Would you love to feel more bold when it comes to sharing what you do in your pet business? This week I’ve been doing a Be Bold Bootcamp five day challenge working with people who want to do this. Who know they have an awesome product or service that is really going to make a difference for pet parents. Who want to share the value they bring to pets and pet parents and do it in a way that feels right for them. Often we can feel nervous, and worry what people might think when we talking about wha...
Apr 28, 2022•27 min•Ep. 115
In just four years Stephanie Zikmann has gone from being a local dog groomer to an authority worldwide as The Holistic Dog Groomer. She’s written a book that led to a series of children’s books, has a regular column in Edition Dog magazine, runs the Holistic Grooming Academy and has spoken at events all over the world. Stephanie’s passion is the emotional and physical needs of her canine clients, bringing pet professionals from all backgrounds together to make their lives better. She’s revolutio...
Apr 21, 2022•48 min•Ep. 114
Would you love to be more bold when it comes to promoting your pet business? Perhaps you’ve felt frustrated because people less experienced or qualified than you, or who use outdated and questionable methods are everywhere? Or if you’ve a product, you might feel invisible while competitors are sharing endless posts about how they’re ‘smashing it.’ If you can relate, I imagine it’s not that these people or products are in any way superior. More likely the people behind them are more bold, and it’...
Apr 14, 2022•34 min•Ep. 113
Are you looking to make more of an impact with your pet business? Would you love to elevate yourself as THE expert in your field or shine the spotlight on your pet products? Then you’re going to love my podcast with pet business marketing coach Dom Hodgson. We talk about how to make an impact with your pet business and Dom shares some really simple steps to follow to make this happen. Discover the different ways to get your service or products to stand out and what will make a difference when it...
Apr 07, 2022•48 min•Ep. 112
Looking for ways to get publicity for your pet business as we go into Spring? Spring is in the air which means lighter mornings and evenings, no need to wrap up and some much needed sunshine. And we can spend more time outdoors enjoying life with our pets. After a dreary winter, it’s time to lift our spirits, and think of ways to connect with our customers and potential clients through our content. Whether it’s for your website, social media or a press campaign, there’s plenty of hooks and angle...
Mar 31, 2022•31 min•Ep. 111
Have you seen news stories about awareness days and wondered how they come about? There are hundreds of awareness days taking place every week and you CAN use them as a way to get press coverage. As long as the awareness day relates to you and what you do, and you're able to create something relevant, you can use them to generate story ideas. In this podcast learn how to use key dates to pitch to the press and everything you need to make your campaign take off. It DOESN'T have to be your own awa...
Mar 24, 2022•33 min•Ep. 110
Do you have an anxious dog and get frustrated when other dogs approach them, jump on them and stress them out? When owners say, 'It's ok, they're friendly,' or, 'They just want to play,' or 'They need telling off.' If so, Sarah Jones' story is one you will want to hear. When her Cocker Spaniel Bella became anxious and reactive, Sarah went on a mission not just to help her own dog but thousands of others and their owners. She set up My Anxious Dog, creating products ranging from stickers to go on...
Mar 17, 2022•48 min•Ep. 109
Looking to raise the profile of your pet business by entering Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday? It’s a community award where you get the paws up from the multi-millionaire entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragon’s Den. It is amazing for your pet business profile, a brilliant and super easy way to get press coverage, and you become part of Theo’s supportive community too. Last month, February 2022, was the Small Business Sunday Winner’s Event in Birmingham where Theo celebrated the people who t...
Mar 10, 2022•47 min•Ep. 108
Have you ever thought about approaching large retailers like John Lewis or Pets at Home to work with you? In this podcast episode I'm speaking to Chris Costello from Product Guru about how you can do this through their pet huddles. The Pet Huddle takes place in Birmingham on March 31st and there are a few spaces remaining. It's a recording from an interview in my Facebook group, and you can watch the live here. Key topics and timings in this episode: 0.19 - What Product Guru is and what to expec...
Mar 07, 2022•39 min
Have you ever suffered from comparisonitis? You might have found yourself looking at other pet businesses or in a similar space and thinking ‘oh my gosh they do so much more than me?’ Fretting as you see them chat about their waiting list, client base, even their media wins, and spiral yourself into self-doubt? Whilst it’s healthy to be inspired by others, comparisonitis can have a huge impact on self-esteem. That’s why this week I’m talking to therapist Kate Hoyle. She deals with lots of people...
Mar 03, 2022•40 min•Ep. 107
Are you looking to invest in training in your pet business but feel unsure about what's right for you? There is so much information out there when it comes to ways to grow your business. From learning practical skills and theory to help you deliver your service or create your product. To thousands of marketing and social media experts, plus tech, coaching and much more. And where do you start? The free content, paid for programmes or one to one, or a mix of all three? In this podcast episode I'm...
Feb 24, 2022•30 min•Ep. 106
Katie Gwilt is founder of The Kat Lady and in this episode she shares how she set up her business as a holistic cat groomer and behaviourist. Katie always loved cats, and found herself running her dream business of working with her feline friends after a terrifying experience with her health. After taking time to recover, she set her heart on supporting cats and their humans, helping cats in need and discovering ways to make their lives happy and healthy. Katie is such an inspiring lady and is d...
Feb 17, 2022•36 min•Ep. 105
Crufts is back for 2022 after a two year break and if you’re involved, this is a chance to get some press coverage. If you’re there showing a dog, taking part in Scruffts, joining in the dog sports or showcasing your product you can pitch to the press about it. In this podcast episode I’m sharing how to get press coverage from Crufts. And if you’d like to get a little more support or ask any questions around using Crufts as a media opportunity, I have a free workshop you can attend too. It’s tak...
Feb 10, 2022•20 min•Ep. 104
Dragon's Den fans - this episode is for YOU! Have you ever watched the show and wondered what it would be like to go before the Dragons on the BBC 1 series? Well this week's podcast guest did - and got investment. Debbie Greaves from Barking Bags wowed Sara Davies and secured a £35,000 investment in her dog walking bags. She held her own in the Den, even when newbie Steven Bartlett scoffed at her bags for being 'unfashionable' and 'not for millennials.' Debbie hit back, and even suggested the so...
Feb 03, 2022•57 min•Ep. 103
Did you know that it's possible to use Twitter to get amazing press coverage in huge titles? Like the Metro, the Telegraph, the Daily Mail, Your Dog magazine, Psychologies, huge websites like Yahoo and Buzzfeed and Unilad. And the everyday journalists are on there looking to hear from people like YOU who run small businesses. People who might want to talk about their experiences, or share expert insights, or talk about that product or service. If you're not using Twitter, and I don't want this t...
Jan 27, 2022•25 min•Ep. 102
Have you ever had a lightbulb moment and followed it through? This week on the podcast I'm speaking to Karen Rhodes from Luxury Dog Hampers and Suffolk Pet Services. Karen was watching a TV show about Fortnum and Mason three years ago and had a thought, 'I wonder if I could make this for dogs?' Rather than forgetting about it, she made it happen, and now runs the HUGELY successful Luxury Dog Hampers. She's been featured in GQ, the Times, Dogs Monthly, Your Dog, worked with influencers and sold s...
Jan 20, 2022•37 min•Ep. 101
Would you love to raise the profile of your pet business by being featured in the media? If so, taking part in the 12 week Get Your Pet Business in the Press programme will give you everything you need to find stories in your pet business and share them with journalists. In this podcast I'm sharing what to expect from taking part in the programme, how it works, plus interviews with three ladies who have completed the course. Dog trainer Jo Sellers, Karen Rhodes from Luxury Dog Hampers and Jo Mil...
Jan 14, 2022•46 min
Is getting on the radio one of your PR goals for your pet business? Being interviewed live is fantastic for giving people an insight into you as a pet professional but can be daunting too. Anna Webb is a seasoned BBC Radio presenter and a regular guest on shows like Jeremy Vine, Trisha and Alan Titchmarsh. She’s a dog trainer, canine nutritionist and co-hosts Barking At The Moon on BBC Radio London, and her own show, A Dog’s Life podcast. Anna explains how pet business owners can give fantastic ...
Jan 13, 2022•50 min•Ep. 100
Are you thinking of taking part in a five day challenge and want to make the most of the time you set aside? Free online challenges provide a brilliant way to learn something new in a short space of time, delivered by an expert. You can add to your skillset and experience what it’s like to work with the person hosting the challenge. If learning how to feature in the press is something you’d like to learn more about, then you’re just in time to join my free Get Your Pet Business in the Press chal...
Jan 06, 2022•28 min•Ep. 99
Is getting some media coverage on your wish list for 2022? If so, then you will love what's in this podcast episode where I walk you through how to create a media plan for your pet business. You'll learn what to put into a media plan, how to come up with ideas consistently throughout the year, how long do you need to wait before you approach the media. Plus, what you can do with everything in your media plan to make sure that your social media and the content that you create on your own platform...
Dec 30, 2021•23 min•Ep. 98
Do you keep track of the wins in your pet business? We can get so bogged down in the day to day running around that we don’t find time to celebrate the good stuff. Or, we DO celebrate when things go well, but it’s soon forgotten when we become stressed or busy. Then, when we’re feeling overwhelmed, or there’s been a bump in the road, rather than thinking about our achievements, we can dwell on the negative. One of the things I’ve done to to stop myself doing this, and this is still a work in pro...
Dec 23, 2021•27 min•Ep. 97
Have you ever thought about sending your photos in to a newspaper or magazine? Often photos on their own can make a story, and while it’s usually professional photographers who are commissioned by news outlets, they do publish images from the public too. So if you have a breathtaking image, or a photo that is taking off on social media, there’s the potential that the press could use it too. In this podcast I’m chatting to Vasi Siedman from Pet Pix Academy in Florida who has had her photos publis...
Dec 16, 2021•38 min•Ep. 96
Is getting some press coverage something you’d love to achieve for your pet business? You might see other people in the industry getting brilliant media coverage and wonder ‘how do they do it?’ Well, the good news is you don’t need a huge budget and a fancy PR company to appear in the media and make sure your business is seen. In this podcast episode I’m sharing five simple steps you can follow to if you’d like to Get Your Pet Business in the Press. There’s also a PDF you can download here that ...
Dec 09, 2021•29 min•Ep. 95
When Michelle Burgess started a pet blog, Scruffy Little Terrier, so she could share her life as a new dog mum, she never imagined it would grow into a business. That was back in 2014 and she’d just adopted Border Terrier pup Barney and in that time it’s grown from a hobby to a full time business. Michelle sells amazing products for terrier owners from clothing to items for the home and she also has treats and goodies for terriers too. She shares how she overcame the many hurdles that were in he...
Dec 02, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 94
Pitching to the press about your pet business can be daunting, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. That’s why I created the Get Your Pet Business in the Press one to one sessions, where we’re able to work together on your pitch or press release. The sessions are held on Zoom and by the end you’ll have your pitch ready, we’ll have some titles and writers to approach and in many cases, your press release will be written. In this podcast episode, I’m sharing everything you need to kno...
Nov 25, 2021•30 min•Ep. 93
Would you love to have professional looking graphics and imagery for your pet business feel unsure about taking the next step? Investing in how your brand looks can help take you to the next level and get more people to know about what you offer. But the whole ‘brand’ thing can feel uncomfortable. You don’t want to feel like you’re taking yourself too seriously, and it’s something I've struggled with. This week on the podcast I’m chatting to Alison Price from House of Henry, a graphic designer f...
Nov 18, 2021•40 min•Ep. 92
Are you ready for Christmas yet? The big day might be six weeks away but if you’ve a product or service you’re going to be promoting around Christmas, it’s time to start talking about it now. In fact, if you want to get press coverage, it was time to start talking about it back in July. That’s when all the big brands - think John Lewis and Marks and Spencer - showcase their festive creations. When it comes to your own content on your website, in your e mails, and on your social media, you can le...
Nov 11, 2021•23 min•Ep. 91
Would you love for your pet business to be the go-to pet business in your local community? Maybe you have some support locally but you want to branch out and reach more people? Perhaps you'd like to target people in your local community who aren’t on social media and be the talk of the town for all the right reasons. If so you'll love this chat with American pet sitter Collin Funkhouser who shares the amazing ways he’s grown his pet business in his local community. It all started as a side hustl...
Nov 04, 2021•54 min•Ep. 90
Would you love to be the go to expert in your area of the pet industry? For your name to be on the tip of people’s tongues when what you offer crops up in conversation? Being known for what you do can help you stand out, bring you more clients and sales, boost your feeling of self worth and enable you to increase your prices. And as long as you’re happy to put yourself in the spotlight, with a little focus it’s a lot easier than you think. In this podcast episode you’ll learn seven simple ways y...
Oct 28, 2021•28 min•Ep. 89
Were you at the recent Pet Industry Federation awards or are you thinking of applying in the future? This podcast features interviews with hosts Alexandra and Nigel Baker from the Pet Industry Federation. Plus winners Debbie Greaves from Barking Bags, Gemma Connolly from Scoff Paper, Steve Belgrau from The Pet Joint and Denise Lucas from The Green Poop Bag company who was shortlisted for the Sustainability Award. Key topics and timings in this episode: 0.30: Introduction 2.36: Interview with Ale...
Oct 24, 2021•48 min
