯 The mindset shift that turns "failures" into valuable business intelligence

🎯 How to conduct a realistic business health check without spiraling into overwhelm

The episode gets real when Candace's accountability partner calls mid-recording to prove the power of having someone in your corner who will lovingly call you out on your goals!

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Get ready for one of the most emotional and inspiring episodes we've ever recorded! 🥺💪

Paige Thompson's story isn't just about business growth - it's about honoring a mentor's legacy, finding strength in the darkest moments, and proving that sometimes losing everything is exactly what you need to build something extraordinary!

When Paige’s mentor, Terry revealed she was battling terminal cancer, she had a choice: play it safe and work for someone else, or risk everything to honor what Terry had taught her. She chose courage.

This raw, honest conversation covers:

🎯 The leadership lessons that transformed Paige from employee to confident CEO

🎯 Why requiring certifications for EVERY team member (yes, even reception!) sets you apart

🎯 The financial reality of going from $9/day daycare to premium pricing (and keeping your clients!)

🎯 Building systems and structure when you're "learning on the fly"

If you've ever felt alone in your business struggles, questioned whether you should keep going, or wondered if investing in yourself is worth it, this episode will remind you that transformation is always possible - even when it feels impossible!

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What happens when a seasoned pet sitter loses her business during COVID but refuses to give up on her passion for pets? 

Meet Patty Dill, who pivoted from 18 years of pet sitting to building Doggie Sweets - a pet café, food truck empire, and event powerhouse that's become the "Starbucks for dogs" in New Jersey!

In this episode, Patty shares her incredible journey from losing everything in March 2020 to creating multiple revenue streams and hosting events that sell out WEEKS in advance.

In this episode, you'll discover:

💡 The power of working with event promoters

💡 Event strategies that sell out - from simple Santa photos to elaborate breakfast experiences with 300+ dogs

💡 Planning 12 months ahead - why advance planning is CRUCIAL

💡 Collaboration over competition - building partnerships with restaurants, rescues, and other pet businesses

Whether you're looking to add events to your revenue mix or dreaming of expanding beyond your current services, Patty’s story proves that with creativity and determination, you can build something even bigger than what you lost! 

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⁠⁠Find us on Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠Join our Free Pet Industry Facebook Group⁠⁠

⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Read our Blog