Kirsty Skeates – From hydrotherapy to helping pet pros with Pet Biz AI
Kirsty Skeates is the founder of Pet Biz AI – a set of powerful, pet industry-specific AI tools designed to make life easier for small business owners. She started out running a successful hydrotherapy centre in Beverley, Hull, and was one of the very first guests on this podcast, talking about awards. Now, she’s ditched […]
What is The Planner Club and should you join?
Running a pet business is full-on, and when it comes to planning, it can feel like yet another thing on your never-ending to-do list. That’s exactly why I created the Pet Business Content Planner – and this year I’ve created more support to help you use it, The Planner Club. If you’ve clicked on this blog […]
‘Why I want to make sure every pet in a car is safe’ Claire Harris from Pets2Places
Claire Harris is the founder of Pets 2 Places – the UK’s first pet taxi franchise and talks about why she’s on a mission to educate owners about pet travel safety. Her business started back in 2014 when Claire had the idea to make a taxi service for pets, and with a £10 phone and […]
Should you buy the Pet Business Content Planner and Companion?
Are you thinking of buying my Pet Business Content Planner and Companion? In this episode, I’m talking all about why I created it, who it’s for, and how it can help you. This planner is designed specifically for pet business owners to make marketing easier, build confidence, and help you stay organised. I’ll walk you […]
Kate Hart on The Sniffer Shop and creating nose joy for dogs
When Kate Hart started making scentwork kits for her own dogs and her clients, they went down a storm and led to her creating The Sniffer Shop. Kate became a dog trainer ten years ago after a terrifying accident which led to her spending months in a wheelchair and stepping away from her old career […]
Pet business content and social media calendar
If you’ve ever felt like creating content for your pet business is like being on a hamster wheel that never stops spinning, you’re not on your own. Since 2019, I’ve worked with hundreds of pet business owners to help them get visible and promote what they do. One thing that comes up time and time […]
Why I am an accredited pet business coach
ILM Level 7 | 300+ podcast episodes | Featured in national press | PIF member Why would you train to be a coach? In this post I’m going to explain the reasons why I decided to be an ILM Level 7 accredited pet business coach. I’m Rachel Spencer, a national newspaper journalist and coach based […]
19 lessons I’ve learned from 19 years of running my business
Tomorrow marks 19 years since I left my job as a staff writer on the News of the World to go freelance. On July 11th, 2006, I was 30, single, living in my old house in Warrington and paying the mortgage on my own. I had no savings, no security – just a MacBook, a […]
How to start a newsletter for your pet business
Or revive one that’s been neglected… If you’ve been thinking about starting a newsletter for your pet business – or you’ve already started one but it’s been a bit neglected – this post is for you. Email is still one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience. Unlike social media, where posts […]
Takeaways from the Pet Industry Federation Business of Pets Conference 2025
In June 2025, the Pet Industry Federation hosted its third Business of Pets conference – a two-day event that brought together founders, retailers, marketers, investors, and innovators from across the pet industry. Held at Cranfield University, the programme was full of insight and inspiration. Across expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, and the Innovation Award pitches, we […]