How COVID-19 Sparked a Pet Business Revolution

In this episode, Clayton sits down with Nadine, the founder of Trinkety Paws, a UK-based manufacturer specialising in high-quality, customisable dog and horse accessories. Nadine shares her fascinating transition from banking and personal training to becoming a powerhouse in the pet industry. They dive deep into the challenges of scaling a handmade business, the logistical puzzle of offering over 3.5 million product variations, and the importance of educating consumers on the value of British-made, durable materials like Biothane.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Trinkety Paws was born out of a side project during COVID-19 when Nadine’s personal training business was halted, proving that necessity and creativity often drive the best business ventures. By utilising modular materials, the brand offers staggering customisation (up to 3.5 million variations in their premium range), which serves as a massive USP but requires rigorous staff training. Nadine emphasises that while they cannot compete with two-pound collars from big-box retailers on price, they win on longevity, sustainability, and specialised materials like genuine US-made Biothane. To overcome the internet market of crap, Trinkety Paws is launching a Retail Plus program to help brick-and-mortar stores offer custom-made, perfectly fitted harnesses and collars without needing massive stock. Staying stagnant is a slow death in business. Trinkety Paws is actively branching into the equine market and exploring non-pet industrial applications for their materials to ensure long-term sustainability. BEST MOMENTS "I always feel like people don’t want to see that or hear that, but I’m quite proud of what we’ve built." "In the premium range, we have 3.5 million variations. It’s absolutely mental; I didn’t even know it was that high until we did the exercise." "My staff would not appreciate it if we dropped wages to that sort of slavery level just to compete with a two-pound collar." "We are incredibly sustainable. We hold the material itself, but we don't hold ready-made stock that might never sell." "The minute I have some time off, I come back and I've got loads of new ideas. The office actually doesn't want me to have time off!" HOST BIO Clayton Payne is an industry veteran of three decades of working in the pet industry. Brought up working in his parents' pet store, Clayton has seen the industry evolve over five different decades and has been on the cutting edge of the industry since the nineties. Building pet businesses from scratch, establishing multi-national distribution chains and having worked in every aspect of the industry, Clayton has a rare insight into the Pet Industry that is rivalled by few. Clayton has been the spearhead of many of the industry's changes and has introduced numerous new concepts to market with a trail of success behind him. He has worked in numerous countries within the pet industry, speaks four different languages and has established both import and export relationships on all continents (excluding Antarctica). As well as being COO of one of the UKs fastest growing insect technology companies, Clayton is a Pet industry consultant who has consulted for many household brands and delivers sales training to pet trade professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-payne-a6772244/ https://www.tiktok.com/@petbusinessdisruptors https://www.youtube.com/@PetBusinessDisruptors This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/