Dog-Gone Good Entrepreneur
At least two nights every week, Hicksville resident Kimberly Collins heads for her kitchen to bake delectable homemade treats.
The mouth-watering flavors include Peanut Butter, Crunchy Munchy Wheat, Beggars Beef Bone and Herb Woofies.
The treats are edible by humans, but Collins’ preferred customers are dogs and cats.Known as Kim’s Gourmet Pet Treats, the business started about three months ago. The treats have already received rave reviews, according to an unscientific survey of Hicksville dogs.
“Right now Peanut Butter is the No. 1 seller,” stated Collins.
She peddles her products at farmer’s markets on Tuesday mornings in Hicksville and Saturday mornings in Butler, Ind. They are also sold by Hicksville Marathon and Buckeye Bordering.
The treats are packaged in 8-ounce bags for $5 each. Each bag contains about 35 one-inch treats. Three- and five-inch treats are also available in all flavors.
“The dog bone business is not as simple as you would think, since animal feed is regulated by the Department of Agriculture,” said Diane Collins. “You have to register with the agriculture department and each recipe must go through a periodic bone analysis to determine if it meets the proper standards for pet consumption, including the specific fat and protein limits.
“Kim’s business is more regulated than the people selling produce at the farmer’s market,” her mother added. “That’s really not surprising, since most people tend to take their pets very seriously.”
Photo by Crescent News.
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