Bark Your Biz! at Pet Connections Expo

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Pet Connections Expo announced a collaboration with Bark Your Biz, bringing a new twist to the entrepreneur pitch genre by producing a live “elevator pitch” competition that is not about begging investors for funding, but instead gives participating entrepreneurs the experience of pitching before an expert panel and live audience.

Bark Your Biz will be added to the event agenda on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 as a live on- stage competition among five entrepreneur “Barkers,” each of whom will give a three-minute timed elevator pitch, followed by questions from the panel and hosts. The panel will give advice and score the pitches and products presented. Winners will receive valuable business intelligence in the form of expert consults provided by the hosts and panelists offering advice on branding, website evaluations, digital marketing support and retail marketing strategies.

Bark Your Biz was created by Anthony and Amanda Bennie, the hosts of Bennie & The Pets, a podcast radio show known for its irreverent insider take on the pet industry. Anthony is a frequent contributor to pet industry trade and consumer magazines. The hosts are also co-founders of Clear Conscience Pet, an award-winning pet nutrition company.

“Bark Your Biz is like Shark Tank, American Idol and Jeopardy all in one exciting and fast-moving program,” Anthony Bennie said. “We are psyched to take it to the next level at Pet Connections Expo, the newest and by far the most innovative tradeshow in the pet products industry.”

Contestants will be chosen by the hosts and panelists. To be considered, it is required that interested entrepreneurs be 2018 exhibitors at Pet Connections Expo. They are also required to be pet industry brand owners or senior executives. Those interested may apply by emailing [email protected], stating who they are, what they do and “why they want to BARK YOUR BIZ!”

Expert panelists for the Pet Connections Expo live show will include:

• Phil Chang, retailing expert and founder of Retail Phil
• Tazz Latifi, holistic pet retailer, pet nutrition and wellness expert, and founder and CEO of New York City’s Petropolis
• B.C. Henschen, pioneering independent pet specialty retailer, and founder and CEO of Platinum Paws, an independent retail store in Carmel, Indiana