Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Friedman.
Hi Kelly, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
Nito’s Nibbles began with Benito. During the height of covid, I was lonely and decided to adopt a dog. It was a spontaneous decision, which I normally wouldn’t make, but this one just felt right. However, a few weeks after adopting Benito, he fell ill and ended up spending three nights in the emergency vet. As a result of his illness, he developed slight kidney damage. At this point he was only three months old. I had to make big changes pretty quickly to maintain his health after his kidney diagnosis, including changing his diet to vet prescribed food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find kidney friendly dog treats at the store and I was hesitant to buy him anything that could further harm his kidneys. Growing up I always had an interest in baking, so I decided I would try to bake him treats so that he could still indulge. Over time, this developed into a business, as I realized I found an outlet to explore my creativity, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Anything worth having takes time and effort, and Nito’s Nibbles isn’t an exception. I went to college for Business Administration, but my years of studying didn’t prepare me for entrepreneurship. I always like to say that I learned how to run a Fortune 500 company, but not how to start one. Every step of starting my business took ample time researching, planning, and hoping that I was going about it the right way. I spent the first year and a half conceptualizing, creating, and developing my business. It was challenging but nonetheless a challenge I was up for and excited to face.
I would say that another challenge I faced was doing my first few vendor markets. The first two vendor markets I did, I planned and prepared for weeks leading up to it. That being said, because I make all my dog treats fresh, I had to bake them no more than a couple days before the event. I did everything on my own, including planning the menu, baking and packaging the treats, creating digital prints for my table display, among many other things. I admittedly stayed up for a full 48 hours and I did my first two markets on no sleep, but you wouldn’t have known if you were there. The adrenaline kept me up and the excitement of seeing all my hard work displayed for others to enjoy made everything worth it. Thankfully, over the years I’ve done many other markets and I now get a full night’s sleep before I attend.
The last and arguably most difficult challenge has been that I’m a self-taught baker. It’s been challenging learning how to develop my own recipes and decorate them, but I’m proud of myself because when I look back at where I started I realize I’ve come a long way and I’m excited to see how far I’ll go!
Please tell us more about your business or organization. What should we know? What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for? What sets you apart from others? What are you most proud brand wise? What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
Nito’s Nibbles is a specialty dog bakery servicing Austin, TX and the surrounding areas. We create gourmet treats, all-natural recipes free of chemicals and artificial dyes, and dietary restriction friendly options such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and more. From cakes and cupcakes, to cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, carob treats, ice cream with toppings, drinks, and more! We have a variety of standard style treats and designs we make, or our customers can reach out with their own custom requests. If you’re in need of a birthday, adoption day, gotcha day, gender reveal, “just because,” themed holiday treats, and so much more, we can make it. We also offer a catering service as well as an ice cream cart rental service for dog parties, markets, and events.
What sets us apart from others is attention to detail. Nito’s Nibbles isn’t just a dog bakery, it’s an experience. We pride ourselves on making dog treats that look so good, we’ve had countless customers mistake them for desserts for people (but they’re not!). We also love the challenge of creating new dog treats that haven’t been done before. Our treats are also packaged with luxury in mind, including a gift bag and personalized card for our furry friends and families to enjoy. It’s a token of our appreciation for allowing us to celebrate their special day with them.
Additionally, we cater to each dog and their unique diets and allergies. I’ve learned from experience that it can be hard to find treats for dogs that have dietary restrictions, so I pride myself on being able to adapt my recipes when needed so that all dogs can enjoy a treat every now and then.
Please note Nito’s Nibbles is also a Black woman-owned business.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Every treat is made with care using high-quality, all-natural ingredients. Keep us in mind if your dog’s special day is coming up, or for any other dog-friendly events!
In addition to our socials listed in the contact section below, here are links to our Pinterest and Threads accounts:
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/
Threads: www.threads.com/@nitosnibbles
Be on the lookout for new content coming soon on all of our socials!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nitosnibbles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nitosnibbles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nitos-Nibbles/61553462620749/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nitosnibbles
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nitosnibbles
