Forever Thankful

This has been such a crazy journey, but there have been some amazing people who have helped me so much to build and figure it all out. Some aren't even in my life anymore, but I know I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

First of all, Gabe, the greatest most supportive kid on the planet. So many nights hanging out with me in the kitchen testing recipes, or back in the beginning days, individually wrapping dog treats. Thats what we did before we had real packaging, used plastic wrap and tape to seal the treats as much as we could to keep them fresh! We've definitely come a long long way. But he is always there to help or just talk to me and keep me company or come up with a solution when I can't make a treat or a project work. Honestly, I really think I would have given up a long time ago without him.

The Ink Manifesto artists, like seriously, they have kept me in business this year and always tell me to come in and snuggle the therapy dogs if I just need a serotonin boost. The number of hours I have spent there just bouncing ideas off of them and making sure I'm on the right path is actually insane. At this point they should probably start charging me lol, but they have never turned me away or made me feel like I'm bothering them and getting that immediate feedback from the dogs now that I don't have Jake here has been a game changer to keep me motivated.

I have had so many friends who have just given advice, and customers at Dunkin who have helped guide me in the right direction. So many people who have businesses or lawyers who offer legal advice or who have told me to call them when it's time to set up an LLC. The amount of support from my friends and even almost strangers has been insanely encouraging. I started this thinking I had no one in my corner and realized just how many people I had behind who wanted to see me succeed and wanted to be part of this journey. My best friend has been 3D printing me cookie cutters and cool things that she thinks will help, cookie cutter stamps with my logo and background holders for product photos. Things she knows I probably would push to the backburner because its extra money that could be spent elsewhere but she knows will help me and its just incredible how amazing she is. And she always makes sure to include a cool thing for Gabe so that he feels special as well.

The crossword ladies, as they are known at work, were some of my first customers. They come in daily to sit and chat and have some green tea and really are like family to some of us. And they are some of the most supportive women I have ever met. I know when they ask about life, or how things are going, they genuinely want to know and care. They want to see this flourish and were some of my first orders as well as the women who were out there handing out samples in my first month to people they knew.

I know that I have forgotten many who have really come out of the woodwork to find ways to support me and this business. I remember hours talking to my brother and getting ideas from him. He is definitely my idea guy, even if he doesn't know much about dogs. And my cousin, the amount of messages she has received with pricing questions or ideas and theories, late night calls and texts or our early morning conversations on our way to work, I honestly could not have done this without them. Even little things like how do I work a dehydrator lol, or does this label look ok. All of the little things. I have another cousin who helped set up my logo and taught me how to use canva and answered questions about Etsy. All of the things that should have been common sense but I had no idea how to do any of it. And she never made me feel stupid or bothersome.

Lastly, my mom. Mom has literally been my biggest support. She has stayed up nights researching and trying to make sure everything is legal, that there are no loopholes or technicalities. So many tax laws and things that I wouldn't even think of. She sends me anything she can find about dogs, items, products, any information that she thinks might be helpful or useful. I can never say that my mom did not support me in every way. We joke that she took my hobby and made it my whole personality, but she knows that besides Gabe, this is the most important thing in my life. We have put too much into it at this point to let it fail. I love the fact that she is not a dog person but still spends all her free time finding ways to help me because she knows how important this is to me.

Some days, these people are the only things keeping me going on this journey. I have wanted to give up so many times but they won't let me give up on my dream. And I hope you all know that when I succeed it is because of all of you. And none of this would have been possible alone. I will be forever grateful for all of those in my life who have stood behind me and pushed me forward to succeed.

All my love

Sheryl