Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Ballantine.
Hi Annie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Animals have been my lifelong love, and I have always had furry family members. I have experienced pet loss many times, but in 2020, I lost my beloved cat, Bertie, very suddenly. He was perfectly healthy one day, and the next, he was gone. His death was traumatizing; I found him paralyzed in our basement and rushed him to the emergency animal hospital. Within an hour, he was gone. In that time of loss, I was overwhelmed with grief. I couldn’t navigate my everyday tasks and just wanted to cry in bed. Losing him instantly threw me into a deep depression. It took me many months to claw my way out of the dark hole that was my life after losing Bertie. Thankfully, I had a trusted therapist and a lot of coping skills to help me out of the darkness. I realized that so many people lose furry members of their family every single day, and there is very little available in terms of the emotional, healing support that is needed after such a profound loss. This led me to create the Biscuit & Bertie Comfort Box. I live my life directed towards joy, and I recognize that joy is necessary daily. It makes life worth living. Much like our relationships with our pets, joy is the thing that keeps us going, gets us out of bed, and gives us purpose. Our bond with our pets touches every aspect of our day-to-day lives and is often the source of joy. So when we lose our precious friend, it hurts deeply, and it steals the joy out of our daily lives. The emotional support within the Biscuit & Bertie Comfort Box was inspired by my journey through the dark aftermath of losing Bertie. The healing journey that unfolds when using the Comfort Box addresses the unique needs of a person grieving the loss of a pet, and most importantly, it offers gentle permission to mourn the tremendous loss of unconditional love fully.
A bit of a timeline of Biscuit & Bertie:
- In 2020, I lost Bertie and descended into a black hole of grief.
- In 2021, I started developing and beta-testing a Comfort Box prototype. Customers began raving about it immediately. I knew I was onto something!
- In the summer of 2022, the Biscuit & Bertie website launched, and we started shipping Comfort Boxes all across the United States!
- Now, we’re gaining traction and working to spread brand awareness. It isn’t easy, but it’s gratifying. To know that something I created is helping people through some of their darkest days is the most incredible honor of my life.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has not been without challenges, but it remains gratifying and worth all of the effort. When I was ready to begin production of my boxes in the spring of 2022, supply chain issues were a problem and held up production. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue for Biscuit & Bertie. The greatest challenge in starting the business was bouts of self-doubt; I would wonder if I had what it takes. But I believe in signs, and we all have guardians looking out for us. When I decided to start Biscuit & Bertie, I did not know how to do it. I had a vision, but I had yet to plan and no idea how anything would work out. But I started seeing “444” everywhere. A friend sent me a book called “Angel Numbers 101,” which explained that 444 means “There are angels –they’re everywhere around you! You are completely loved, supported, and guided by many Heavenly beings, and you have nothing to fear.” That was a big sign that I was on the right path. And just like that book suggested, things unfolded for me miraculously when I needed a specific person for a task; that person just showed up with the exact skill I needed.
Thanks for sharing that. Could you tell us more about your business?
The Biscuit & Bertie Comfort Box is the first of its kind. It is infused with sensitivity and compassion, helping grieving pet parents heal their heartbreak and memorialize their bond with their furry family members to feel understood as they process pet loss. Our Comfort Box contains 30 grief support cards that provide a transformative experience to guide grieving pet parents through heart-centered pet grief at their own pace. Each box comes with 30 B&B Grief Support Cards that affirm your feelings, help you process your emotions, and recount fond memories. Be encouraged to implement practices that ease typical angst and pain after pet loss. This unique process will help preserve cherished memories, honor an unbreakable bond, and begin to heal the hurt with compassion and sensitivity. We differ from other pet loss gifts because we aim to ease the pain after pet loss by passively coaching people through grieving. We provide a light in the darkness. We provide hope when all feels hopeless. The proudest moment for Biscuit & Bertie is when we hear from a recipient of a Comfort Box that they never thought they would be able to welcome another dog or cat into their heart after their recent loss. But thanks to the process laid out for them in the Comfort Box, they healed their heartache enough to be open to loving an animal once more. That is the highest praise, which makes me most proud. Our work allows Many dogs and cats to have extraordinary, loving homes.
Before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
Anyone who has ventured to achieve anything in business knows it takes a village! It helps tremendously when people follow us on social media (you can find us on Instagram as BiscuitandBertie), share our posts on social media, or with friends. People can experience the Biscuit & Bertie Comfort Box process by purchasing a box on our website (www.biscuitandbertie.com) or gifting a box to a friend struggling with pet loss. It may seem insignificant, but telling a friend about Biscuit & Bertie helps us tremendously as it spreads the word about who we are and what we are doing to help people suffering after pet loss. We are also working on a program allowing people to send an Angel Box to someone who has just lost a pet. After all, sometimes, we need an angel to help us through when we are suffering. People can sign up for our e-mail list to be the first to know when that program launches.
Pricing:
- Our Comfort Box is $140.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BiscuitandBertie.com
- Instagram: BiscuitandBertie
Image Credits
The photo of me and Ruby (brown miniature poodle) is by SarahBeth Photography. All of the other photos are by Melissa Berg Photo.
