Pet Boss® Podcast with Candace
This is a podcast for the local pet business owner. Get foundational business tips mixed with the latest secrets of what’s working now, especially in this challenging world. Hear honest conversations from industry peers working the streets of Main Street, where dog business is BIG business. So, if you’re a pet supply store, grooming salon, dog daycare, boarding facility, pet sitter or dog trainer - we welcome you! What really sets this show apart from others in this space is that your show host, Candace D’Agnolo, the CEO & Founder of Pet Boss Nation® - has started, scaled and sold successful pet businesses in almost every niche of the pet industry. Not only that, but her business had multiple locations, a team of 30 people, and annual revenue hitting multiple 7 figures. What this means for you is that you’ll get a holistic approach from someone who’s been on your biz journey from start to finish. Intrigued? Press play.
1
248: From Crazy Decision to One-Year Anniversar...
Candace has 10 lessons to share - not about the pets or the products or how to merchandise a shelf, but about who she is as an owner. Which means they're about who you are as an owner too.
33 min
2
247: Pet Boss Trade Show Awards Are Coming! Her...
Today, Candace officially launches the Pet Boss Trade Show Awards! This isn't just a fun list. It's a recognition system built by people who actually run pet businesses, for the brands, booths, and reps who deserve to be seen - not because they have the biggest budget, but because they genuinely stood out!
22 min
3
246: SUPERZOO 2026 Guide: Sessions, Events, Log...
In just two weeks, Candace and Morgan from Dante and Dory's are flying to Las Vegas for SUPERZOO 2026 - one of the pet industry's largest trade shows. And whether you're going, thinking about going, or already panicking about your trip, this episode has you covered.
28 min
4
245: SEO is Changing. Meet AEO and Why Your Pet...
A year ago, if someone's dog had itchy skin, they'd Google "best dog food for itchy skin" and scroll through 20 links. Now? They're asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity the same question in a conversation: "My seven-year-old Labrador has itchy skin and keeps licking his paws. I think it's food-related. I want a locally owned pet store near me that actually understands nutrition."
34 min
5
244: Sale Secrets: A $3,000+ in Extra Revenue S...
Dante and Dory's threw a patriotic pet sale from Friday, July 3rd through Monday, July 6th. The result? $3,000 more in sales than Memorial Day weekend (about a month earlier), driven by 100 additional transactions.
26 min
6
243: 250 Years of Change: Why Adaptation Wins (...
In 250 years, this country has survived wars, depressions, booms, the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the automobile, the telephone, the internet. Entire industries disappeared. Entire industries that didn't exist a generation ago became the backbone of the economy.
27 min
7
242: What 1,000 Pet Businesses Taught Us About ...
Matt Aldrich, founder of Pet Engine Marketing, has a front row seat to pet businesses and their patterns - the ones growing and the ones stuck.
39 min
8
241: Stop Starting from Zero Every Month: A Pet...
Candace is sharing the full training she delivered at Launch Your Box's Subscription Summit and turns it into an actionable playbook specifically for pet businesses. Whether you sell products, services, or both, there is already a subscription opportunity inside your business right now.
24 min
9
240: Can Indies Really Out-Compete Amazon and C...
In this interview, Pierce walks through how Wholesale Pet spent over a year gathering feedback from retailers and vendors before completely redesigning their platform. The result? AI-powered search, curated collections, new vendor tools, and a focus on helping independent stores compete on their actual advantages—not by trying to be Chewy.
51 min
10
239: The NeeDoh Craze: What a Squishy Toy Teach...
In this solo episode, Candace breaks down the NeeDoh craze: how it started, why it exploded, and - most importantly - what the mechanics behind it mean for your pet business right now.
28 min
11
238: Why You Should Never Make Blanket Statemen...
This training is about customer personas: how to stop making blanket statements to broad audiences and start marketing to one specific customer type instead.
23 min
12
237: June Education Events You Don't Want to M...
It's the start of summer - can you believe it? Half the year is already over, and Candace has some exciting announcements to share.
18 min
13
236: Part 2: How We Leveled Up the Farmer's Mar...
This is part two of last week's episode where Candace talked about the five ways off-location events make you money.
34 min
14
235: The 5 Ways Off Location Events Make You Mo...
What if your best new customers aren't finding you online - they're walking right past a tent at a farmer's market, and you're just not there?
39 min
15
234: The Cash Flow Squeeze (And What to Do Abou...
Candace tackles the most pressing realities that independent pet business owners are facing right now: fewer customers walking through doors, shoppers stretching every dollar, unpredictable weather keeping people home, rising expenses, and growing competition.
33 min
16
233: What We Learned From 100 Customer Surveys ...
Candace sent out a customer survey for Dante and Dory's - and when the results came in, she had to stop and sit with it for a minute.
32 min
17
232: The Story is Everything: How to Get Free L...
Want to see your pet business featured on the evening news but think you need a huge marketing budget to make it happen? Think again.
35 min
18
231: Inside SUPERZOO 2026: What Makes It Essent...
SUPERZOO is coming August 12-14, 2026 in Las Vegas, with an education day Tues, Aug 11, - and if you sell products, make products, or work behind the scenes in the pet industry, this is your must-attend event.
39 min
19
230: Global 2026 Recap & Candace's Favorite Thi...
Candace and Morgan are back from sunny Orlando after a long week at Global Pet Expo 2026 - and this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights, favorite product discoveries, and Morgan's fresh first-timer perspective.
34 min
20
229: Strategic Partnerships That Actually Work:...
Recorded live at Global Pet Expo on Day 1 (education day), this episode features a conversation Candace never planned to have - until she sat in Luis Zamora's session and realized this was exactly what Pet Boss Nation listeners needed to hear!
31 min
21
228: Trade Show Content Strategy: What to Capt...
Global Pet Expo is just days away - and if you're investing the time and money to be there, you need a content creation plan.
25 min
22
227: When a "Customer" Complaint Isn't What It ...
A message came through Dante and Dory's website contact form. It was detailed, critical, and specific- complaining about pricing, construction timelines, employee compensation, and the value of shopping local.
36 min
23
226: Q2 Is Your Biggest Marketing Opportunity: ...
Be honest: when was the last time you looked at your calendar and knew exactly what you were promoting, posting, and doing in your business three months from now?
32 min
24
225: Donation Requests: Burden or Business Stra...
How many donation requests have landed in your inbox lately? Today? This week? This month? It's easy to feel frustrated. One-sided. Used. Like people only remember you when they need something.
28 min
25
224: 2,000 emails: Zero Campaigns. Here’s What ...
Well, Candace sure hopes not - because she's been sitting on over 2,000 customer emails from Dante and Dory's for the last 5 months and has done absolutely nothing with them.
32 min