Incorporated in June, 2018, Fresh for Paws offers ready-to-eat pet food that is free of genetically modified organisms, artificial colours and flavors. The company was started by Srishti Bhatia who was inspired by her pet Vanilla.
Welcome to another extensive and informative interview with the founder of a successful startup- Fresh for Paws.
How Did the Idea of Becoming an Entrepreneur Strike Your Mind?
I always wanted to join my father in his business but it was the arrival of my pet Vanilla and my concern about her food that triggered my entrepreneurial journey. I was very involved as a kid about what Vanilla should eat or not eat. This concern about her getting the right diet led me to experiment and research pet food and animal nutrition. Fresh for Paws was started with the idea of using that knowledge and information to provide all pets with good and natural food.
What is the Mission of Your Business?
Fresh for Paws was started with the mission of educating and creating awareness among pet parents about the right food for their pets. We are offering nutritionally-balanced, pre-portioned pet meals that are made from real food and do not contain any artificial additives. We aim to help pet owners ensure optimal pet health and wellness.
How Did You Get Your First Customer and Who Was Your First Business Partner?
The first few customers were from my friend’s circle and a result of word-of-mouth publicity. And the very first customer was my dad who bought it for Vanilla. The business is solely owned and funded by me so far and so I have no business partners. But yes, we collaborate with many people in the retail and the B2B segment. We sell our products online via our website and popular marketplaces as well as through offline pet food stores.
Any Plans to Provide Food to Stray Dogs Too?
We do that sometimes through NGOs and one of our distributors is also into this segment of providing food for stray dogs. Whenever a new batch a produced, we allocate a small proportion for this purpose and send it across. This is my way of giving back to society.
How Do You Plan to Grow Your Business?
In the post-covid scenario pet owners have become more aware of nutrition and so are looking for good food. We are targeting these customers by offering them the right kind of diet that is good for their pet’s health. We are also relying on performance marketing and for this have collaborated with online partners like Amazon and Flipkart. We have recently added new recipes and introduced new packaging too.
What Role Does Social Media Play in Your Growth Strategy?
Social media promotions play an important role in our growth strategy. We are using Instagram, Facebook, and Google Adwords to offer content on pet nutrition and well-being and interact with the pet parents directly. A key feature of our social media strategy is that I interact directly with the pet parents and this helps me understand their requirements, and concerns besides helping me to innovate and improve our products based on user feedback.
Do you Intend to offer Food for Other Categories of Pets Too?
Our main focus is on dogs since I am a canine nutritionist. The non-vegetarian food that we offer is suitable for cats too. I wish to learn and educate myself before I launch any product for other pets. I wish to be hundred percent confident about the products that I offer.
What Are the Challenges That You Have Faced and How Did You Overcome Them?
A major challenge in my entrepreneurial journey was my age and the fact that I was a female. I started young at the age of 24 and people never used to take me seriously. I dealt with this by taking my dad with me to all the meetings and other places. But yes, things are changing now and I have created a space for myself.
Another challenge was to create awareness about the quality of pet food and its suitability. We had to educate not only the retailers and distributors but also the pet parents. Our focus was on providing ready-to-eat packed food that is free from any chemicals and preservatives. We have successfully overcome these challenges and now people are aware of our brand.
What Are Your Future Plans for Fresh for Paws?
Since our recipes match international standards we are targeting to go global in the future. My vision is to take our recipes all over the world and help pet parents provide nutritious food to their pets.
You Are a Delhi University Graduate. What Would You Have Done If This Venture Was Not There?
I would have joined my father’s business.
How Many Pets Do You Have at Home and How Do You Deal with Them?
I have one pet at the moment and want to get one more. Pets are attention seekers. And in the case of a female dog, you have to take special care of their health.
Do All Dogs Need the Same Kind of Food?
Although 99.9% of pets require the same kind of nutrition, the proportion and the size of the serving differ from one to another. A Labrador’s food requirement differs from a Shih-Tzu because of the difference in their weight. Other factors include the age of the pet and any health issues that it may be facing. An older pet may require less amount of protein because it may find it difficult to digest the same. We at Fresh for Paws make one kind of meal and offer it in different sizes while educating the pet parents about how much is appropriate to feed their pet.
What Advice Would You Like to Give to Early Entrepreneurs?
One thing that I would like to tell all entrepreneurs is to not give up no matter how hard it is. Running a business is not a smooth road and ups and downs are an essential part of the journey.
What is the Importance of Money in Starting a New Venture?
Money is important but it takes time for a business to earn money. So, do not expect to earn money initially. Rather focus on building your business and brand. I have not taken any money from Fresh for Paws so far because I know it is a growing brand and its needs are bigger than my personal needs. I also believe that one can use creativity to create and market a product. My focus is on making my brand grow bigger so that I benefit in the long run. My business is bootstrapped because I like running it at my own pace.
Rapid-Fire
What Motivates You to Get Out of Bed in the Morning?
My love for dogs is my real motivation. Even if I get just one order, I am happy and ready to work.
What Makes Your Business Unique?
Our strengths include providing the right kind of natural food for pets and personal interaction with pet parents and vendors.
How Involved Are You in the Business?
I am involved in every stage of my business and ensure that I know the ins and outs. This helps me quickly respond to feedback and improve product offerings.
What is the Best Part of Running Your Business?
The best thing about my business is the interaction that I have with pet parents. Their feedback provides me the confidence to continue working hard and offering high-quality food.
What Have Been Your Learnings in The Past Few Years?
Listening to people is important, especially with the ones with whom you are collaborating. Also exploring collaboration rather than getting worried about competition.
Did you Find Any Negative People in the Industry?
They are everywhere and cannot be overlooked. It is good to overcome the obstacles that come in way of our success.
Who Inspires You?
My dad is my role model. Another person who inspired me to become an entrepreneur is my college friend who is running a bakery successfully. I have been motivated by her hard work and sincerity and seek her advice from time to time.
What Do You Do In Your Free Time?
I am quite happy working and I love to spend time with my pet Vanilla. I also go out with my friends occasionally.
Who Would You Like to Go Out with For Dinner?
I would like to go out for dinner and interact with:
- Rodney Habib, the writer of the book Forever Dog. He is an inspired pet parent like me.
- Raj Shamani for his knowledge about running businesses.
- Prajakta Kohli for her beautiful and inspiring journey.
- Dr Daisaku Ikeda, my mentor for Nichiren Buddhism.
Thank you for your precious team and wishing you the very best for the future.
