Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Hildebrandt.
Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a born and raised Minnesotan currently living in the Twin Cities with my husband & dog. I work full-time in marketing and when the pandemic hit, I was searching for an outlet to fill the extra free time.
Around April of 2020, I began begging my husband for a dog. I’ve wanted a dog since I was a kid, and now was the perfect time. My persuasion worked and in June of 2020 we adopted Missy. Missy is my first dog, and she absolutely stole my heart. The joy she has brought to our little family has been the biggest blessing and frankly I became obsessed with all things dog/dog mom life.
I enjoy shopping at boutiques and finding unique things for friends & family. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I’d love to own some sort of boutique one day, but never sure what I want to sell. I guess all I needed was Missy, because she inspired me to start a dog boutique after being on the hunt for subtle, timeless but modern items for dog lovers & dogs. Why not just create it myself?!
Missy Pup & Co was born in November of 2020 with a focus on dog apparel, decor & accessories all with a boutique feel.
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?
Balancing a full-time job and a small business is not for the faint of heart – haha. I’ve figured out what works for me now to allow for balance in my life, but it was not easy initially. My main goal was that as long as I was enjoying this and having fun, that’s really what mattered.
My background is not in business, so learning the ins and outs of running and operating a business was tricky. I’d never managed inventory, knew what a balance sheet was, or how to set up an LLC. I’ve made (sometimes expensive) mistakes along the way, but without it I wouldn’t have learned more about my customer, my business and myself and how to improve.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Missy Pup & Co is an online boutique for dogs and dog lovers. We design & source timeless and unique items to allow our customers to show off their love of dogs for years to come. I design & create many items myself but also support other small businesses by sourcing items in the USA. We are primarily online, but also do many pop-ups/markets locally throughout the year. The people who come to us are often searching for a gift for a friend, something for themselves, or a toy/clothing item for their dog.
I think something that sets us apart from other businesses like ours is our community. My goal when starting this was to make dog lovers feel special, and that their love (or obsession) with their pets should be celebrated. I focused around connecting one on one with people and continue to do that to this day. It’s a lot to keep up with, but I dedicate time simply to respond to messages, have conversations with people, and not just share products but swap advice/tips on dog ownership. (Sometimes it can be challenging!) Missy is the face of our brand, so people see our relationship daily and how we interact with each other which I think is key to having a strong community.
I’m really proud of the relationships and connections I have through this business and take pride in ensuring our customers feel like they are shopping with someone they can trust. That’s the power of small businesses and I aim to highlight how impactful they are and how critical it is to keep them thriving in our community. Not just me, but ALL small businesses.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The pet industry in general has always been big, but since the pandemic, it has grown more than anyone could’ve predicted pre-pandemic. With more people now having a remote work lifestyle, it allows for more time to train, raise and take care of a pet. I’ve already seen hundreds of small pet shops open up within the last 2 years (including mine!), and I suspect that will continue to happen. The good news with that is people will be able to have truly customized experiences. Even dog treats have become so specialized and unique, that you can pretty much find ANYTHING you are looking for.
Pricing:
- Apparel from $23-40
- Dog Toys from $5-25
- Drinkware from $18-25
- Dog Bandanas from $9-24
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@missypupandco.com
- Website: www.missypupandco.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/missypup_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missypupandco
Image Credits
Scruff Life Photography (1-3)
Heather Hildebrandt
