2013 was a was a tough year for us, filled with lots of scary changes and really hard work… but it was also one of the most fulfilling years I can remember. In early 2013, we decided to finally make Fit for a Pit–an idea that had been brewing since 2010–a reality. It would be just my husband and I running it, operating out of the office in our kitchen. Although we knew the products inside and out from a consumer’s standpoint, we knew nothing about creating & running a website or navigating a retail business. We prepared ourselves for the worst case scenario: operating under the radar for the first couple of years, relying on social media to get the word out…maybe in our 2nd or 3rd year, Fit for a Pit would start making a bit of a profit so we could begin donating to the non-profits we love.
Wow, were we wrong! Not only did many of you find us immediately and trust us enough to start shopping on the website right after we launched, you actually thanked us for opening the business and told your friends, family and co-workers about us. You sent great photos of your dogs for us to use on the website, recommended new products for us to test, shared your rescue stories…many of you have even become friends! And it’s because of this trust and support that we were able to cut our first donation check in August, only 3 months after launching the website (that was way ahead of schedule).
When I was initially contacting manufacturers back in February and March, I figured most of them wouldn’t even give us an account because we’re online only and if they did, we’d be just a number. Wrong again! All but one company (who shall remain nameless) happily opened accounts for us. Not only did they grant us access, but they were also incredibly supportive, encouraging and generous. Another great surprise? A lot of the CEOs and sales reps we work with actually have pit bull-type dogs at home and those who don’t have gone out of their way to tell me how much they love them and don’t believe in media hype. Knowing that the people we do business with are like-minded and fully support our mission makes my job so much easier.
Looking back at 2013 fills my heart with joy and I’m just so grateful for all of you! I’m truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support we’ve received from our customers, suppliers, friends, family and the rescue & advocacy community. It’s this support that enables us to help more people who help pit bull-type dogs–which is the whole point of Fit for a Pit.
I just want to say to all of you:
THANK YOU!