Scoop of Success: How Swell Gelato Built a Bootstrapped Pet Brand

Podcast: Pet Business Disruptors · Clayton Payne

Opublikowano: 2026-08-09

In this episode, Clayton sits down with Debbie Hendrix, founder of Swell Gelato. Debbie shares her inspiring pivot from an 18-year corporate career as a fashion buyer for Nordstrom to building a thriving, self-funded pet treat company. Debbie breaks down the philosophy behind her simple, clean-ingredient gelatos and pupcakes, explaining why she avoids unnecessary additives and over-functionalized fillers. KEY TAKEAWAYS Bold Career Pivots Require Grit: Moving from a stable corporate fashion career to artisan dog gelato involved creative bootstrapping, selling her home, and relocating to rural Oregon to secure production space and local business support.</p...