Explore every episode of the podcast Grow Your Pet Business with Tori Mistick
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 3 Marketing Trends for Your Pet Business in 2026 (Stand Out From AI) | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:13:20 | |
Ready to grow your pet business in 2026? In this short, actionable episode, Tori Mistick is breaking down three marketing trends petpreneurs need to pay attention to right now... especially if you want to stand out in a world full of AI-generated content! You'll learn why live streaming is one of the few truly AI-proof marketing tools, how video podcasting boosts discovery on YouTube and Spotify, and why getting clear on your "why" builds stronger community, trust, and long-term growth. If you're a pet business owner who wants to stay visible, relevant, and human in 2026, this episode is for you. In this episode, I cover:
Tools I reference: | |||
| A Fresh Start to the Year: New Podcast Name, Same Mission | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:09:52 | |
Wondering where I've been on this podcast feed? I'm back today with a quick check-in and some exciting updates. In this short episode, I share what I've been working on lately. Mainly, launching my limited-series podcast Dog Enrichment with Tori Mistick, a deep dive into the science behind enrichment, and how reconnecting with my "why" led to new opportunities in my business. You'll also hear why this podcast is getting a refreshed name — it's now called Grow Your Pet Business with Tori Mistick — and what you can expect from future bite-sized episodes focused on what's actually working to grow a pet business right now. If you're a petpreneur looking for clarity, direction, and practical lessons from real experience, you're in the right place. What's covered in this episode:
New short, practical episodes are on the way. Make sure to follow the show so you don't miss what's next. TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome back + why the podcast paused Listen to my other podcast: Get Access to the Wear Wag Repeat Society VAULT: https://wearwagrepeat.com/society | |||
| Can Pet Owners Find You? A Visibility Audit for Petpreneurs | 19 Mar 2025 | 00:18:35 | |
Are pet parents and customers struggling to find your business? In this episode of Wear Wag Repeat, I'm walking you through a self-audit to boost your pet business's visibility and lead generation. This simple exercise will help you clarify your message, optimize your social media, and ensure your website is working for you—not against you! What you'll learn today: 🐾 Ready to grow your email list? Grab my FREE Fetch 3X Subscribers Workshop and learn how to triple your email list with simple tweaks! → wearwagrepeat.com/emailworkshop Want to connect with other petpreneurs? Join the Wear Wag Repeat Society! Inside, you'll get marketing strategies, expert guidance, and an inspiring community to help you build a thriving pet business. Join here → wearwagrepeat.com/society Get more resources: wearwagrepeat.com/podcast | |||
| More Money for the Same Effort in Your Pet Business | 25 Jan 2023 | 00:26:02 | |
Today's episode is about working smarter, not harder! I found my inspiration for this topic while going through Marie Forleo's B-School back in 2021. There was an exercise in the first module called Profit Picture that helped me realize a big mistake I was making in my business. I was putting more effort into marketing and selling a $7 bracelet than I was putting into marketing and selling my flagship $300 online course. When I realized this and corrected it I was able to make over $10,000 with the course (versus the $100 I made off those bracelets!). Learn more strategies to work less and make more in your pet business when you JOIN MARIE FORLEO'S FREE 3-DAY Dream Business Bootcamp. It's happening February 7, 8 and 9. Register to attend and for a chance to win $20,000 in prizes: https://wearwagrepeat.com/businessbootcamp | |||
| Normalizing Mental Health for Pet Parents: Dog Mom Mentality | 18 Jan 2023 | 00:37:13 | |
If you started off the new year super pumped and then got a little overwhelmed by the goals you set for yourself and your pet business, today's episode comes at the perfect time. I'm talking with Karoline Edmonds of Dog Mom Mentality. I love how Karoline normalizes talking about mental health for pet parents. In this conversation, we talk a lot about Karoline's new journal to help you tap into your own emotions around life with your dog. We also discuss some of the nuts and bolts of creating a journal like this and some other products that Karoline sells online. On her own podcast, Dog Mom Mentality, Karoline always shares her "Happy's and Crappy's" of the week. I thought that before I hit play on the interview, I'd kick off this episode with my own "Happy's and Crappy's".. My happy this week is my new foster dog Chloe. She is a Black Mouth Cur Shepherd Mix from rural Mississippi. She'll be available for adoption from Animal LIfeline Pittsburgh. On the other hand, my crappy this week is how many friends have had to say goodbye to their dogs lately. Several of my dogstagram and dog blogging friends have watched their dogs cross the rainbow bridge or they know it's coming soon. I've cried over a lot of them because I know the pain their humans are going through. I feel so grateful and lucky to have a worldwide community of people that I know so well and care about so much… all because we like to talk about our dogs on the internet! If I"m not already following you, please slide into my DMs on Instagram @wearwagrepeat and make sure you're following me on TikTok @wearwagrepeatpodcast. I'd love to get to know each other better! After listening to this interiew, go check out Karoline's dog mom mental health journal and use code WWR10 to get a discount. | |||
| 90-Day Goal Setting For Your Pet Business | 11 Jan 2023 | 00:25:52 | |
This year I'm kicking off a new format for the podcast based on feedback from my listeners! I'm always hearing how much you enjoy my solo episodes. So starting now, I'll alternate solo episodes and interviews. Changing the format like this - and sticking with it - is one of my goals for the first 90 days of the year. In honor of that, I'm sharing my 90-day goal-setting strategy with you on this episode. OVERVIEW OF THIS EPISODE:
Find a community to support your pet business goals in Wear Wag Repeat Society. My monthly membership helps you learn new online marketing skills, refine what you're already doing and connect with like-minded women. We are here to support you! | |||
| Mella Pet Thermometer for Pet Parents and Veterinarians | 04 Jan 2023 | 00:33:15 | |
We're kicking off the New Year with a conversation I had with Daniella Morgan-Pascualvaca, one of the key people at Mella Pet Care. I got to know Mella while speaking on a panel about influencer marketing for Leap Venture Studio last year. We also connected in person at SuperZoo in August. I thought this interview would be the perfect conversation to share this January because Mella is all about making it easier to keep your pet healthy. Their first product to launch is an underarm pet thermometer that integrates with a mobile app. I order the thermometer and used it a bunch of times on Burt and Lucy in September to establish baseline healthy temperatures for them. I'm so happy I did because when Burt wasn't feeling well in November I was able to take his temperature and have the peace of mind that he didn't have a fever. In our conversation, Daniella also shares a great story about how she got involved with Mella, going from intern to Chief of Staff, which I know you'll find inspirational. She also hosts their podcast the Mella Moment, which I'll be a guest on next month. If you enjoy this conversation and want to check out Mella, use my affiliate link to order your own underarm pet thermometer. | |||
| 5 Year Recap of the Wear Wag Repeat Podcast | 28 Dec 2022 | 00:36:13 | |
I am so excited to celebrate hitting a major milestone of 250 episodes on the Wear Wag Repeat Podcast! When I came up with the idea to do a podcast about women in the pet industry in the Summer of 2017 I has no idea I'd still be doing it 5 years later. If you've been a guest or a listener, thank you so much for making this possible! To celebrate 250 episodes, I'm doing a special recap featuring 5 memorable interviews with women in the pet industry. I can't say these are the best or my favorite, because I learn something from every single person I talk to. I hope you enjoy listening back and can find inspiration for the future of your business in the wise words you're about to hear. Before I play some of my favorite moments, I want to thank PetPocketbook for sponsoring the podcast this month. I can't think of a better way to celebrate 250 episodes than by partnering with a female-founded software that serves dog walkers and pet sitters. According to Pet Sitters International's 2022 state of the industry survey, 91% of pet sitting business owners are women. If that's you, check out PetPocketbook, an all-in-one software to run your business on the go. | |||
| A Pet Candle Brand with Purpose: Morgan Weber of Memory Flame Candle Co. | 21 Dec 2022 | 00:32:24 | |
In this episode I'm talking to Morgan Weber. We had so much to talk about because she's the owner of an award winning pet sitting and dog walking company and founder of Memory Flame Candle Co. Morgan created her candle brand after her dog Olive passed. She felt firsthand how hard it was to process the grief of losing a pet and found comfort in rituals like lighting a candle. The holidays can be an especially hard time for anyone who has lost a pet. If you know someone in that situation, I hope this episode is a good reminder to send them a little note that you're thinking of them. As Morgan explains, Ssmall gestures can make a big impact. Another emotion that can be hard this time of year is burnout. I know I'm feeling it myself and I'm looking forward to taking some time off before we start the new year. Morgan shares how she realized that she was burning herself out and the systems she put in place to make sure she doesn't get to that point again. I know you're going to love this episode and enjoy getting to know Morgan. This is the final interview of the year. Next week's episode is #250 and I'm preparing a special compilation of some highlights from the last 5 years of this podcast. I want to thank PetPockebook for sponsoring the podcast in December. Head over to petpocketbook.com to check out this affordable all-in-one software to run your pet sitting or dog walking business on the go. Using a tool like this will help you grow your business without burning out! | |||
| How Dog Boarding Supports Survivors of Domestic Violence | 14 Dec 2022 | 00:33:19 | |
I'm so pleased to share this interview with you today. I'm talking with Orazie Cook, the founder of Praline's Backyard. Her impactful dog daycare and boarding facility is inspired by a sobering statistic that affects women and dogs around the country. 10 million people in the US are affected by domestic violence each year. With roughly 50% of Americans owning dogs, that's 5 million dog owners who are impacted. The rough part is, the percentage of domestic violence shelters that can take pets is only about 15%. Orazie plans to make a difference in those numbers by providing housing for pets of individuals who are in a housing transition due to an unsafe relationship. Especially at this time of year, I hope that this episode warms your heart to know that there are people out there making a difference in the world. In addition to talking about the soon-to-be daycare and boarding facility, Orazie shares some great advice about changing careers to follow your passion for pets. Even if you feel that you don't have any pet industry experience on your resume - you do have a skillset and a zone of genius to tap into! Speaking of a zone of genius… Are you a dog walking or pet sitting professional? Head over to petpocketbook.com to check out this all-in-one software to run your business on the go. Thank you PetPocketbook for sponsoring the podcast this month! | |||
| Pinch-Me Moments from Springer's Shannon Ross | 07 Dec 2022 | 00:34:53 | |
In this episode, I'm talking with Shannon Ross about her pet product business Springer. She shares the origin story of the brand and their first product. In just the last year since launching, the business has grown pretty rapidly! Shannon has been able to partner with trend-setting brands and even appear on national television. You won't be surprised that none of this was by accident. Shannon has a clear vision for the brand and where it's headed. One of the ways she's bringing her vision to life is by running the business remote-first. That means her whole team works remotely and is encouraged to travel and enjoy life while growing Springer. I was so inspired to hear about Shannon's time spent in Costa Rica and her plans to travel to India next year, while never missing a beat in the business. Would you be able to do that? It takes organization, planning and really intentional operating procedures. But it sounds like a dream life! I'm totally in!! Before we hit play on this great interview, I want to thank PetPocketbook for sponsoring the podcast this month If you have a dog walking or pet sitting business, head over to petpocketbook.com to check out this all-in-one software to run your business on the go. | |||
| Creating an App to Run Your Dog Walking Business | 30 Nov 2022 | 00:33:16 | |
In this episode I'm talking to Diana Akelman, a pet tech entrepreneur who founded PetPocketbook. Her app helps pet sitters and dog walkers run their business so they can focus on what they're passionate about - caring for pets. I was interested to learn that Diana has been working on this business for 10 years, but the product has only been live for the last 5. We talked about how important it is to stay persistent and never give up on your dreams. It can take years to find the right people to bring your vision to life, and then years beyond that to get feedback from customers to fine-tune your product into something that's functional, looks good, and helps people. She now serves hundreds of dog walkers and pet sitters. I also enjoyed hearing Diana's story of going from dog mom to human mom and the challenges that came with that. She's passionate about bringing attention to the fact that we shouldn't be expected to swoop in and instantly be super moms - or super bosses or super dog moms. This whole journey can be scary. Diana points out that often the scariest part is the unknown, so she's a big believer in doing a lot of prep work. Listening to her story, I saw a lot of similarities between how she prepared to run a business, how she prepared to be a dog mom to her Siberian Husky Remington and how she prepared to become a mom to her daughter. As we near the end of the year, I'm excited to share that this podcast will be hitting 250 episodes at the end of December. I need your help to put together a best-of episode! Please reach out and let me know about your favorite podcast interviews and moments. | |||
| How Building Trust will Increase Your Sales | 23 Nov 2022 | 00:30:54 | |
In this solo episode, I'm sharing some tips on how to break down your customer's wants so you can sell them what they need. To have a successful pet business, it's important that pet parents have a ton of trust in you and your brand. The best way to do that is to figure out what your customer values, share stories that help build trust and then show them how your products and services will help them. The most reliable way to communicate with your audience and build that long-term trust is with email. This week I'm partnering with my 2 favorite email marketing tools for Black Friday Special Deals! Get all the details here: https://wearwagrepeat.com/2022-black-friday-deals/ | |||
| The Power of Collaboration: How Working Together Raises the Quality Of The Pet Industry | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:21:27 | |
At a recent wine tasting, I heard this: "The best winemaker shares his knowledge with other winemakers. This raises the knowledge, innovation, and quality of the wine from their region." And it got me thinking—this is exactly the mindset we need in the pet industry! Too often, petpreneurs feel like they need to guard their expertise. But in reality, when we collaborate and lift each other up, we all win. In this episode, I'll break down why embracing a collaborative mindset can help you build a stronger pet business. I'll also share real stats that prove knowledge-sharing boosts success, plus actionable ways you can build meaningful industry connections. Want to dive deeper? Check out these related episodes of the Wear Wag Repeat Podcast:
🎧 Hit play now and let's explore how sharing your expertise can create more opportunities, clients, and success! 📣 Join Wear Wag Repeat Society: Ready to connect with a supportive community of petpreneurs? Join us! | |||
| Plant-Based Pet-Safe Pest Control: Esther Salata of Benesafe Solutions | 16 Nov 2022 | 00:30:48 | |
Esther Salata is the founder of Benesafe Solutions. She created a pet-safe pest control product that safely kills mosquitos in your backyard while keeping you, your pets, and the environment safe. It was important to her to use natural, plant-based ingredients. This is where her background in biology came in handy to find what ingredients would be really effective and the regulations around different pesticides. In addition to her own findings, Esther found mosquito labs and reached out to professors to see who would be able to help her conduct a scientific study of her product. She explains why this kind of efficacy data was needed to justify the business. Benesafe turned out to be more effective than the learning competitor - so I'd say that study was definitely worth it! Running a minority woman-owned business all by herself, Esther has to play the part of marketing, sales, distribution, website development, social media management… and everything else it takes to start and grow a business. She shared with me the struggles of being a one-woman operation. Her advice is to embrace your struggles and failures because they mean you're taking a risk. And you can't grow without taking some risks. | |||
| The Anti-Fast Fashion of Dog Gear: Jane Lee of Wildebeest | 09 Nov 2022 | 00:25:55 | |
If you spend time on social media, you're probably bombarded with images of things you need, shopping haul videos, and this time of year, gift guides! A lot of those promotions are for things with all the latest bells and whistles and there's always a new release dropping every Tuesday - or something like that. It's fast fashion and it's coming for the pet industry! But not everything is built to last or designed with intention. This is exactly why I'm excited to bring you a conversation with someone who really knows dogs and how to design products we really need for our lives together. Jane Lee from WildeBeest created a line of no-frills, functional everyday accessories. She's pretty much the anti-fast fashion of dog gear. I've been using Wildebeest dog gear for a while now and I can see how much attention is put into the designs so there's nothing unnecessary. Every tab, reflective strip or D-ring has a purpose! Jane told me about how she finds inspiration, her design process and a day in the life of an indie-pet brand owner in San Francisco. If you enjoy this interview and want to check out Wildebeest, please use code TORI15 to get a discount at wildebeest.co | |||
| Say tinkle, not urine! Talking with Julie Holmes of Unique Pet Care | 02 Nov 2022 | 00:32:29 | |
In this episode, I'm talking with Julie Holmes of Unique Pet Care. Julie's company creates solutions for cleaning pet stains and odors in your home. She talked to me about how important it is to use the right words to communicate with pet parents in her target audience - thinks "tinkle" instead of "urine". Of course, we also talk about the formulas themselves and why it's important to have a clean-up solution with bacteria, not just enzymes. This is the good bacteria that will clean up a mess and keep working until it leaves nothing behind. Besides talking about tinkle, poop, and puke… we also managed to talk about business! Julie is a big believer in networking within industry groups. She recommends that you find a group within your niche or get involved in groups that help with a specific thing like SEO or manufacturing. You don't always have to go to big events and tradeshows. Sometimes the more specific and small events are even better. Although I've known Julie through email for a while, we did get to meet in person this summer and I completely agree that the relationships you form in person can't be replicated 100% on zoom. I hope you enjoy this interview and use it as inspiration to research some small in-person events that you can attend to network for your business in the new year. It's coming up very soon! | |||
| Create a Pet Parent Quiz to Grow Your Email List | 26 Oct 2022 | 00:40:27 | |
Today's episode is all about creating quizzes! My guest isn't technically in the pet industry, but she is a dog mom! Jessmyn Solana works at Interact Quiz Builder, the software that I use to build my own quizzes. I thought it would be cool to invite her on the show to share the why and how of building your own pet parent quiz. When I first set up my podcast playlist quiz, one of my main goals was to collect email addresses. But Jessmyn points out that there's so much more to quizzes than lead generation! Quizzes are all about curiosity and self-discovery. They can help your audience learn more about themselves and they can also be a great way to see what areas of your business you should put more effort into. For example, your quiz results might tell you that pet parents who take it want to learn more about single-ingredient dog treats instead of Instagrammable Gotcha Day cakes. I know it's a busy time of year and you might be inclined to put this on the back burner. But, Jessmyn shared so many great ideas of how to repurpose your existing content using a quiz. If you've put a lot of work into making an ebook or a blog post or a gift guide, you can use a quiz to direct pet parents to the right place and make them feel like you've curated this content just for them. She recommends that you create a quiz that can be answered in under 2 minutes! So it does not have to be long and complicated at all. If you want to dive right in, Interact also has free courses and an online community to help you create a killer quiz. I have an affiliate link to share with you… go to get.tryinteract.com/tori There's a 14-day free trial and after that there are very affordable paid plans. | |||
| You Need to Tell People Who You Are… Again! | 19 Oct 2022 | 00:31:25 | |
In this solo episode, I want to talk about the importance of telling people who you are. As a business owner in the pet industry, you know that you need to be visible and recognizable to build a relationship with your audience. Your brand cannot exist on cute pet photos alone. Pet parents want to see the human they're buying from. As a small business, this gives you a huge advantage against the big corporate brands that don't really have 1 real person that buyers can identify with. But did you know that you need to keep reinforcing who you are and what you do? It's not enough to just put your name out there once - you need to tell people who you are again and again. This will help you create a strong brand identity and establish you as the go-to person for whatever it is that you specialize in. | |||
| What's Spleash? Dog Gear Inventor Kerry Cooke | 12 Oct 2022 | 00:34:02 | |
In this episode, I'm sharing a conversation with an entrepreneur I met in person at SuperZoo this past August. Kerry Cooke is the founder of Tail Chasers and the inventor of Spleash - a water holding spray leash handle. She told me how she came up with the idea while walking her dog in the warm California weather (and always forgetting to bring a water bottle and dog bowl). The Spleash can spray your dog with water to help them cool off and it can also be used as drinking water for them with the attached bowl. In addition to designing and launching this product, Kerry is also Vice President of Sales at a biotech company. She shared with me what it's like to create a dog gear startup, get publicity and push for conversions while juggling many other responsibilities. The element of the Tail Chasers business that stands out the most to me is the charitable component. Kerry and her daughter have a very personal story about the impact of therapy dogs and they're dedicated to making that wonderful resource available to more people. Kerry was such a pleasure to talk to! If you enjoy what you hear in this episode, please share it! | |||
| What if Your Dream Pet Career Isn't a Good Fit? | 05 Oct 2022 | 00:34:14 | |
In this episode, I'm talking to the delightful Chichi Enu. I got to know Chichi through Instagram during the pandemic. At the time, she was starting a pet sitting business and I invited her to come on the podcast and talk about that experience. I love featuring women who are in all phases of business growth. There aren't a lot of resources where you can hear directly from someone who's figuring it out at the start all the way up to someone who's grown a six-figure business. I love being that outlet! But, when I originally reached out the Chichi she kinda declined the invitation. In the nicest way possible, of course. Finally, about a year later reached out to say she was ready for the interview. But it's not about how to start a pet sitting business… instead, it's about what to do if you realize that your dream pet career isn't the right fit. I'm so grateful to Chichi for openly sharing how she discovered that pet sitting wasn't a good fit for her over a year into the business and what she's doing now instead. Over the past few years, "pivot" was the big business buzzword! And you know what, it's OK to do a total 180, too. There isn't one right way to do anything. As long as you have a passion for what you do, that will come through in your business. Whether it's pet sitting, blogging, podcasting, making treats and accessories, training pets or anything else. Speaking of… did you know I created a quiz to help to find your ideal petpreneur playlist? With 238 episodes, it can be hard to find the interviews that resonate best with you. Answer 4 quick questions to find out your petpreneur personality type and get a custom 12 episode playlist curated for exactly where you are in your pet business now. | |||
| Can You Still Grow an Online Dog Community from Scratch? | 28 Sep 2022 | 00:30:12 | |
In this episode, I'm talking with fellow dog blogger Candy Pilar Godoy. We talk about how she grew her blog Boogiethepug.com from zero to over 50,000 sessions per month in just a few years. Of course, SEO played a big part and Candy shares her favorite online course to learn more about that. In addition to her blog, over the past couple of years Candy started two new online dog lover communities on Instagram. One is Dogs of NYC and the other is A History of Dogs. It wasn't until recently that I realized that she ran A History of Dogs, it's one of my favorite accounts. And I was surprised to learn that she's grown it to over 42,000 followers and counting without doing many Reels. In fact, out of 570 posts, only 36 of them are Reels. It's possible to pursue your pet industry dreams your way! This conversation with Candy shows that you can have great success building your online community of dog lovers when you do what works for you, not what everyone tells you to do. Ahhh… my favorite moral of any story! Just be yourself! | |||
| Recession-Proof Your Pet Business with The Honest Dog Breeder | 21 Sep 2022 | 00:31:20 | |
In this episode, I talk to Julie Swan about how talk of an impending recession is affecting the pet industry. Are there ways that you can recession-proof your pet business. Julie has some sugessions and observations on how to best serve your pet parent customers so you can make your business thrive. Julie is a full-time dog breeder who also teaches an online course and membership program for breeders. Her experience and expertise in the psychology of how pet parents shop applies to any type of pet industry business. In this conversation we talk about examples for a variety of pet businesses, but if you want Julie's take on recession-proofing your responsible dog breeding program, listen to Episode 52 of the Honest Dog Breeder Podcast. One thing that came up in this conversation, that I always recommend, is to diversify your income stream. You never want to put all the good squeaky tennis balls in one basket! If you're interested in teaching an online course about your zone of genius about pets, I would love to help you zero in on your course idea, outline the lessons and create a launch plan. Sign up for a 1-on-1 strategy session with me at wearwagrepeat.com/coaching | |||
| Should you create an online course for your pet business? | 14 Sep 2022 | 00:36:10 | |
Have you considered creating an online course for your pet business? If you're a dog trainer it seems like an obvious fit. But no matter what type of business you have in the pet industry, there's an online course you could create to help pet parents and other pet pros. In this episode I share my experience creating several online courses and my membership and pull examples from 7 previous podcasts guests who have created their own online courses and virtual programs. Learn why it's important to narrow down the topic and objective of your course, the pros and cons of various formats and the equipment needed to create and launch your new online course. If you need help coming up with your course idea, outlining the lessons and creating a launch plan, I'd love to help you during a 1-on-1 strategy session. I love using Teachable for my online courses and membership. Check out their pricing plans with my affiliate link. | |||
| 5 Love Languages of a Thriving Pet Business | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:14:34 | |
You've heard of the 5 love langaues... Well, did you know your pet business has a love language, too!? And if you're not speaking it the right way, you might be stutning your growth. In this short and sweet Valentine's Day-themed episode, I'm breaking down The 5 Love Languages of a Thriving Pet Business—and how you can use them to attract more clients, create better systems, and find more joy in running your business. From Words of Attraction (aka, your marketing!) to Quality Time (working smarter, not harder!), these love languages will help you build a pet biz that loves you back. 💖 🎧 Hit play now to find out which business love language you need to focus on! 💌 Want more support growing your business? Join my membership community, Wear Wag Repeat Society, and get the tools, strategies, and support to make 2025 your best year yet! Start your 2-week trial now: wearwagrepeat.com/society 🐾 | |||
| Solving Problems for Puppy Parents and Breeders: Scarlett Jo's Redemption | 07 Sep 2022 | 00:35:57 | |
Sometimes people come into your life at the perfect time. That's the case with Amanda Megara. She does so many things in the pet space, including starting her own business last year. One of her roles is foster coordinator for a local animal shelter. I was excited to be able to talk to Amanda about what to expect when fostering since I've committed to being a foster dog mom this year! But that's just a small part of this interview. We spend the bulk of the conversation talking about Amanda's new business, Scarlett Jo's Redemption. She educates new puppy parents and supports shelters and breeders in an effort to end early euthanasia and surrender to shelters. Working in the veterinary field and volunteering with shelters, she knows this is a problem that needs attention. Wear Wag Repeat Society is open for enrollment right now! This isn't like any other membership you're in! It's business strategy with dog people so no topic is off limits. See what it's all about at wearwagrepeat.com/society | |||
| Pet Industry Trends Seen at SuperZoo 2022 | 31 Aug 2022 | 00:35:24 | |
I just got back from spending three days in Las Vegas at the largest pet industry trade show in North America. SuperZoo had over 14,000 attendees and over 900 exhibitors with just about everything you need for your life with pets. In this episode, I'll share dog food and treats trends, hot ingredients to keep an eye out for, what was happening in terms of canine enrichment, something called palatability testing plus my personal favorite part of SuperZoo! While I had a great time and met lots of wonderful people, it was clear that we need to keep working to amplify and support women in this industry. So it couldn't be a better time to open up membership in Wear Wag Repeat Society! I love this community of women and how well we've gotten to know each other. Get on the waitlist now so you know when membership open in early September. Go to wearwagrepeat.com/society | |||
| Run Your Rescue Like a Business with Petco Love President Susanne Kogut | 24 Aug 2022 | 00:31:16 | |
I'm excited to share a dynamic interview with Susanne Kogut, the President of Petco Love. Susanne spent the early part of her career in corporate law before deciding to dedicate her life to animal rescue and welfare. She made such an impact as the Executive Director of an SPCA because she ran the shelter like a business. So there's a lot for everyone to learn here! I can't believe how much we were able to fit into this conversation! We talk about Susanne's career trajectory, and the work she now does with Petco Love including lost pet programs and disaster relief efforts. Plus we talk about the impact that fostering has on the rescue community. | |||
| Is Your Social Media Strategy Paying Off? | 17 Aug 2022 | 00:29:29 | |
Do you ever feel like you're not sure if your social media strategy is actually paying off? In this episode, I'll tell you how to evaluate what you've been doing and see if all that hard work is getting you any closer to your pet business goals. I hear from people in the WWR community all the time that they are getting burned out keeping up with everything. I can totally relate! I'm the queen of trying every shiny new marketing strategy that pops up. But time is money and I don't want to waste my time on a whole lot of work that doesn't get me closer to my goals. So, let me tell you how to track your results so that you can be confident that all your marketing efforts are actually making an impact. | |||
| How Angela Ardolino Became The CBD for Pets Expert | 10 Aug 2022 | 00:41:52 | |
Nobody has practiced more medical cannabis on pets than Angela Ardolino. Back in 2015 she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and rather than taking synthetic prescribed medications, she started taking cannabis to help with the pain. She found that it also helped relieve the stress and anxiety around her diagnosis. She was so impressed that she sold her business at the time and threw herself into the cannabis industry. In her research, Angela learned that dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than humans do, making CBD even more effective for them. And this is how she found her passion for combining cannabis and animals. This conversation covers her business journey and how to choose the right CBD products for your dogs. We also touch on medicinal mushrooms, which is turning out to be quite the hot topic of the past few weeks. Mentioned in this episode: Looking for a mobile vet who comes to you? Check out BetterVet.com and use my code BVBFFTMISTICK to get $100 off your first home visit!" | |||
| Can Earth-Based Medicine Heal Our Pets: Aisha LuVert of Emisha Wellness | 03 Aug 2022 | 00:34:51 | |
I'm excited to share a conversation about pet wellness, intuition and holistic healing practices. I had such a cool conversation with Aisha LuVert, she's the founder of Emisha Wellness. Through her brand, she creates all-natural CBD dog treats, medicinal mushroom-based supplements and more to help your dog live a naturally healthy life. Coming from a career in the human medical world, Aisha brings so much knowledge and curiosity to what she does now. She also has an amazing viewpoint on using resources from the earth to help us live life to the fullest. Mentioned in this episode: Looking for a mobile vet who comes to you? Check out BetterVet.com and use my code BVBFFTMISTICK to get $100 off your first home visit! | |||
| What Are the Best Essential Oils for Dogs? Sara Grace Newhall of Dog Love Oils | 27 Jul 2022 | 00:34:32 | |
Learn about the best essential oils for dogs with Sara Grace Newhall, founder of Dog Love Oils. About four years ago, she created a blend of pure essential oils to help her dog, Sadie, overcome chronic hot spots - a skin condition that's very itchy and can take a long time to heal. When the owner of a local pet supplies shop saw how Sadie's condition improved, she asked to carry the products in her store. Since then, Dog Love Oils has grown to include 10 different blends that can help our furry friends with everything from skin issues, to sore joints and digestion. In our conversion, you'll learn what kinds of essential oils Sara Grace uses and how certain carrier oils can help spread them across your dog's body. I was also interested to learn how topical application using a spray bottle can help something like digestion and joints because of how these oils penetrate the skin. Mentioned in this episode: Looking for a mobile vet who comes to you? Check out BetterVet.com and use my code BVBFFTMISTICK to get $100 off your first home visit! | |||
| Get National Media Coverage for your Pet Business using HARO | 20 Jul 2022 | 00:36:12 | |
I'm re-sharing an episode from last summer that's greatly impacted my business. Dawn LaFontaine talked to me about how she secures tons of great press coverage for her brand Cat in the Box. She makes whimsical and delightful cardboard cat playhouses and when you go to her website you'll see, front and center, a collection of media logos for some of the many places she's been featured. The way Dawn secures all this press coverage is using a free tool called Help a Reporter Out (HARO). I followed Dawn's advice on how to use HARO and since talking to her I've received national press coverage in Business Insider and Yahoo News. The Business Insider article was also featured in the Apple News app and in Japanese outlets! Mentioned in this episode: Looking for a mobile vet who comes to you? Check out BetterVet.com and use my code BVBFFTMISTICK to get $100 off your first home visit! | |||
| 15 Year Old Petpreneur Ava Dorsey, Founder of Ava's Pet Palace | 13 Jul 2022 | 00:26:47 | |
I'm excited to share a conversation with Ava Dorsey who started her brand Ava's Pet Palace as a kid-reprenur when she was just 8 years old. Now she's 15 years old and her USDA certified organic pet treats are carried in over 200 stores around the United States. In this interview we talk about how she got started with her very first recipe and what Ava's big dreams are for the future… She sees Ava's Pet Palace being a real in-person destination that might include a pet restaurant and other fun attractions. That sounds so amazing but there's also some big things happening right around the corner. We talk about the upcoming SuperZoo event in Las Vegas where Ava will be introducing her new line of cat treats in the new product showcase! Up until now her mom was still making their cat treats by hand at home! At the end of our chat, I also asked Ava what advice we could share with young girls in our lives who want to start their own businesses. Her sage advice applies to women of any age - just go for it! | |||
| Building Trust with Pet Parents: Cassidys Custom Pet Services | 06 Jul 2022 | 00:31:59 | |
On this episode, I'm talking with Cassidy LaMair, the owner of a pet care and dog walking service in Southern California. Cassidy is passionate about providing personalized care to her furry clients and talked to me about why she loves working one-on-one. We also talk about the importance of building trust with clients. As a dog walker and sitter, you're going into people's homes, you're around their families and spending a lot of time with their beloved pets. Cassidy focuses on attention to detail and transparently communicating with pet parents. That also comes into play when it comes to pricing. Rising gas prices and inflation are affecting a lot of pet care providers. Cassidy told me how she cuts back on expenses to get a better profit margin. When she does need to raise prices she offers more options to her clients so they can feel like we're all in this together - which we are! | |||
| Set Yourself Up for a Successful Month: Simple Shifts to Reclaim Your Time | 05 Feb 2025 | 00:27:26 | |
Let's make February the month you take back control of your time. Start small, commit to one shift, and see how much better things feel. And if you need a community that helps you grow your pet business without overworking, my membership is here for you. Wear Wag Repeat Society: https://wearwagrepeat.com/society Episode Overview:
"Time is your most precious resource, especially with your pets. Let's set up simple routines now so you can get more done without working more—because your business should fit your life, not the other way around." - Tori Mistick | |||
| Affiliate Marketing Strategies That Work For My Pet Business | 29 Jun 2022 | 00:30:49 | |
In this solo episode, I explain how affiliate marketing can create an additional revenue stream in your pet business. If you clients or customers ask you for recommendations, why not share an affiliate link with them? This is a great strategy for dog trainers and groomers, pet photographers, bloggers and pupfluencers. In 9 years of pet blogging, I've tried a lot of strategies to share affiliate links with my audience. I've found that it's always best to be passionate and authentic about the products or services you're promoting. I also like to be honest with my audience about what happens when they shop using my links - "It costs you nothing, but it means the world to me!". Of course, I have my own affiliate program for Wear Wag Repeat courses and Society membership. If you'd like to learn more about that, please reach out! | |||
| Why Human-Grade Food for Dogs Matters with Jessica Bevilacqua of Dog Standards | 22 Jun 2022 | 00:30:49 | |
On this episode I'm talking to Jessica Bevilacqua about fresh food for dogs. She founded her company Dog Standards with a mission to raise the standard of the food we give our dogs. But she doesn't want you to think of her fresh human grade food as spoiling your pup. Health is not a luxury, it's a canine right. It took about 8 months of research and development to launch Dog Standards in January of this year. In that time, Jessica said she got so much help and support from everyone she worked with. People really wanted to see her succeed. Since launching, she's also able to use feedback from her customers to come up with fresh ideas for new products. Did you know that Kangaroo is the hot new protein source for dog food? Apparently it is! This is a great episode to share with your pet parent friends. Just tell them their dogs wants them to listen! | |||
| Automated Dog Agility Course From Canine Innovation founder Alexandra Smith | 15 Jun 2022 | 00:35:26 | |
In this episode I'm talking with Alexandra Smith who is developing a new tool to provide physical and mental exercise to dogs. Her automated agility course will make these kinds of enrichment activities accessible to people with mobility issues or those who don't have time to be home with their dog as much as they'd like. I loved hearing how Alexandra came up with the idea for this Canine Innovation and leap into action getting a patent, doing a pitch competition and partnering with researchers and experts in canine cognition. The automated agility course is currently seeking doggy day cares as beta testers so the backend can gather data from a variety of dogs and doggy care givers. Could a product like this make agility more accessible? Could it make dogs happier and more fulfilled? Alexandra definitely has an amazing idea here and it's exciting to hear about it in the early stages. Plus, have you heard about the Cat and Dog Bill of Rights under consideration in California? We touch on that towards the end of the interview. | |||
| Creating a Brand about Dog Joy: Jess Berger of Bundle x Joy | 08 Jun 2022 | 00:30:36 | |
On today's episode I'm talking to Jess Berger, the founder of Bundle x Joy. Jess is launching this new brand with over 15 years of experience in knowing what it takes to sell a product at stores like PetSmart and Whole Foods. She's using that experience to create a dog brand that fills a gap in the marketplace. Jess shared with me that pet ownership in the minority community is growing 5X faster than in the mainstream. So Bundle x Joy is all about community and inclusivity - making dog health, nutrition and education accessible at any price point. We also talk about something that caught my eye when I first reached out to Jess about coming on the podcast. She's created a 3% give back grant program and other opportunities to help underrepresented and purpose driven petpreneurs get their products in front of Bundle x Joy customers. | |||
| Creating the Symbol for Rescue Dogs: Liz Nowell of Best Life Leashes | 01 Jun 2022 | 00:30:03 | |
On this episode I'm chatting with Liz Nowell of Best Life Leashes. We chat about what sets her products apart and how they're so much more than a product, she's really building a community through the 2 stripe symbol for rescue dogs. I loved learning about the symbolism and meaning behind the stripes and how they're educating people about rescue dogs. Liz also shares the product development process and how her leashes have evolved over time based on customer feedback. Lastly Liz explains how important customer testimonials are and how they come into play in her marketing strategy. If you love listening to this conversation, there's more where this came from! Liz actually interviewed me for her vlogcast series on the Best Life Leashes YouTube channel. See Liz interview Tori on the Best Life Leashes YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWnK59dqAsaLzDyh6vrlIYQ | |||
| Post and Ghost: Breaking all the Social Media Rules | 25 May 2022 | 00:28:47 | |
This month I've been doing a social media experiment on both of my Instagram accounts. A few weeks ago I was struck by how judgemental and negative comments impact me. They disrupt my creative process and get in the way of me doing what I do best - helping pet parents and petpreneurs! In this episode I'll explain how I've been experimenting with ignoring the comments and insights on Instagram. I've been preaching for years that you should never, ever "Post and Ghost"! But that's exactly what I've been doing. This experiment has opened up so much more space in my mind and my schedule. I've been able to have deeper conversations with my audience over DM and email. And what if I told you the accounts engaging with mine are up 75% this month compared to April? Would you try posting and ghosting on your account? Liz Wilcox $9 Email Membership: https://bit.ly/wwrlizwilcox Liz's Open Rate Training on Friday: https://bit.ly/3yYrRc2 | |||
| Double Feature: Rescue Dogs and Repurposed Content | 18 May 2022 | 00:38:24 | |
Today I have a special double feature episode featuring two interviews with two wonderful petpreneurs. The common theme for both of these interviews is repurposing! First up… Dog trainer Ruth Hegarty shares her expertise around adoptable dogs and how to set them up for success in your life. In a sense, adopted dogs are kinda repurposed. When you rescue, you have the chance to give a dog a new life. There are a lot of diamonds in the rough out there! Next, in part 2 of this double feature episode, Skarlet Rockwood talks about how to give new life to your content through repurposing. She explains the pawprint method of turning 1 piece of long form content into 30 things you can share to promote your pet industry business. | |||
| More Canine Conversations, Less Arguments: Chelsea Nelson of Canine Curiosity | 11 May 2022 | 00:36:30 | |
On this episode, I'm sharing a conversation with dog trainer Chelsea Nelson. What we talked about is the importance of being able to have conversation in the dog space. A canine conversation that isn't an argument and isn't about proving who is right and who is wrong. Instead, we need to focus on how we can help pets in the best way we know how. Chelsea and I have an assignment for everyone listening today: Think about something you don't specialize in but that you get asked about all the time. Can you think of something? Now go find someone who does that thing and reach out to them to say hi. That's it. You don't need to form an official partnership or even do anything together. Just say hi, introduce yourself and try to get to know them better. If we can do this in the dog community, maybe this spirit of conversation without judgment can spread to all other areas of our society. | |||
| Stress is Making Dog Moms Sick: Jocelyn Mizrahi of Dog Mom Lifestyles | 04 May 2022 | 00:36:46 | |
On this episode I'm sharing a conversation with Jocelyn Mizrahi, the founder of Dog Mom Lifestyles subscription box. Jocelyn talked to me about how she was inspired to get into the pet industry after becoming physically ill from the stress of her previous career. Although entrepreneurship isn't an easy ride, it's amazing how pursuing something that you're passionate about can make an impact on the quality of your life. If you're listening to this, I'm sure you get it! Working with our pets just makes everything better! Before we hit record Joceyln shared with me that this is really the first time that she's sharing her health issues that were caused by stress. Since she decided to be transparent about this story she's felt a huge shift. She told me that being 100% you removes a lot of fear because you're being honest all the time, there's nothing to worry about being revealed. | |||
| How to Start a Dog Podcast: Erin Scott of Believe in Dog Podcast | 27 Apr 2022 | 00:32:57 | |
Have you ever wanted to start a dog podcast of your own? Podcasting is one of my favorite elements of my pet industry business! But it's a lot of work. Today I'm sharing an interview with fellow pet industry podcaster Erin Scott of Believe in Dog Podcast. Erin has been interviewing dog lovers on her show since October 2019. And in March 2022 she launched a second podcast co-hosted with Kim of the dog blog Keep the Tail Wagging. In this conversation Erin and I talk about what goes into creating each podcast episode for our shows, what we look for in a great guest, how to pitch yourself to a podcast about dogs or another niche and what to consider if you want to start your own podcast. Towards the end Erin mentions how much reviews mean to us as podcast hosts. It's true! Please take a few minutes to subscribe, rate and review our shows on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. | |||
| New Problem-Solving Opt-In Freebie for Petpreneurs | 29 Jan 2025 | 00:17:06 | |
Want to have tons of people signing up for your opt-in freebie? You need to give them something that solves a problem! Listen to this episode to hear about a new freebie I created last week that immediately got tons of sign ups with zero promotion. PLUS... tell me what freebie I should create for pet pros like you. Here's the options:
Let me know which one of these freebies would help you hit your pet industry goals in 2025! Want more support growing your business? Start your 2-week trial in my membership community Wear Wag Repeat Society: wearwagrepeat.com/society 💖 | |||
| Pricing Mindset for Your Pet Business: Julie Swan Dog Breeder Society | 20 Apr 2022 | 00:36:59 | |
Last week I shared that the Wear Wag Repeat Podcast hit 100,000 downloads! To celebrate that milestone, this week I'm sharing the most downloaded episode ever. This is an interview with Julie Swan, aka The Honest Breeder. Julie and I had an interesting conversation about pricing. As a dog breeder, pricing is a very important component of her business. The right pricing structure can attract the kind of quality puppy parents she wants for her dogs. You'll hear about the psychology behind this and get inspiration for how you can implement this mindset in your own pet business. Do you want to relive more great interviews from the podcast archives? I created a quiz to help you discover your ideal petpreneur podcast playlist. From an Underdog Champion to a Pros-purr-ous Petpreneur… there are 5 playlists curated just for you! Take the playlist quiz today and fetch your results! | |||
| 100,000 Downloads + New Playlist Quiz | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:27:21 | |
On this episode I'm celebrating a major milestone for the Wear Wag Repeat Podcast. As of this week we hit 100,000 downloads! That's 100,000 times listeners took action to hear inspiring interviews with women in the pet industry. In this solo episode I'll take a look back at the past 4 years of podcasting about business and dogs. I also have an exciting new quiz to help you discover your Ideal Petpreneur Podcast Playlist! There are over 200 episodes in my archives. Instead of making you dig through them, I curated 5 playlists to help you reach your pet business goals. From the Underdog Champion to the Pros-purr-ous Petpreneur… there's a playlist just for you! Click here to take the quiz and fetch your results! The rest of the shownotes can be found at wearwagrepeat.com/podcast | |||
| Duke & Fox Found Etsy Success with Personalized Dog Collars | 06 Apr 2022 | 00:33:31 | |
Get to know Candace Meade, the creator of dog accessory brand Duke & Fox. Candance told me how she went from a hobby sewist to selling baby blankets and burp cloths to an Etsy shop to selling over 70,000 dog items in just the last 5 years. Lately I've noticed a lot of changes on Etsy, so I was really interested in asking Candace about her experiences with the platform. It's a love/hate relationship, but the love parts definitely win. She said the customer base just can't be beat. That being said, she is working on building up her own website and mentioned some of the SEO efforts she's doing over there. Of course, I couldn't end the interview without asking about her own dogs. From mutts to german shepherds to scotties and a mini poodle… Candance has had quite the fur family! | |||