Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenden Whitney.
Hi Brenden, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started on a hike with my dog. She has a very sensitive stomach and I have a very particular diet. Finding anything healthy, tasty, or safe that we can both share on the trail was impossible. So, I started making my own snacks, with locally sourced all-natural ingredients, free of preservatives and unnecessary sugar.
Today I usually go to a dog park, set up my little table, and do business until the sun goes down. I have an online store, where people can purchase the treats and have them shipped directly to them, but advertising has been difficult since the store name is apparently not “family-friendly” and goes against a lot of community guidelines. So a new name is in the works… or at least a new website domain.
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?
Nothing about this has been smooth. The week that I started going out and taking my products to market, is the same week that my partner broke up with me, kicked me out, kept the dog… all the fun growing pains one goes through in this life.
So I was couch surfing for a month until I finally found a place. Then the coldest winter in years arrived, hindering a lot of foot traffic for my table set up.
Tax codes. Address changes. Advertising limitations. Budgetary restrictions. All are at par for the course of being a business owner and in their first months, but it’s been challenging, exciting, fun, terrifying, and very rewarding.
We’ve been impressed with Happy Ass Bakery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We make healthy dog snacks, using locally sourced, all-natural, human-grade ingredients.
Nobody else around here does that. It’s full of sodium or preservatives and just a bunch of dehydrated meats. You already share your food with your dog. Now, it’s their turn to share their snacks with their humans.
Go to www.happyassbakery.com and they can see what we have to offer.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Salt Lake has a growing food and coffee culture. The dog culture is also blooming. Businesses are finally becoming more dog friendly.
Dislike the number of people from California moving here.
Pricing:
- $8 per bag
- 5 bags gives a 15% discount
- Free shipping in the US for $50 orders
Contact Info:
- Website: www.happyassbakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyassbakery/
