Meet Elizabeth Hughes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Hughes.

Growing up I can remember having a cat or dog that would follow me around.. or maybe I was following them? Most nights I would roam the house looking for a fur baby to snatch up and snuggle. I remember our dog, Toby. He was the sweetest boy. I loved him so much, but then other things caught my attention. My free time was tied up with sports, make-up, and sleepovers with friends. I went without a dog throughout my twenties. I didn’t realize how much I was missing. Dogs are the most loyal and loving companions! I met my husband in 2004, and like me, he grew up with an incredible amount of love for animals, especially dogs. For our one-year wedding anniversary in 2015, he surprised me and adopted this tiny blonde, pink-nose cutie. I was in shock. There was a huge gap in my life where I didn’t have a dog. I wasn’t sure I had the time or energy to give this sweet girl what she needed. My husband and I were on our way to start our family. I wanted her to have a southern name. So, she became Lollie Mae. I didn’t realize she was soon to be the center of our universe. She was going to be our walking buddy, protector, and our greatest joy.

Sweet Lollie Mae changed our lives for the better and changed it FAST. She had our constant attention, at times too much. We bought her toys, cute collars, and the best food we could find. She learned a new word and command almost every day. While we all like to brag about our dogs, Lollie Mae is highly intelligent. We took her everywhere. We called her our “trail baby” as she’s covered over 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail with us. We had this puppy parenting thing down and started talking about having another baby, a human baby.

Unfortunately, we had to cope with plans falling through. Genetically, having a baby was not in the cards that I was dealt. After several doctor visits, I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Through much prayer, debate and discussion, we decided that we would forever be puppy parents. Lollie Mae is our baby. She makes us laugh, drives us crazy, and snuggles the best after her homemade breakfast. We didn’t rescue her, she rescued us. No, not true, she saved us. Like any parent, we want the very best for our girl. I started making her simple treats with prime ingredients. I enjoy being at home with her and baking. She cannot stay out of the kitchen when I am making a batch of “Lollie Made” homemade dog treats. I tell her all about our recipe while she’s listening to the sounds and drooling for the smells. If she could talk, she would say, “all those treats are mine, please don’t sell them!!”.

At the start, I was giving Lollie Made treats away to family and friends. Eventually, I was getting orders from people I didn’t know from all over the state and eventually, the country. My husband said if I enjoyed making dog treats and if this was something I wanted to do, he would support me 100%. And he does. He ran the numbers, timed me while I baked, and stamped each treat with a heart. He timed me stuffing and weighing bags, making labels, and calculated ingredient costs. He had the cost of goods sold down to the micropenny and the labor down to a millisecond. I put my energy into social media promoting our Lollie Made homemade dog treats.

We started selling Lollie Made treats at our local farmer’s markets, set up an online store, and established wholesale discounts for brick-and-mortar retailers. We have had an incredible first year. We get to surround ourselves with people who share the same love we have for dogs. We get to meet some of the kindest people and we get to be inspired by other small business owners. We celebrate pure, simple, and healthy dog treats.

I am lucky to say, for the most part, it has been a smooth road. I have a huge support system, a big family, and a lot of dog lovers in my circle. My husband has experience with owning his own businesses, so I rely a lot on his knowledge. When we need extra help, we have a family that always steps in. In the beginning, for a small business owner, there is a lot of work. A lot of rules and regulations, a lot of fees, and a lot of planning.

Almost a year in, I struggle the most with balance and sacrifice. Balancing my personal time and making sure I hit deadlines are crucial. The business will fail if you cannot balance your priorities. I’m learning that sacrificing things or events for something you want to thrive is not giving up or missing out, it’s restoring a piece of yourself wholeheartedly. The reward is being able to see your idea, your product, and your business reach people and provide something different and healthy for their dogs. We pride ourselves in the simplicity of our ingredients and want to share that peace of mind with other dog lovers too.

I bake dog treats with three simple ingredients: pumpkin, peanut butter, and whole wheat flour. We grow most of our pumpkins, source our peanut butter locally, and boast a nine months shelf life for the product. We are known for the hearts that are stamped into each treat and for growing most of our pumpkins in Waleska, Georgia. What sets us apart is keeping our treats simple. When you buy Lollie Made dog treats, you know exactly what you are getting. There are not a bunch of unrecognizable ingredients that take a chemist to determine what’s in them, they’re just treats with three simple ingredients, peanut butter, pumpkin and whole wheat flour. Well, I suppose there’s actually four ingredients, they’re all made with – LOVE. That’s why the heart is stamped into them, both because I love dogs and I have a heart condition. It’s an important symbol for me, and it means so much more than people may realize.

You cannot plan for all contingencies. Who could have ever anticipated a worldwide pandemic? You have to plan and more importantly, you have to remain flexible.