Let’s Talk Toys - Biz Spotlite of the Week
August 22, 2013 • Product Reviews
FIDO talks toys with founder Scott Cody of DogTuff.com - it’s our Biz Spotlite of the Week!
What motivated you to start your business?
Having three dogs of our own (Sadie, Dante and Macy), we were constantly looking for toys that could stand up to their aggressive chewing. Some toys, which we thought would last, would be shredded in a few minutes. There was no easy way to pick the safe, durable toys from the others.
We had a wake-up call when we watched a news story about a dog toy we purchased for Sadie. The story referenced the potentially deadly chemicals not only found in that toy, but other dog toys from the same product line. Obviously, we were horrified that we had given such a harmful toy to one of our dogs. We made the false assumptions, like so many others, that the dog toy industry was regulated. It never crossed our minds that a major retailer would actually carry such a toy.
That's when we opened DogTuff.com. We wanted a site that would permit fellow pet owners to easily find safe, durable dog toys with honest feedback in regard to products offered.
How did you come up with the name?
We knew the site was going to be focused on dog toys, and everyone wants “tuff” toys, so it naturally fell into place.
What type, if any, research did you do in assessing the consumer market?
Being the consumer and life-long dog owners, we knew what we were looking for and how difficult it was to find. Our research came up with a few smaller online retailers but none that were focused on durable, safe dogs toys.
What were the biggest hurdles in marketing your products?
Consumers are accustomed to purchasing dog toys in person, since the size and feel play a large part in the buying decision. It can also be hard to judge the durability of a product without handling it.
We’ve found that giving our customers as much information about the products as possible, really helps. All of our toys have great descriptions with multiple high-resolution photos that let you zoom in and see the details. We also include an easy to use guide with pet sizing, durability, and warranty information.
What is on the horizon for your company?
We are working to expand our selection of products made by small companies in America. Over fifty-percent of our current vendors already make products in the US. Our customers love the fact that not only are we providing a quality product but a product made in America. Our long-range goal is not to carry thousands of products, just the right ones for our happy paw customers.
Also, as we look into expanding our product line, Dog Tuff will hold fast our commitment to provide products that are safe. We can’t protect dogs from everything in their environment but we can make sure that the toys that they put in their mouths are safe, durable and will not harm them in any way.
