Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean and Christina Conlon.
Hi Sean and Christina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Our entrepreneurship journey has been decades in the making! Sean is an entrepreneur through and through. Building, growing, and selling businesses is in his blood. For Enneagram fans out there, Sean is a 4w3 and I’m a 2! When we got married in 2013, I knew I was in for a wild ride, and it’s been nothing short of that!
For years, we had been toying with the idea of launching a dog treat company, but we had been holding back from moving forward because we felt like we were missing something. Sean and I really wanted to give back a portion of our profits to something special and unique to us, but we just hadn’t figured out what that “something” was. So, we waited.
Once we got our adorable Golden Retriever Nash (yes, named after our favorite city… Nashville!), we got him trained and certified as a therapy dog and started volunteering around Nashville in schools, fire stations, and police stations in Fall 2019. Volunteering with Nash completely changed our lives – and it was in that first night of volunteering that Sean and I looked at each other and said “This is it! Let’s give our profits back to therapy dog organizations!”
And it was in that moment, Nashies was born!
We launched Nashies in April 2020 (yes, just after COVID hit). Nashies are single ingredient, fully cooked, freeze-dried dog treats. Initially, we decided to give a portion of our profits to therapy dog non-profits across the country. But after a few months of launching Nashies, we knew it wasn’t just a financial issue these organizations were facing. It was an awareness problem… and people were lacking more hope and joy than ever before. That’s when Sean threw out a crazy idea. “What if we sold our stuff, got an RV, and traveled the country to volunteer with Nash and inspire others to volunteer?” I thought he was crazy! But the more we thought about it, talked it over, and prayed about it, his idea didn’t seem so crazy.
We sold 90% of our stuff, bought an RV and a truck, and hit the road full-time in November 2020 on the Paws For Love Tour. Now, we run Nashies from the road, volunteer with Nash in the cities we visit, and call “Anywhere USA” home, even though Nashville is our home base.
We could have never imagined we’d be living the way we are, running this incredible business, but it’s been such a humbling, joyous, and some days challenging season – and we feel as if we’re just getting started. We have so many ideas for new treats, dog food, and much more in store!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Looking at our journey as a whole, it’s been such a blessing! There have been plenty of struggles and frustrations along the way, but we have grown so much in the last year.
We set out to create a high-quality dog treat that people and pets loved and trusted, while also knowing their purchase helped with a great cause. Personally, we look at every decision we make in our business through the eyes of our customers and how we would want our own experience to be if the tables were turned. Is the product to our standards? If someone has a question, how quick and helpful are we in our responses? How quickly are packages being fulfilled and arriving at their door? We want people to not only love the product but love their experience – and ultimately feel invested in the brand!
I really think because of the way we’ve approached building this brand, customers have been thrilled with their experience and it shows in our reviews. We’ve never had a single complaint or return and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of and don’t take for granted!
We’ve been impressed with Nashies, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Nashies are single ingredient, fully cooked, freeze-dried dog treats that dogs go crazy for! But Nashies is not your typical dog treat company. Our sole reason for existence is to provide funding for the training and placement of therapy dogs in schools, hospitals, and crisis situations. That’s why a portion of our profits go directly to these efforts. We believe that the power of human and canine connection provides comfort in today’s increasingly disconnected world.
You can learn more about us on Nashies.com and on Instagram @Nashies. You can also follow our RV tour across the country on YouTube and Instagram @PawsForLove.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
As an entrepreneur and business owner (even a full-time RVer in our case!), you quickly realize flexibility is a trait you need to learn quickly. If you launch something and it doesn’t work, know that it’s okay to change your course. There are so many things that can happen that are completely out of your control, despite your best efforts. Stay aware, flexible, and adaptable, but don’t be afraid to try something new to push yourself outside of your comfort zone – that’s when the best stuff comes!
Never stop learning and growing inside your business and personally. It’s true what they say – as a business owner, you have to do all the things! That’s one of the hardest, but most exciting parts about this lifestyle.
Lastly, one of my favorites. Smile through the frustration. There will be so many days as a business owner when you feel like you’re doing everything wrong and no one sees or recognizes your efforts. Some days you will be tested to your limits and just want to quit. But never forget, everyone is always watching and listening. People remember how you react to hardships and that is when your true strength shows!
Pricing:
- $12.99/single bag
- $33.97/3 pack
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@nashies.com
- Website: nashies.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/nashies
- Facebook: facebook.com/nashiestreats
- Youtube: youtube.com/c/pawsforlove
- Other: instagram.com/pawsforlove
Image Credits
Victoria Hunt Photography
