Busch Pet Products

__Year established:__ 2008

__Product or service offered:__ All-natural pet food and supplies and self-service dog wash

__Number of employees:__ 3 (including me!)

__Location:__ 1720 Kingsway Drive, Suite 105, Cape Girardeau

__Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.:__ Helping pets live healthy lives

__What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?__

__Stacy Busch-Heisserer, owner:__ My hope is to see pets become more celebrated in the community. Many cities have dog parks and pet festivals and are considered "pet friendly" communities. I would love to see Cape become one of those places.

__Give us an example or two of an idea that came to fruition in the last couple of years, and how has that helped your consumers or clients?__

__SBH:__ The business began as an online-only retail store in 2008. I knew I wanted to expand and open a brick and mortar store, but I wanted more experience. By working with a local all-natural dog food manufacturer as her sales manager, I gained some great experience selling all-natural foods to established businesses in the St. Louis area and beyond. I saw how successful they were and thought Cape might be ready for a place where pet owners could come and get healthy foods and treats, as well as trusted toys and supplies ... things pet owners wanted after the big pet food recall of 2007. When I opened my first retail location, it was small, but I needed to see what the reception would be like. Lucky for me, the store grew more quickly than I imagined. It had already been in the plan to expand to include the self-service dog wash and the timing was perfect to move to our present location. Both the store and the dog wash are the first of its kind in the Cape area.

__What role does your business play in the betterment of the community?__

__SBH:__ I want people to have happier, healthier pets. All-natural isn't a substitution for veterinary care; it should be practiced in addition to it. I hope that after people leave my store, they think more about the foods they feed their pets (and themselves) and read labels for carefully. Pets are an integral part of our lives and homes. They give us joy and happiness. They rely on us for their care, so why wouldn't we want to give them the best?