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After about a year of making healthy treats for our three Boxers, Lucy, Layla, and Liam, our 10 year old son asked if he could start a dog treat business. After much discussion between his dad and I, and a few hours researching online, we decided if Zeb had the gumption to ask, he should have the opportunity to try. So, Zeb’s Barky Bites was born.
Certainly, it has taken help from Mom and Dad, but Zeb is involved in every facet – from baking, to packaging, to choosing logos and business cards, to selling and guiding HIS vision for this business. Zeb’s main philosophy in his line of treats is providing simple, wholesome, preservative free treats to his customers. As Zeb is fond saying, “If there are ingredients we can’t pronounce, I don’t want them in our dog treats!”
Zeb Helmick and his Barky Bites Treats
Show Notes:
- 00:31-2:07: Jim introduces todays guest, 10-year-old Zeb Helmick and his father Steve and their company, Zeb’s Barky Bites.
- 2:08-3:12: Steve tells the story of how the idea behind Zeb’s came to be when his son asked if they could begin selling the dog treats they were making at home.
- 3:13-3:20: Zeb, tell me how you got this idea to start making and selling dog treats.
- 3:21-3:41: “Our dogs have sensitive stomachs and any other treats we would buy from the store would give them problems.”
- 3:42-4:00: Tell us a little about your first recipes
- 4:01-4:19: Zeb talks about their first product, banana chews, which are now discontinued and the new, ‘Sweet pup-tato chips.’
- 4:20-4:35: Steve, tell us a little bit about your guys’ philosophy on creating these dog treats.
- 4:36-5:49: “Everything is all natural, we source everything we possibly can within 50 miles. Most of our material has between 3 to 5 ingredients.”
- 5:50-7:25: Steve, how would you describe Zeb’s Barky Bites in 30 seconds?
- 7:26-7:43: “We’re a small batch, we hand make everything, we don’t believe in chemicals, and we won’t feed your dogs anything we wouldn’t feed our dogs, and we really like our dogs.”
- 7:44-8:00: Zeb, what gets you excited about your company?
- 8:01-8:05: “Going up to the state fair and getting our own shop open!”
- 8:06-8:40: What’s the worst moment you’ve had getting your business started?
- 8:41-9:23: “One of the biggest issues we had was figuring out how to keep things from going bad without using preservatives.”
- 9:24- 9:30: If you could sum that experience up in one sentence, what would it be?
- 9:31-9:45: Zeb and Steve both agree that, “humidity is our enemy.”
- 9:46-10:00: How did you guys end up getting involved with Tamarack?
- 10:01-10:52: Steve shares with us the story of how Zeb’s Barky Bites got involved with Tamarack and is continuing to grow.
- 11:50-11:58: Steve, what would you say has been your best business moment so far?
- 11:59-13:07: Steve shares a story about their products selling out at a local festival and how they could see the demand for their product
- 13:08- 13:44: Jim takes a minute to recognize the wonderful sponsors of Positively West Virginia
- 13:45-14:05: Steve, what’s one piece of advice you would give to small business owners or entrepreneurs?
- 14:06-14:23: “Don’t overthink it! And just go out and do it.”
- 14:24-14:35: Zeb, what advice do you have?
- 14:40-14:47: “Try to have fun while you’re doing it!”
- 14:48- 15:09: Zeb, what’re some things you like to do in your spare time?
- 15:10-15:19: “taekwondo, video games, and sword fighting.”
- 15:20- 15:36: Zeb, what’re some of your long-term goals?
- 15:37-15:41: “I actually want to be a veterinarian.”
- 15:42-15:53: Jim asks Steve what his long-term goal for Zeb’s Barky Bites is
- 15:54-16:46: “Right now, we’re having fun, but I think long-term… it’s becoming a long-term, viable business that could potentially support Zeb and his sister as they become adults.”
- 17:53-18:00: Zeb, what’s it like working in a family business?
- 18:01- 18:16: “It gets a little hectic at times!”
- 18:17-18:25: Steve, what’s one thing that you and your family do everyday that you think is contributing to your success so far?
- 18:26-19:21: “We just get up and do something… even if it’s wrong sometimes! Zeb and I do all the production, his mom finds all the places we go to, she handles all the packaging and all the marketing.”
- 19:22-19:32: Steve what’s one book you’d recommend to people who are thinking about starting their own company?
- 19:33-20:22: Steve offers an article by Kevin Kelly titled, “Getting Your First Thousand Super-fans.”
- 20:23-20:38 What’re some ways you’re marketing your products right now?
- 20:39-22:01: We sell at the co-op in Huntington, we’re concentrating on marketing at bigger festivals across the state and in Pittsburgh. We’re reaching out and concentrating more on our retail space.”
- 22:02-23:03: In closing, what’s the best way our listeners can connect with you and learn more about your products.
- 23:04-23:40: “The best way is to follow us on Facebook and our website.
- 24:00-Close: Jim thanks Zeb and Steve for joining him on another episode of Positively West Virginia and once again recognizes our wonderful sponsors of the show.