I’m back to share the story of an exciting new business with you. Behind the Biz is my weekly interview series where I chat to inspiring founders about their business journey.
Today I’m chatting with Aneisha Walker, the co-founder of Scrumbles. They create all-natural dog and cat food to ensure your pets are eating healthy.
Please tell us about Scrumbles.
Scrumbles is a new brand of food for cats and dogs that launched this summer. We make yummy good food that doesn’t cost the Earth.
The adventure has just begun and stockists are building but you can find us online (https://scrumbles.co.uk). Our range is nutritious and delicious dry food that’s packed with chicken and simple, wholesome ingredients that your pet will find scrumbilicious.
How did you decide upon the name of your business?
We had originally planned on something else, but a big corporate challenged us for the trademark and we couldn’t afford to take it to court. It felt like a disaster at the time and we had to go back to the drawing board.
We wanted something foodie and fun, and Scrumbles popped into our heads whilst brainstorming over a cup of tea. We love it now!
What did you do before starting Scrumbles?
My first job was working for a pet company which is where I discovered all the joys and the problems with the pet food world. Since then I’ve worked on a number of other brands like We Are Tea and Bear Nibbles.
Did you always plan to set up your own business?
Yes, I always knew that I wanted to work with animals and when I left university, my first role was working for a pet food brand so I often thought about running a pet shop, but as my career developed I knew I wanted to create my own brand.
What has been the highlight of your business journey to date?
Getting the first store listing. No matter how convinced you are with what you’re doing, it’s a whole new challenge to get someone to take a punt on you and when they do it’s a great feeling. Hopefully many more to come!
What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced?
The hardest part was getting our recipes just right. We spent months researching and testing, it felt so slow but we weren’t prepared to compromise. We are very proud of them now, but it was tough along the way.
What role does social media play for your business and do you have a favourite social platform?
It’s a huge part of our business as it allows us to connect with pet parents and really understand the challenges they’re facing particularly with confusion around nutrition. The first platform I really played with was Instagram and Smudge and Boo have a fair few Instagram friends now so it’s where I spend most of my time and the best platform from a business perspective. However my personal favourite is Twitter as there’s so much variety.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Do your research and go for it. One of the biggest barriers for new entrepreneurs is having the confidence to go for it. But if you’ve done your homework and you are still sure there is an opportunity then sometimes it takes a leap of faith. I’m not saying it will be easy to realise – starting a business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it is achievable and so rewarding.
Where do you hope to take your business in 2018?
Scrumbles is still in its early stages so 2018 remains about getting our name out there. Our mission is to help cats and dogs live happy lives so we’ll be working with like-minded partners to realise that for as many furriends as we can.
Check out the Scrumbles website and support the business on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I want to say a big thank you to Aneisha for taking the time to be a part of Behind the Biz. I really enjoyed hearing about her business journey and I hope you did too.
I wish Aneisha the best of luck with Scrumbles and I can’t wait to see the business grow.