Stella & Chewy's Founder & CEO Marie Moody

In this episode, Clint sits down with Marie Moody, the founder and CEO of Stella & Chewy's, to explore her incredible journey from the fashion industry to revolutionizing the pet food market. Marie shares the heartfelt story of how a sick dog led her to discover the benefits of raw diets for pets, ultimately inspiring her to create Stella & Chewy's in 2003. She discusses the challenges of starting a business pre-internet, the evolution of pet food manufacturing, and the importance of building a strong team. Marie also opens up about her experiences stepping back into the CEO role, the impact of economic changes on the pet food industry, and the future of AI in manufacturing. Plus, get a glimpse into her personal life as she balances being a CEO and a mother. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:09 - Marie Moody's background and the founding of Stella & Chewy's 00:43 - The story behind the brand's inception 02:08 - Early challenges and the first steps in the business 04:09 - Educating consumers about raw pet food 06:01 - Scaling the business and building a brand 09:10 - Moving to Wisconsin and opening a manufacturing plant 11:50 - Realizing the business potential 13:57 - Changes in manufacturing over the years 17:44 - Pricing and selling strategies 21:32 - A typical day for Marie Moody 24:28 - Returning as CEO 25:31 - Economic environment and its impact 27:25 - Product development and innovation 28:40 - The role of AI in the future 29:03 - Personal insights and family life 30:29 - The importance of giving and receiving chances