As a pet lover, Dan Luo treasures his time with his furkids. But he also suffers from eczema. This made it really tough on him as someone who loved shower time with his pets because the harsh chemicals in most commercially-available pet care products so irritated his skin that showering with his pets had to stop.
Struggling with eczema, he left a comfortable position with a multinational firm, despite knowing he had promising career prospects, to start a brand-new business with his wife, selling all-natural pet care and cleaning products.
The Fervent Search
So Dan and his wife, Krystal, searched for gentler natural pet care solutions. But their zealous search was fruitless, as such products were not widely available at the time.
Dan identified a market gap for alternative treatments to help pet owners whose pets have skincare issues that could not tolerate certain chemicals. Something that would also be gentle on pet owners who had eczema and other skin conditions.
The End and the Start
Dan and Krystal took a leap of faith and decided to create For Furry Friends, an all-natural pet care and cleaning products business.
Dan quit a comfortable job with excellent career possibilities to completely dedicate himself to the business, motivated by his passion and love for pets.
While this may appear to be an uncertain and frightening decision, it has been a true labour of love for the couple, motivated by their desire to help others in their struggles with their beloved pets.
The Struggles
On entering an industry completely inexperienced, the couple received multiple rejections from pet retailers.
After eight months, their own funds depleted, they had to borrow from relatives and friends. They had no backup plan. The threat of bankruptcy drove them to persevere, so they could provide for their two young children and three furkids.
The Rise
When the pandemic struck, they had to adjust. All pet grooming places and pet stores were forced to close when Singapore declared a “circuit breaker” which started on April 7, 2020.
Dan and Krystal made For Furry Friends digital to expand their reach to both B2B and B2C consumers, while also servicing Singaporeans who were unable to leave the country to purchase pet supplies.
Having established a positive rapport with pet store owners and consumers, the For Furry Friends’ online presence took off within a month, quickly garnering a dedicated following.
In less than a year since their official launch, For Furry Friends products are now offered in more than 50 physical retail locations, 30 online pet stores, and e-commerce platforms including Lazada and Shopee.
So far, the couple says the company has had consistent monthly revenue growth of between 5 and 8 per cent in the local market alone.
This month, they will launch the Booster Serum Series, which is meant to change the abrasive process of bathing pets into one that benefits their skin, fur, and overall health. /TISG