Check Out Gina Cicconetti’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Cicconetti.

Hi Gina, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
BOW WOW “BARK”-Cuterie came to be in February of 2022 after our own dog, Missy, wouldn’t take her prescription meds. We had tried literally everything, and she would spit it out every time. One day, while preparing us humans a small meat and cheese tray – a mini charcuterie – I decided to try her pill in a piece of smokie, and she loved it. I casually said, “Here, you can have your own charcuterie – a “bark”cuterie. And a light went off in my head. I wasn’t sure if anyone around me had a business like this, and I was actually in FLA at the time. I started researching, viewing other businesses, and testing out recipes. Knowing by this point that there wasn’t anything like it around me at home (OH), the idea took off, and I began to plan the business. By the time winter ended, and I was done in FLA, I had a plan, a logo, boards, business cards, and supplies of all kinds waiting for me at home in Ohio! I looked at the boxes piled up and thought, “Well, I guess I’m doing this.” 

I continued to test recipes, vowing to keep my products completely natural, with no preservatives. I practiced assembling dog boards, worked on some materials and a website, and then had to figure out how I was going to market this. I found out there was a dog fashion show happening at my local mall. I approached the owner of the boutique who made all the clothes and asked if I could attend and pass out my cards. I took a stack of cards, photos of my dog charcuterie boards, and literally “worked the crowd.” I was speaking with my web designer just moments before the show, waiting for my site to be live!!! I jumped in headfirst, not knowing much about the pet industry except my own quick crash courses from researching online for approximately 1.5 months. 

We settled on 3 items; since I knew this would be a specialty dog treat, I wanted to offer a few price and size choices. BOW-WOW “BARK”-Cuterie consists of: 

A large “PAW” shaped bamboo board, filled with homemade treats & peanut butter “dip.” 

A medium “BONE” shaped bamboo board, filled with homemade treats & peanut butter “dip” 

A mini App-“paw”-tizer plate; a disposable plate filled with a little of everything 

In addition, I make my boards festive at the Holidays with special cookie shapes, colors, ribbons, etc., and have worked with people to specialize the boards in other ways, for instance, for K-9’s. 

I started receiving a few individual orders, then a doggie birthday party order then signed up for my first vendor show weeks later. The dog fest was a huge success; we sold out every board we brought and handed out a ton of cards. From there, things really started to take off. All along, we were tweaking recipes & board design and continuing to sign up for any vendor show we could. My son and boyfriend started getting involved and helping. A lot. The orders started to be steadier. Then a local winery owner that heard about BOW-WOW BARK-Cuterie from a family member of mine welcomed me to attend their summer “Woof Wednesdays” to sell my items, I have been at Debonne Vineyards most Wednesdays during the summers; ever since. I partnered with the owner of the dog boutique for one of her fashion shows and a Halloween costume contest and got to know the owners of the dog park and daycare where we held the shows. That lead to being invited for other functions, and then we moved into Holiday season. 

We did not see what was coming! My first Holiday season was OFF THE CHARTS! I was so busy with orders, shipping boxes, delivering, and setting up Holiday ordering systems at dog daycares. I had no idea the concept would be as big as it was getting! It has been amazing and steady ever since. 

I made several new connections and was offered space in a dog boutique, and my retail presence began to grow a bit. We currently sell boards at the following locations: 

~Barktown Willoughby, 4074 Erie St., Willoughby, OH 44094 

~The Posh Pet Boutique, 7348 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060 

~Lakewood Food Truck Park, 16900 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107 (App-“paw”-tizer plates only – on the “menu”) 

~Beachwood Food Truck Park, 24619 Chagrin Blvd, Beachwood, OH 44122 (App-“paw”-tizer plates only – on the “menu”) 

~Rocky & Lela’s Barkery & Boutique, 5532 Liberty Ave., Vermilion, OH 44089 

In addition, you can always order online any time! And we ship anywhere in the USA! 

www.bowwowbarkcuterie.com 

Look out for us at local vendor shows, too! 

There are other great benefits to my business, one of them being the opportunity to meet so many great dog lovers, rescue groups, other entrepreneurs, pet industry professionals, retailers, and more. Not to mention SO MANY ADORABLE, SWEET DOGS of all kinds! While I have always had a dog in my life, and our dog Missy is the most special to us, meeting all the other dogs has just brought pure joy. I mean, “What a job!” where I get to play with dogs, get doggie kisses, and make them happy with treats! 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I feel like the planets aligned, I had good luck, someone was watching over me – whatever it was – that brought this idea and business at just the right time. You see, I had spent the previous 12 years as a partner in a local employment business which was 2-family owned, my son taking an active role, and had some growth and rebranding in late 2019/early 2020. We provided staffing for companies on a temp-to-hire basis and direct hire permanent placements. When unforeseen circumstances going on in the world hit us, staffing took a huge hit. Mixed with a change in partnership after 2 of them leaving, the state of the industry, and the financial burdens that come with it, maintaining a brick-and-mortar office, staff members, service contracts, etc., was not sustainable. Recruiting on our own, remotely, was the answer. 

Not only did I need to take a new direction for financial reasons, but I also, very much, needed something for purpose. Purpose, structure, focus – I had done the same thing for almost 16 years – without a college degree, and I felt lost, wondering what I could do next at my age. Fortunately for my son, he has been able to grow the recruiting aspect, be successful in the industry, and run it like a boss, and those successes and rewards belong to him! I needed to start over, and I wasn’t in a good place emotionally or mentally. Therefore, the growth and expansion of my Barkcuterie business was, I believe, meant to be. And now, it keeps me busy, gives me direction, helps with household expenses, and there’s no doubt that dogs lift our spirits and make me happy! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I feel that my products are more of a specialty dog treat or reward. Because I spend so much time preparing the homemade, all-natural treats, designing and assembling the boards, and wrapping and embellishing them, I believe they stand out. It is a concept that is different yet recognizable. People love their dogs and treat them as family members, and this product allows them to have something like their humans have! 

I do specialize in making all-natural treats with absolutely no preservatives or additives. We are usually baking several days of the week to keep things stocked and fresh. People know this and appreciate that they don’t have to decipher a long list of hard-to-pronounce or unknown ingredients. I am known for transparency of the ingredients and for making several different treats ourselves. 

I am very proud that this little, fun idea has turned into a viable business. It is one of which I can express myself, have fun, earn some income, and bring joy and goodness to so many people’s fur babies. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love to collaborate with any type of retail that can feature any or all of the 3 products. I have worked together with dog boutiques, dog parks, dog daycares, dog-friendly bars/restuarants, wineries, rescues, and non-profits. I love any new idea to collaborate on and will run with an idea or theme if you give me one. I have done doggie birthday parties, gifts for Law Enforcement K-9s, dog fashion shows, festivals, theme nights, markets, etc. I found a collaboration with a dog daycare to be very successful when we set up a display and took pre-orders with a designated delivery day. Setting up in dog parks, dog daycare, vets, or any other dog-type service would be a great partnership. 

Pricing:

• $10.00 Mini App-“paw”-tizer plate
• $25.00 BONE Bark-Cuterie board
• $40.00 PAW Bark-Cuterie board

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bowwowbarkcuterie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowwowbarkcuterie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOWWOWBARKCUTERIE/