When you start a brand today, everyone tells you the same thing:
Go viral. Run ads. Scale fast.
And sure — that works for some companies.
But when we started MAGNEPUP, we didn’t feel pulled toward chasing clicks (unless they were on our collars!). We felt pulled toward building trust.
From the beginning, Brian — our co-founder and the inspiration behind this whole company — was clear about one thing:
“We aim to provide products that are specialized and high-quality. That lends itself very well to the over 8,000 independent retailers across the country that service the pet industry. There are over 70 million households in the U.S. that have at least one dog, and a lot of people in that market segment are looking for a better solution. They’re not typically looking for that solution at a mass retailer — they’re going to go to their trusted, local, independent pet store. That’s where we’re focusing a lot of our distribution efforts.”
That perspective shaped our path.
Because when something matters — especially when it involves your dog — most people don’t default to a mass retailer. They go somewhere they trust. Somewhere they can ask questions. Somewhere they can feel the product in their hands.
So that’s where we focused.
Today, MAGNEPUP is in four independent stores in Arizona. We’re actively in conversations with family-focused retailers across the West Coast and beginning expansion discussions on the East Coast as well.
We’re not trying to be everywhere overnight.
We’re trying to be in the right places.
Brick-and-mortar has given us something you can’t manufacture online:
- Honest feedback.
- Real relationships.
- Store owners who stand behind what they sell.
- Customers who come back.
Going viral can create attention. But trusted retail builds reputation.
And what’s been interesting is this — the more we’ve focused on substance over splash, the more doors have started to open.
Including one that we’re especially excited about.
We’re currently working toward a partnership with a nationally recognized name whose values align closely with ours — and that conversation only exists because we chose to build credibility first.
We’re playing the long game. And we’re just getting started.
If you're local to AZ, be sure to check out our friends at FETCH NATURAL PET MARKET, Olsen's Grain Inc., or BOSCO'S BISCUITS, LLC!