Today we’d like to introduce you to Laila, Lacey, And Tanya Olson
Hi Laila, Lacey, and Tanya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Our family moved into our home at the end of July, 2019. We did not have much of a chance to meet our neighbors before the pandemic hit. Laila was 6 years old at the time and Lacey had just turned 5. Being stuck inside, doing school inside, led us to being really creative. Laila has always had a passion for baking, and Lacey has always had a passion for dogs. A friend of ours told the girls they should make a recipe for dog treats. The girls took that idea and ran with it. At the time, we “pretended” to open a business and they knew part of their business would be giving back to the rescue community that our family is a part of. The girls learned about how to create a business name, how to create a recipe, and how to decide on a price point for their product. The business started via Facebook with our friends and family. Then, they begged for a lemonade stand and wanted to have their treats for all of our neighborhood dogs. With the growing support from our community Facebook group and the neighborhood, we decided we needed to learn more about how to make the pretend business a legit business. In 2021, The mom of one of the girls friends’ told us that Pet Treats were being added under the Cottage Foods Law. She shared the resources and both girls got their cottage foods license. To this day, they renew them yearly. A long-time friend of my husband used to own a bakery. Brian asked if he would come over and teach the girls a little more about how to bake, measure, and get the products to have a longer shelf life. Ryan, a friend of my husband, came over and baked with our girls for hours. He also shared with me some of the ins and outs of owning a small business. In 2022, the girls and I filed for an LLC. From there, the growing support continued to reach out. A customer recommended the girls attend Penn Fest in Richfield. This was their first real craft event. The first product with peanut butter dog biscuits. They donated $1 from every bag to a local rescue. Then, we saw a post from our rescue, Spot’s Last Stop, saying they needed some kennel blankets. I shared this inofmration with the girls and one of them asked if we could make some and donate them. We explored the business part of it and they came up with a ‘Buy One, Give One’. So with each Kennel Blanket that gets purchased, they donate a kennel blanket to a local rescue. From there, other customers continue to offer ideas. Some people really wanted to support the girls but only had cats, so we did some research and created some cat products. The girls now have products that involve baking, sewing, and tying. Each year, we sit down and create new goals for themselves as entrepreneurs and the business. This year, their hopes are to create some wheat-free and peanut butter-free products.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. The first hurdle was trying to figure out how to get the treats to have a stable shelf life.
This was weeks of trial and error. The second hurdle was trying to learn how to run a small business. This was a triumph for me (their mom). I did not have interest in being an entreprenuer. I teach fulltime and love what I do. However, when the girls wanted to continue and grow this idea into a real business, the only thing I could do is support them. Both girls started this business as elementary aged children. The hardest thing for them is hearing “no” or being ignored when they are trying to interact with people at the market. They have been told their products are too expensive, not up to someone’s standards, ect. However, the positive feedback always helps them get through the negative. And then there is time management. Both girls are multisport competative athletes, who love being social, and work hard at school. Finding cracks in our week to prepare for a show is a full team effort.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This is a tricky question. The girls professional life has been school, sports, and Wag A Tails. As a mom, I am so proud of their commitment to all of their achievements.
Laila is so proud of how far she has come in sales and her natural baking skills. She always starts an event feeling shy, but by the end feels like she could talk to anyone. When someone makes a purchase, she feels so much success in knowing she helped them pick the best product for their pet. She shines even brighter when we get a review from a customer about the product she sold them.
Lacey is so proud of her ability to talk to adults. She is a natural when it comes to sales but now she is working on being taken seriously. She especially loves when she gets to meet her four legged customers.
This business stems from loving hearts that give back to the rescue community. The treats are all-natural and organic. The other products are hand made, one of a kind by two young entrepreneurs.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The girls feel happy when customers feel happy. They are excited when customers suggest a new product because they get to be creative and do some research. They feel joy when dogs are at events and enjoy their sample of the treat. They feel proud when adults praise their efforts and success. They feel ecstatic when someone invites them to a new event or to return to the event the next time. And of course, having a little extra money to do fun things brings the girls some happiness too.
I feel most happy watching them succeed. From the kitchen when they are baking together, they are learning to make a plan, communicate, and be partners. To the craft event when they have a customer purchase a large order and they give a little dance as the customer walks away. Watching this all come full circle, it really feels like a story that I am living in real life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wag-a-tails-llc.square.site/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wag_a_tails
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550742054681
- Other: https://TikTok.com/@WagaTails05
