This week's Kickfurther Merchant of the Week is Mirage Pet Products. For those of you who aren't familiar with Kickfuther, it is an online investment platform through which ordinary people can help businesses finance inventory purchases. Instead of lending money to businesses, the Kickfurther model is a "consignment sales agreement". Basically, investors pre-purchase the inventory and then give it back to the business to sell on consignment. As the inventory sells, investors are repaid, with a profit. Mirage Pet Products is one of those businesses.
Q: Tell us a little bit about Mirage Pet Products. Where is the company based?
A: We are based in Aurora, Mo
Q: When was it founded? Your website mentions a legacy of six generations in the pet industry. Tell us about that.
A: My great, great grandmother was a dog groomer back in the heyday of the Standard Poodle and fancy cuts. My grandfather worked in a belt factory that transitioned into a dog collar factory over the years. He bought it in El Monte, California, and moved it out to Missouri. My great-grandmother worked in the factory, helping her son and daughter-in-law for decades before retiring.
In 2004, with my husband fresh off of active duty from Operation Iraqi Freedom, we started Mirage. We were 19 years old and just knew that working for ourselves was what we wanted to do. We were inexperienced and crazy but here we are still today! We had a lot of mentoring and help from my grandparents and great uncle. After so many years in the industry, they were able to guide us through quite a few changes in the economy (including the 2008 recession) and changes in demand. I will always cherish their assistance.
Q: It is wonderful to have family support behind you, and thank your husband for his service. Your website says that most of your products are manufactured in the US. Where are they made? Do you have your own manufacturing facility or do you buy from manufacturers?
Q: I'll be the first to admit I'm not a pet person and that I don't keep up with the latest in pet fashions or needs. However, I have noticed more and more pets wearing clothes, particularly in the winter. Are clothes for the pet or for the owner?
A: It really depends on the breed of animal! A lot of owners dress their short-haired dogs for outside adventures to keep them more comfortable during the winter. For the most part though, clothes are fun and for the owner :-)
Q: I notice you have a lot of Mardi Gras wear for dogs. I live in the New Orleans area and wish to compliment you on your good taste. Do you sell much of that line to people outside the New Orleans/Louisiana/Gulf Coast area?
A: We do! Mardi Gras is becoming a larger holiday nationally and we are definitely seeing this trend reflected in our sales!
Q: Do sell wholesale, retail, or both from your website?
A: Both now.
Q: Your dog treats are adorable! If I want custom colors or designs to match my party, are they available?
A: Absolutely! We can custom make treats with anything on them!
A: I don't remember who it was but one of the KickFurther staffers sent us an email invitation and we decided to sign on! I'm so glad that we did, it's been a great experience!
Q: As an investor, I'm glad you feel that way. You finished your first Kickfurther offer ahead of schedule, and your second a little behind schedule. What was the difference?
A: The second one included us pre-selling merchandise and offering customers long-term credit which really did not work in our favor over the slower summer months.
Q: From your perspective, how does Kickfurther compare to other sources of financing. Put another way, you are now on your third offer; why do you keep coming back?
A: We love the community!
Q: To what type of business would you recommend Kickfurther?
A: Because KickFurther has made some disappointing changes to their platform (at this point we won't be back for a fourth round) we won't be recommending KickFurther going forward. We used to recommend it to every business owner we talked with about funding/financing issues.
Q: You must mean Kickfurther's decision to only finance businesses that have purchase orders for their products. I can see how that could be disappointing to a company that fulfilled its promises on prior consignment sales agreements. However, enough businesses were not meeting their obligations such that many if not most investors have lost money at this point. I know I have. From the message they sent investors, I think they will re-open the platform to businesses like yours once they re-tool some of their contracts and vetting procedures.
Have you tried Kickfurther from the investor side? Would you recommend that friends or family invest via Kickfurther?
A: I would've before the changes! I haven't had a chance to use it from the other side.
Q: Do you have a giveaway for us?
A: Yes! We've got two gift certificates for $25 each.
Q: Thanks. I'm sure two of my readers will enjoy them! They can buy something cute like a sparkly dress and a new seasonal collar. Anything else you'd like to tell us?
A: Thank you to those who have invested in us, it's been a pleasure to work with you!!
It has been a pleasure getting to know you! Mirage Pet Products can be found on Amazon or on their website. You can follow them on facebook or on Pinterest. Now, on to the giveaway!
It has been a pleasure getting to know you! Mirage Pet Products can be found on Amazon or on their website. You can follow them on facebook or on Pinterest. Now, on to the giveaway!
