“Not only did I learn a great deal from these exercises, but I was also able to produce solid projections on productivity, which led to raising seed funding for my business. I even had the luxury of choosing the investor of my choice.”
Element Pet Nutrition was born out of the love for dogs and cats and the mission to provide them a better quality of life. While working in a veterinary clinic, Marney Zafi an noticed a sizable disconnect between the high-quality health care provided and the inappropriate, unhealthy food available. Marney established Element Pet Nutrition, providing healthy, locally-sourced food diets and treats for dogs and cats.
Marney knew she would need help to achieve success in her business. She reached out to local support entities—the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Manufacturer’s Edge. Marney enrolled in the collaborative program, Small Manufacturer’s AdvantEDGE (SMA), and received assistance on several facets of her business. Several SMA program consultants helped Marney to learn about accounting and bookkeeping as well as lean manufacturing and productions processes.
“Not only did I learn a great deal from these exercises, but I was also able to produce solid projections on productivity, which led to raising seed funding for my business. I even had the luxury of choosing the investor of my choice, ”exclaimed Marney. Manufacturer’s Edge was able to help her better understand her productivity and efficiency. To date, she and her team have increased production by over 300 percent and increased sales by $250,000.
When referring to the SBDC assistance, Marney explains that she was “able to utilize the consulting expertise to become proficient in general bookkeeping and good business practices. My consultant is well-suited to train and has been a frequent resource for me as our revenue continues to increase.”
Element Pet Nutrition has benefited immensely from the multiple levels of support offered through the SMA program and is looking forward to continued support as the company continues to grow.