Why we built an ethical pet brand
40sRelatable frustration with pet product shopping and the inspiring decision to create your own solution.
▶ Play ClipAI Summary
Jennifer Wong and Santos Agustin, founders of Gone to the Ducks, share their journey of building an ethical pet brand. They discuss their commitment to sustainable, handmade products, the challenges of a values-driven business, and the importance of community support and financial planning. The video also highlights the Chase for Business 'The Experience' program, which provides entrepreneurs with resources and networking opportunities.
Chapters
[00:00]
Ethical Product Design
Gone to the Ducks designs pet products with thoughtfulness, using sustainable materials and handmade by women.
[00:30]
Market Gap Identification
Founders noticed a lack of ethical pet products comparable to how they shop for themselves, prompting them to start the brand.
[01:00]
Slimmer Margins for Values
They accept lower profit margins because their customers share their values and believe in giving back to the community through supporting local rescues and shelters.
[01:30]
Q4 Financial Planning
Q4 generates most of the annual revenue, requiring careful planning to sustain operations for the following nine months.
[02:00]
Chase for Business Experience
The program offers small business owners access to thought leaders, training, and networking, which the founders found invaluable.
[02:45]
Future Vision
They aim to grow their online business, open a second retail location on the West Coast, and prove that a values-driven business model works.
The founders believe that their impact, driven by community and values, proves that ethical business models can succeed.
Mentioned in this Video
Study Flashcards (5)
What is the name of the ethical pet brand?
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What is the name of the ethical pet brand?
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Gone to the Ducks
What materials are used in the products?
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What materials are used in the products?
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Sustainable materials, handmade by women
Why do the founders accept slimmer margins?
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Why do the founders accept slimmer margins?
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Because their customers share their values and believe in giving back to the community.
01:00
Which season carries the year financially?
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Which season carries the year financially?
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Q4
01:30
What program did the founders attend?
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What program did the founders attend?
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Chase for Businesses, The Experience
02:00
💡 Key Takeaways
💡
Market Gap Discovery
Identified an unmet need for ethical pet products, driving the business creation.
00:30
⚖️
Slimmer Margins Strategy
Demonstrates commitment to values over profit, a key principle of ethical business.
01:00
📊
Q4 Financial Planning
Highlights the importance of cash flow management for seasonal businesses.
01:30
🔧
Chase Experience Value
Shows how small business programs provide crucial networking and learning opportunities.
02:00
💡
Future Expansion Goals
Indicates ambition to grow while staying true to values, proving a model for others.
02:45Full Transcript
We were extra thoughtful about the way that we design our products simply because they're for pets that we love. I'm Jennifer Wong. I'm Santos Agustin. And we're Gone to the Ducks. We're an ethical pet brand. All our products are ethically designed and handmade by women and sustainable materials. It was really difficult to shop for our pets the way we shop for ourselves. And so if There's this need in the market and there's nobody doing it. Why
don't we do it? We always understood that our margin is going to be a lot slimmer, but we also do believe that our core customer believes in what we believe. You have to give back to the community that you are in. So we do a lot of supporting local rescues, shelters as well. Q4 carries the year. That means we, at the end of the year, we have all this cash that we need to plan out for
the following nine months. We are not finance people. We're designers. So I've got to say Jenny, our Chase Business Advisor, has been a blessing. This is our first time at Chase for Businesses, The Experience. The Experience is a program we put on where we bring together the things that sometimes are only available to employees for big companies, but we make them available for entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses. So those could be thought leaders, training sessions,
networking with their peers. We bring all of those tools and capabilities together under one roof so that small businesses can have a day that's really focused on them and their own development and helping them succeed. We always hear from our guests. The most valuable part is the connections they make. Being here with other businesses, hearing their success stories, hearing their growing pains and challenges is really just a great opportunity. So what we see in the future
for us is really growing our online business, perhaps seeing a second retail location, hopefully in the West Coast, and proving that a values-driven business model works. The company that we created, the impact in terms that we've made, it's kind of insane. And it's just us two people. That's why customers are drawn to us. because the bigger the community, the bigger the impact.
