Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dave & Jamieleigh Womach, Founders of BirdTricks Inc., located in Sandpoint, ID, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business is centered around improving the lives of parrots in captivity by teaching people how to live more harmoniously with their birds in an effort to keep birds from being rehomed and filling up sanctuaries everywhere. This all starts with how people care for their birds, from their general diet and housing to how to communicate through our permission-based training techniques.
Tell us about yourself
Dave and I met when we were 14 and 17 and were married at the ages of 17 and 21... since I was still in high school when we met and just recently graduated when we married, I didn't have much of my own path. Dave did, however, and was already performing professionally as a stage illusionist on various cruise ships and in theaters and arenas across many countries. When I joined him in his career path is when I found my own path in bird training. He's really been an amazing teacher, and we've always incorporated birds into our shows which have required a deep understanding of them and have been an easy translation into the homes of pet parrots. As we dug deeper in trying to understand why people fail so often with these animals as pets, we found so many companies taking shortcuts on products or pushing unsafe products that we ended up just creating our own! We've developed our own food, our own safe toy line, our own bathing products, and diet conversion tools, our own free flight training methods, and the list goes on. Everything we've developed has been based on the needs of pet parrots we've come into contact with, as well as things we've needed for our own flock.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The answer to this question changes with the times... sometimes the biggest accomplishment is the smallest comment of hearing that people have the knowledge and education to read food labels and avoid unsafe products because of one of our videos. Or to get an email that we made a process so easy that a family decided to keep their bird! A lot of the time, I sit back and am just so proud of our team that makes up our business as a whole because I see what a difference they're making for our customers. There are so many accomplishments we're really proud of, even the littlest ones and the biggest ones. Every time we are able to come out with a new product, I feel so proud to stand behind it because I know we never once sacrificed a bit of quality to produce it.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The weight of responsibility when you employ people who also depend on your success. A rough week or month doesn't just affect you anymore, it has a domino effect throughout your entire company, and that can create a lot of pressure.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I think it's incredibly important to find your "why" and live your "why" every single day. Don't sacrifice quality for anything; in other words, don't let anyone rush you to create something you don't absolutely love. And third, find people (or let them find you!) that are better at certain areas of business than you are and be willing to let go of those parts in order to succeed beyond what you can solely do.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Suppose you're on your true path; you know because you feel it. Even when it's exhausting and all-consuming, you still love it. Remember to reset and don't give so much of yourself that there's nothing left for you or those most important to you. Balance is so essential, and it's never truly mastered, so just know you'll always be working towards it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://birdtricksstore.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdtricksofficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/birdtricks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bird-tricks-46a3b2218/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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