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Archive for category: Featured Success Stories

Canine Nutrition Business Keeps Tails Wagging with Wellness Treats

Blog, Featured Success Stories, Success Stories

Woof Creek Nutritious Nature of Hillsborough County

After closing their restaurant due to the pandemic, husband and wife duo Scot Hill and Lisa Monk decided it was finally time to grant the kids’ wishes and introduce a new family member into their home, a poodle pup.

Lily Lou joined the family and instantly uplifted spirits throughout the household. The only problem? Lily Lou came with a few doggy issues of her own, including being skittish and having allergies. That was when Hill decided to put his previous culinary knowledge to use and get certified as an Advanced Canine Nutrition Specialist to create holistic dog treats and meal toppers that would naturally benefit Lily Lou’s health.

Witnessing the benefits that came from the natural treats and toppers, the couple decided to spread awareness and help as many pups as they could, thus creating Woof Creek Nutritious Nature, a canine nutrition business.

After launching, they needed some assistance building the infrastructure in order to share this nutritional knowledge with animal lovers across the nation. Having previously worked with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida during their restaurant business years, Monk said, “I knew immediately when Scot wanted to launch this canine nutrition company, we had to absolutely get hand holding and proper guidance from the SBDC.”

The duo reached out to the Florida SBDC at USF, where they were paired with business consultant, Pablo Arroyo, for help with the business start and basic tools that would help with future expansion.

“When we began really just to start with treats, simple clean treats grew into five other products lines and it’s all been handled by the use of our Shopify small business store. It’s been able to handle the growth, all with the start of that huge suggestion by Pablo,” Monk said.

Hill added that without the guidance of Arroyo they wouldn’t have known which way to turn.

“Starting that website was like diving into the ocean and really having no clue which way to swim and Pablo was like, I’m over here, swim this way,” Hill said.

Since working with the Florida SBDC at USF, the dog-loving team says their product line has grown just as much as their sales revenue, all while feeling the joy of helping pet owners find a healthier way of feeding their loving pets.

“With the help of the SBDC at USF and Pablo, our sales have increased four-fold and it’s been mind-blowing, amazing, and without being too overwhelmed, we were able to reach back out to Pablo who can help us with financing and other options to keep up with the demand,” Monk stated.

Although they are ecstatic with the demand and growth that they have seen, the couple explains that their biggest success so far is, “helping dogs with their allergies or helping a 16-year-old Dachshund run along the fence again rather than just stare at the squirrels. All these reports that we get and the testimonials that come in are really what it’s all about. That’s truly what it’s all about,” Hill said.

Lisa added that, “it feels exactly right and the growth and more pet parents we’re reaching, and more dogs we’re reaching, is just fulfilling from A to Z.”

As business grows, Hill and Monk plan on using and revising the business plan that was created with Arroyo’s help while continuously reaching out to the Florida SBDC at USF whenever they may need help in any area of business, especially since, “the Florida SBDC at USF has such an army of mentors,” Monk said.

The couple is confident that they will use the business resources available to them throughout their business journey. “I can’t imagine a point to where we won’t be making those calls to the SBDC at USF. The SBDC has been such an integral part of our team and we do consider Pablo as a member of our team,” Hill said.

https://sbdctampabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Woof-Creek-Pic-2-1.jpg 1080 1620 sbdclarry /wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1635274663378.png sbdclarry2023-05-26 09:12:322023-05-26 09:12:35Canine Nutrition Business Keeps Tails Wagging with Wellness Treats

Tattoo Company Inks a Bright Future in Tarpon Springs

Blog, Featured Success Stories, Success Stories

Tattoo Company Inks a Bright Future in Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs Tattoo Co. of Pinellas County

Lisa Adams, owner of Tarpon Springs Tattoo Co., started her business in Tarpon Springs in 2021. Matt Pack, senior artist and manager of the shop, says the town of Tarpon Springs has a lot to offer their unique business.

“It has well-traveled, versatile people,” he said. “So, this is a diverse place that compliments all of our styles.”

Shortly after launching the business, Adams reached out to the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) for business assistance.

“The reason I reached out to the SBDC was mainly because this is a different kind of business and I wanted to – not having that experience of running a business this large – I wanted to get the best knowledge that I could,” she said.

She was initially connected with business consultant Debra Schweikowsky. Later, she was also introduced to Kurt Forster, also a business consultant at the center. The duo provided start-up assistance, as well as marketing and financial management guidance to Adams and Pack.

Adams said the guidance from the Florida SBDC at PCED duo has allowed her to, “be more secure in our decisions in running a business and where we want to go with it.”

Pack added, “Working with the SBDC has been comforting and intuitive to our business.”

“Within our first year, our quarters have grown each quarter. We are definitely a good-sized shop in this county. We do more overhead as far as walk-in basis and custom art on a day-to-day basis.”

Tarpon Springs Tattoo Company has a staff of five full-time artists now, with a consistent book of business.

Moving forward, Adams says she intends to continue utilizing the no-cost resource for future endeavors. “We would like to understand the marketing better, and get better at that, as well as financial planning and being able to manage that as well as the day-to-day processes of running a business,” she said.”

She also encourages other business owners to take advantage of the local resource, noting that, “it is very helpful, it’s free, and there are so many things out there in trying to run a business that we all need help with and they are there to help us to do that.”

https://sbdctampabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TS-Tattoo-Pic-1-scaled.jpg 1651 2560 sbdclarry /wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1635274663378.png sbdclarry2023-01-17 14:56:462023-01-18 13:10:22Tattoo Company Inks a Bright Future in Tarpon Springs
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The Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America’s SBDCs and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network’s lead host institution. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals.

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