“I bring in up to $2,000 a month with my water leash invention!”
“I own a large dog who has a lot of energy. Often times, I’d take her out for a walk in the hot weather, only to realize after a few blocks that I had forgotten to bring her water. I needed something more convenient than a bowl of water, so I duct-taped a squirt gun to the leash, and it was useful. I realized other dog owners could probably use it too, so I researched to see if anything like it existed, but there was nothing. I shared my idea with friends and family, and they thought it was brilliant.
“I didn’t know anything about starting a business, but I interviewed maker houses—inventors—and found one that could help bring my idea to fruition. I built a website, set up the legal structure for the business (formed an LLC), purchased accounting software and created a marketing plan. And in 2019, Spleash (Spleash.com) was born.
“Spleash is a spray leash handle that attaches to your favorite leash, holds 12 oz. of water and can spray up to 14 feet. You simply flip it open and spray water into a cup or directly into the dog’s mouth. They sell for $34.99 on our website, and we’re also looking to sell on Amazon and Grommet.
“To spread the word, I was interviewed on podcasts and Clubhouse, a social network and live audio platform where people meet in ‘rooms’ to talk and listen about different topics. I also put up a TikTok video that now has 2 million views.
“This business allows me to help out other dog lovers, and the community is amazing. Plus, my daughter works with me as creative director! I make up to $2,000 a month. Some of the money goes back into the business and a portion of it is donated to PetPartners.org.”