Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Steel.
Hi Sue, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
We were presented with the opportunity to start a business in 2020 retailing Beef Bully Chews and other Beef & Elk Antler products for dogs to dog owners, giving them the opportunity to feel confident that they were purchasing high-quality, locally sourced chews for their dogs while also supporting USA businesses and products!
We are extremely proud of the products we offer and grateful for the opportunity to serve the dog community while honoring the ever-entrepreneurial spirit of Ross Taylor!
We started Rocky Mountain Bully Chews as a way to honor the legacy of my Grandfather in-law, Ross Taylor, along with an opportunity to start a small business in hopes of supplementing our income. Ross started Ross Taylor Originals 25 or so years ago, in West Jordan, Utah, creating unique products & gift ideas out of Bull Pizzle.
Ross started processing “Bull Pizzle” to make custom walking canes around 25 years ago. Ross Taylor Originals has sold these canes worldwide. He began noticing that the dog treat industry was selling dried and cut Bull pizzle as dog treats. He was already processing Bull Pizzle so he thought he might as well jump into the market and sell Bully Chews as well to small, and large, pet supply stores.
His family has continued with the family business since his passing, and I have taken the opportunity to retail the products they process. This is truly an all-American product! 100% raised, sourced & processed USA beef chews from an approved USDA plant. There is no better way to support local ranchers and cattlemen than offering these one ingredient, no additive or preservative, bully & steer chews dogs, LOVE!
Our all-natural chews are processed from a single beef muscle known as the “Bull Pizzle”. They are high-protein chew and come in several different sizes. These chews not only clean dogs’ teeth and strengthen their gums, but they are also a great alternative to rawhide in that they are easily digestible and do not splinter. We choose not to process these delicious dog chews with chemicals to reduce the odor. We prefer a natural product that does not expose dogs to unnecessary chemicals.
In comparing Rocky Mountain Bully Chews to other Bully Chew brands, the weight of our chews, with a comparable length chew, are substantially bigger! We are proud to offer the highest quality treats for dogs while supporting local USA businesses! We offer many sizes and varieties of Bully Chews and Beef treats. We have recently added dried Rabbit feet, ears, and tails, Lamb/Sheep ears & Cow ears to our inventory.
I started with an Amazon account, but quickly realized that was not a good place to start for a small business like mine. I built a website, created a Google account, an Etsy and eBay account, and a Facebook and Instagram page. I did my research and found a very successful local Farmer’s Market and sent in my application. I handed out business cards to anyone I ran across with a dog at Home Depot!
I talked to everyone I know that has a dog and ask them if they buy Bully Chews for their dog/s. I hand out and mail samples to them to try. I hand out samples to neighbors as they walk their dog/s by my house. I even give out samples at my full-time job! I have magnetic signs on the doors of my pick-up. I even wear “Rocky Mountain Bully Chews” T-shirts and caps! I do everything I can think of to get Rocky Mountain Bully Chews out there!
My application was accepted at the Farmer’s Market and the summer of 2022 was my second summer. It was very successful. I have regular customers now that come and visit every week. I have set up a vendor booth in several other local dog events & boutiques and have gained quite a few customers from those. I have increased my revenue from 2021 to 2022 by almost 40%. I have customers across the US, including several that subscribe to a monthly Bully Chew shipment. I have been expanding my reach on social media to continue growing my business and gain name recognition.
I honestly love everything about my Bully Chew business! It is so much fun to meet customers and their loved furry friends! It makes the dog’s day when I give them a treat! They love them and are very good to them! I usually remember the dogs before I remember the humans! At the Farmer’s Market, the dogs drag their humans to my tent from the car more times than not.
The humans are laughing across the parking lot because they know where they are headed. I give out samples for every dog that walks by, and most of them remember that! This summer, I am renting two booth spaces and have a “Dog Lounge” next door with water for the dogs, human chairs, balls for throwing, and Dog decorations hanging around the tent! We will be the place to go for anyone who brings their dog to the Market!
This is not just a hobby for me. I want to expand and make this my full-time adventure! I would like to travel around the country to other Markets as well as build my brand and exposure online. I can see endless opportunities to expand Rocky Mountain Bully Chews to the next level!
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?
We have had our struggles.
Bully Chews and our products are very popular. It is challenging at times to find enough product sources to keep our inventory full. We have had to diversify our sources, while still staying within our policy of only carrying USA products.
When selling through some online platforms; Amazon, eBay, etc., it is very difficult to make a profit. The requirement for advertising/marketing is more than we can make to compensate for it. Etsy is an exception to that rule. We have been fairly successful on their platform. We have switched from those formats to focus on our website and Google advertising.
Rocky Mountain Bully Chews takes up quite a bit of room in our garage. As we expand, we fill up more and more of our personal space with products and supplies. It is somewhat of an obstacle, but also an advantage because everything we do is just right here where we are.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my professional life, I have worked in a more hands-on technical field. I worked for the local cable company for years as a technician, then moved into Management. I worked for a total of 24 years in that industry. When I left I was the Technical Operations Manager over Business installations. I worked both as an in-house Manager and then moved to the Installation contractor for our area and spent my last 4 years as the Operations Manager, reporting directly to the company owner.
After leaving the cable industry, I accepted a position working for a power company. I am a Distribution Manager at the Restoration Center. We handle all outages out of our location across the Wasatch front. We manage all line crews and outage troubleshooters, We have close to 70 employees at our location. We facilitate resources and equipment/materials to restore power as quickly as possible. It is a very challenging, but rewarding job.
My specific Management style is rather unique. As a woman in a mostly man’s field, I bring a more maternal, empathetic, and nurturing aspect to the Management team. I am easy to talk to and find that employees come to me easily for personal, or professional advice. Sometimes they just need someone to vent to, and I am often that person. I am also a very good negotiator when there are issues. I can see the whole picture and help resolve situations strategically and effectively.
I am dedicated, sincere, loyal, and caring, and have the ability to see what benefits both the company through Management as well as how work impacts personal lives and how to help employees balance that. I feel like these traits set me apart from other Managers I have previously worked with. I often, still to this day, have employees that I managed years ago, run into me and tell me I am the best Manager they have ever worked for. That I will always be their favorite.
I am most proud of the legacy I have created. I think people are first in any category. If people (employees) are happy in what they are doing and feel appreciated, they will be dedicated and loyal to their jobs. People leave their jobs because of management. I am proud that people stay in, and love, their jobs when they work with me. I believe that my job is to serve and support them. This is what I try to do with Rocky Mountain Bully Chews customers! That is what makes a team successful!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
COVID taught me that the old traditional rules of doing business no longer apply. It broadened the perception of how people acquire the goods and services that they need. A business no longer needs a brick-and-mortar location to be successful! I can be mobile and flexible to meet the needs of my customers.
My main store is online. I ship all over the country as well as having a pickup option at my home location. I have several ways for customers to contact me, including phone, text, email, and social media. I also have multiple ways for customers to pay for their products. Credit cards, Venmo, cash, and on bigger accounts I can send an invoice.
I believe we were thrown into this new reality of doing business because of the COVID pandemic. I think it is better for customers, better for business, and creates flexibility we weren’t even aware existed before COVID.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rockymountainbullychews.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rockymountainbullychews
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/RockyMountainBullyChews
