Dr Lisa Chimes is no stranger to taking care of little ones — as a mother of seven (four children and three dogs), the veterinarian understands that finding the right products to care for those you love most is no easy task to master. That’s exactly why she set out to create the range she was looking for herself, using her years of expertise to bring DOG by Dr Lisa to life. The product range, created for your furry best friends, is natural and safe for dogs (and those who love and care for them), all with the brand’s eco-conscious mindset at the forefront. All products from the DOG by Dr Lisa range are eco-friendly, biodegradable, recyclable, vegan and of course, not tested on animals. Better yet, a percentage of profits is donated to the RSPCA. If you’re looking for a new regime for your pup, there’s no better place to look. As part of HER BLACK BOOK’s Festival of Her, a shopping event to support female-founded businesses, Dr Chimes shares some insight into her business journey so far.
“Soon after we launched the brand, the first wave of COVID hit. Our Australian manufacturer was seconded by the government to produce hand sanitiser and as a result, they informed me that they could no longer manufacture for us. At this point, we had already sold out of our first run of products. The business was gaining momentum fast and I had to start from scratch and find a new manufacturer. It was very stressful, but thank goodness we had loyal customers who patiently waited over two months on preorder while we sorted it out. We also refinanced our home loan and self-funded the business for the first 18 months. With 4 young kids, this was a really scary thing to do. Apart from the financial sacrifice, the other thing I sacrificed was my sleep!”
“Somehow I was able to launch a brand while simultaneously having our 4th child while I recovered from a life-threatening complication, followed by the first wave of COVID shortly after. Looking back on it, it was crazy.”
“Whilst in the planning stages of the business, a cousin told me to work out what my core values are for the brand and stick to them. She said that many people will try to steer you away from these core values in order to cut costs and hit targets, but don’t let them. And she was right. There are people who try to sway me away but they rarely succeed! This is what has enabled me to build a solid foundation for DOG.”
