Today we’d like to introduce you to Aisha Byrd.
Hi Aisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
R&B Dog Bakery LLC was officially established in January 2018. However, the idea for my dog bakery was inspired by the love and dedication I have for my dogs Benjamin and Reese. I began baking their treats 14 years ago and decided that I wanted to provide other fur parents the opportunity to feed their dogs natural gluten-free treats. Benjamins’ treats and birthday cakes were developed to ensure that I could provide delicious healthy treats for him because he had a very sensitive stomach along with allergies. I have formulated my own recipes and spent lots of time researching to provide delicious treats that can protect dogs against obesity and diabetes. I follow the AAFCO regulations (Association of American Feed Control Officials) to ensure that I stay current with dogs’ dietary needs. We are also committed to catering to dogs at various life stages, so my bakery offers a variety of treats and cakes for all. We cater for dog birthday parties, puppy showers, gender reveals, adoption dates, and a host of other celebrations and events. R&B Dog Bakery started as an e-commerce store, that later began to attend Four Seasons Farmers Market in Las Colinas, Carrollton, Dog Expos, and many community vendor shows. I strive to serve as an integral part of my community by donating treats to local animal shelters, rescues, and supporting other small businesses that cater to fur families. As business has continued to grow, we have expanded to our first store that opened in Arlington on August 21, 2021. We host an event “Rescue of the Month” where we collect donations in-store and online, for specific local animal rescues, along with making a monetary donation. My bakery is committed to ensuring that all dogs are able to eat healthy, tasty treats free of the harmful additives often included in dog treats. My passion for my pets’ overall health has led to R&B Dog Bakery which will stay purposefully driven to the health of all fur families.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting my business has required an immeasurable amount of dedication, time, and research. After months of debilitating pain and multiple doctor visits in October 2018, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. At this point my life changed significantly, I had to learn to manage chronic pain and psychologically come to terms with how to navigate my life with this disease. There have been many challenging days when either severe pain or mental anguish forced my body to physically shut down. I had to learn to rest and utilize time management skills in order to continue operating my business proficiently. Chronic pain is something that I endure however, the love and passion that I have for the health of fur babies everywhere provides me the perseverance and strength to continue my journey.
We’ve been impressed with R&B Dog Bakery LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
R& B Dog Bakery is unique because we use fresh natural ingredients in all of our treats which are gluten-free and we don’t use added sugars or salt. This is possible because all the recipes for treats and cakes were crafted by me personally. R&B Dog Bakery specializes in dog cakes and cupcakes with cake frostings containing no added sugars or artificial colors. I am most proud of how my brand has developed and its relentless commitment to providing quality products and our continued community involvement. In 2019, we successfully copyrighted “Doggy Donuts” which is one of our most popular dog treats. There have been several trial and errors in this process but persistence allowed us to develop the products we currently offer and enable R&B Dog Bakery to continue evolving. Professionalism has been the key to my success as an entrepreneur because you have to communicate with clients, city officials, chambers of commerce, and other businesses. My advice is to always show up with a pleasant disposition, positive attitude, and hardworking spirit. Consistently displaying these qualities built an excellent reputation and I am continually invited to numerous events by various cities and large pet vendor expos. R&B Dog bakery will continue to provide fur families with tasty natural treats along with expanding our stores to additional communities.
What do you think about happiness?
My definition of happiness: is spending time with my family and friends. As an entrepreneur, I work countless hours in my business, so I have learned to prioritize quality time with those I love. I have an 11-year-old son who is very involved in my business, although I work frequently, my business has educated him about entrepreneurship. This has given him an advantage on life and its prospects at an early age. We also enjoy fun times at the various events he attends with me. I love being an entrepreneur, especially owning a dog bakery because it allows me to bring my own furbabies to work with me. I have 3 dogs in all age ranges, Reese (13), Nacho (5), and Dorito (3). I generally plan a road trip at least once a year which allows us to take all the fur babies on some fun activities. I can truly say I have gained happiness through my bakery, by helping fur families celebrate special occasions. R&B Dog Bakery has allowed me the freedom to give generously, demonstrate my family and friends with invaluable quality time.
Pricing:
- $12.00 All Bag Treats
- $10.00 3 inch cake
- $15.00 6 inch cake
- $20.00 9 inch cake
- $3.00 Doggy Donuts
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rbdogbakery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbdogbakery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rbdogbakery
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhNAGWmvGpMTOaUaldPHuQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/r-and-b-dog-bakery-arlington
Image Credits
A. Gooden
Nick White
