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Meet Mark Sells of Pets by Nature in Littleton

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Sells.

Mark, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After spending over 20 years in corporate America, specifically as an IT executive, I needed a change. My 17-year old cat and best friend, Seven, had recently passed away and I found myself at a crossroads – continue grinding away aimlessly or find something more meaningful.

When Seven was initially diagnosed with kidney disease in 2015, his vet gave him 2-3 weeks to live. I was stunned at the time and not ready to say goodbye. So, we began a nutritional journey together to improve his overall health. Increasing water consumption and fluids, reading food labels, reducing protein, maximizing supplements and nutrients – all in all, extending his life by an extra year.

Seven was a complete game-changer for me, opening my eyes to a healthier and cleaner way of life. Not just for pets, but for myself. And when contemplating a new career path, it was almost a no-brainer, combining my love and passion for pets and healthy food with my business education (MBA) and IT experience into an online, healthy pet store.

Today, Pets by Nature continues to flourish and grow, promoting a healthy pet lifestyle and selling nutritious foods and treats to pet customers in Colorado, the United States, Canada, and the UK. And most importantly, carrying forth Seven’s legacy: healthy food = happy pets (and longer lives!).

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is no easy path when it comes to starting and running your own business. You’re going to have challenges and struggles every single day. In fact, starting Pets by Nature has been the single, most difficult thing I’ve ever done. But it’s also been the most rewarding, helping owners understand the importance of a healthy pet lifestyle and helping so many animals in need.

Some of the struggles we’ve faced and continue to face: limited resources, increasing competition, customer service, rising shipping costs, and every kind of financial constraint imaginable.

Please tell us about Pets by Nature.
Pets by Nature was established in August 2016 as a family owned pet business in Denver, CO. In addition to myself, my wife Adrienne is acting COO along with our 7-year old miniature Pinscher-Pomeranian rescue, SIMBA, who joyfully tests and inspects all our products as Head of Quality Assurance.

Pets by Nature aims to improve the overall health and well-being of pets in each community by educating owners on the importance of a healthy pet lifestyle, contributing to the welfare of pets locally and nationally, and offering the best, all-natural pet foods and treats for sale with free delivery on every order, every day.

We are the alternative to big box stores like Chewy, Petsmart, and Petco. Our focus is exclusively on healthy pet products and giving back to the pet community. We champion Colorado brands and any brand that has terrific products and focuses on doing the right thing for pets and the environment. We’re not into lip service. We truly care about our customers, their pets, animals in need, small businesses, and the welfare of the planet.

We’re not perfect. Every day, we continue to learn and grow and improve. I’m most proud of being able to honor Seven’s legacy, helping pets live a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Hard work, perseverance, and passion.

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Image Credit:
Adobe Stock. Pets by Nature.

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