From Sleepover Idea to Teen-preneurship | Marketing Tails

Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:

• [02:13] The founding story of an organic dog treat company by five friends 
• [02:54] How the founders balance entrepreneurship with high school responsibilities
• [04:18] Insight into the early days of Luca & The Five Girls and initial pricing strategies
• [06:37] Overcoming supply chain challenges
• [08:59] The brand’s most popular dog treat flavor revealed
• [11:17] From homemade to professional: evolution of the brand's packaging
• [13:14] The importance of passion in business growth 
• [19:38] What are the company’s growth plans as the founders head to college?

In this episode…

Five young entrepreneurs and one beloved dog have embarked on an inspiring journey to transform the pet treat industry. They are not just balancing school and sports, but also managing a thriving business. How did these high school seniors turn their love for a family dog into a full-fledged company?

Elli, Kate, Lauren, Emery, and Rylie, driven by their passion for pets, launched Luca’s Dog Boutique Business at 10 years of age. Illustrating how a baking session turned into a nationwide enterprise, the girls reveal the challenges and triumphs of their business evolution. Despite facing hurdles like maintaining a healthy balance between academics and entrepreneurship, sourcing organic ingredients, and navigating supply chain issues during COVID-19, these young entrepreneurs have kept their passion at the forefront of the company’s products. The brand sets itself apart in the market with organic, high-protein, and most importantly, pup-approved treats. They’ve also maintained a strong sense of community, donating to local shelters and engaging in charity work.

In this episode of Marketing Tails, Mark Bevington chats with Emery, Kate, Elli, Lauren, and Rylie, Founders of Luca & The Five Girls, about their entrepreneurial journey in organic dog treats. The teens discuss their hands-on approach, their tenacity in facing growing pains, and the delicate balance of being business partners and best friends.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ninedot
• Mark Bevington on LinkedIn
• Luca & The Five Girls: LinkedIn | Website

Quotable Moments:

• "It's definitely hard to find a balance, but as seniors, we've gotten better at it, finding time for business and life."
• "Believe in yourself and don't be afraid of rejection, because you'll never know if you don't try."
• "Having a team that can back you up is really important; surround yourself with supportive people."
• "We were experimenting a lot, making different prototypes. Some worked, some didn't. Pinterest helped us make it our own."
• "If you want success, work as hard as you can for it; put time and energy into it."

Action Steps:

1. Embrace experimentation: Trial and error is crucial for innovation and can help overcome initial obstacles and refine your product or service offerings.
2. Prioritize passion: Passion fuels perseverance and can significantly enhance your commitment and motivation, even during challenging times.
3. Leverage teamwork: Utilize your team's strengths and distribute tasks effectively to manage workload efficiently and foster a supportive working environment.
4. Engage with the community: Participate in community events and initiatives to build brand awareness, foster goodwill, create valuable connections, and enhance your brand's reputation.
5. Stay resilient and persistent: This attitude is essential for overcoming setbacks and pursuing long-term success in any endeavor.

Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by Ninedot.

Ninedot is a digital marketing agency specializing in UI/UX and web design to grow your business. 

Our growth-centered team provides web design, web development, user experience development, graphic design, and SEO to maximize scaling. 

We are humbled to call Pet Food Experts, Animal Care Centers of NYC and Potter League – some of the world’s growing and most-established brands – our clients. 

We’re excited to build a relationship with you.

If you’re ready to turn your underperforming website into your best sales tool, go to Ninedot.com or email us at hello@ninedot.com to learn more today!