Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Wolfgram.
Hi Meghan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I discovered the sport of lure coursing in 2011, the same year I graduated from DePauw University. I was training and competing in dog agility with my miniature pinscher, Pretzel, and wanted to explore other sports that we could participate in. Unfortunately, the sport was only open to sighthound breeds (think greyhounds and whippets), but Pretzel LOVED chasing squirrels in the backyard so I knew I had to figure out a way for him to try it. That led me to discover that the equipment was heavy-duty and cost more than $4000. I ended up building the first machine with the help of my dad, Pretzel loved it, and the rest is history.
In 2012, I founded SwiftPaws as an American Manufacturer of lure-coursing machines because I recognized the need for a machine that was suitable for running ALL kinds of dogs, big or small, fast or slow. That same year, the American Kennel Club opened up a version of the sport to all breeds, and so SwiftPaws was in the right place, at the right time, with a machine that was tailor-made for all-breed coursing sports. We then pivoted from commercial-grade machines to consumer kits in 2019 after recognizing the huge demand for an at-home version of this product.
With the successful launch of SwiftPaws Home, and the continued success of our commercial machines and partnerships with the AKC, United Kennel Club (UKC) and numerous zoos, and industry professionals like dog daycares and trainers, SwiftPaws reached 1M in total revenue for the first time in 2021. I then found myself pitching to the sharks on Shark Tank! We aired in April 2022, securing a deal, and Lori Greiner’s Golden Ticket.
Now, SwiftPaws is committed to becoming THE brand for pet enrichment and offering playful enrichment products to better the lives of pets, everywhere.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been a tumultuous but rewarding journey, first as a hobby, which turned into a passion, which turned into identifying a need for education and offerings for novel enrichment products.
2020 was a challenging year, we experienced material delays early in the year, but got back in stock mid-year and still managed to grow by over 300%.
We’ve overcome supply chain challenges like chip shortages and importing delays (we had a component stuck in a container off the west coast for months along with many others during the shipping crisis), inventory challenges as we try to balance inventory with demand, and despite selling out a few times we’ve always managed to get back in stock.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
One thing that keeps us going is our dedication to the end customer, the dogs, of course! We believe pets deserve to live their very best, active lives and our playful enrichment products help them do just that.
To that effect, we love getting input and feedback from our customers and always strive to improve our products and expand our offerings as we grow. I’m incredibly proud of my team and partnerships with local resources, like Brevard Achievement Center, our assembly partner since the very first production of SwiftPaws Home.
The response after airing on SharkTank was incredible, everyone LOVED SwiftPaws, but, so many people wished it was more affordable, so we have been hard at work this past year developing Chase! our most affordable version, ever, without compromising on quality, or performance.
Chase! is currently available for pre-order at special pricing, and our pre-order customers are joining our development journey, getting updates and providing input along the way as we bring this product to life.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m fluent in German! I lived in Germany for a year after high school as a participant in the Congress Bundestag Vocational Scholarship program.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SwiftPaws.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swiftpaws_official/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwiftPaws
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanwolfgram/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SwiftPaws
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@swiftpaws
