Dr Imran Shaik — Exceptional Treats and Unconditional Love

The nationwide lockdown of 2020 created havoc in the lives of entrepreneurs. Covid has had a devastating impact on many small businesses, forcing hundreds of thousands of them to shut down. The burnout has disproportionately affected the nation’s small business owners. Sixty-two per cent of them reported that they experienced burnout and nearly a quarter have experienced almost constant mental exhaustion. But some start-ups have thrived thanks to flexible approaches, quick thinking and a dash of luck. but then during the same national lockdown, many young entrepreneurs started their journey.

Imran Shaik is with us today who started his 3rd entrepreneurial journey during that period with a specific goal in mind. and today with nearly 80% repeat orders, Crews Chews is a staggering success.

Let’s today read about Imran and what are his thoughts…

Tell us something about yourself

I am Imran Shaik, I am a dentist by graduation, a street dog welfare activist by passion and a pet Baker by profession. I own and run a home bakery for dogs, Crews Chews.

What motivated you to become a pet entrepreneur?

During the first lockdown due to COVID, spending time with our 5 adopted dogs at Home, and losing a business, I was looking for opportunities in the Pet industry where I could apply my knowledge about dogs and help them. Since no commercial brands are offering healthy, gluten and grain-free, preservatives free biscuits for dogs, and treats form a great part of a dog’s life, I started baking biscuits for our dogs at home and our streets with the inclusion of more protein or any major ingredient and zero fillers. Hence, Crews Chews was born.

How would you like people to remember you and your company?

I would like people to remember Crews chews as the brand owned by Indies, that caters to species-specific biscuits over the counter and me being a welfare activist who brought welfare to the treats.

Do you have any best sellers and what do you think they are?

Our bestsellers are offals, berries biscuits, and Peanut butter. Pet parents keep returning to us, to buy these since they offer nutrition but many dogs don’t eat them in their original form but their dogs eat our biscuits with these flavours.

Stress has become an inevitable part of our lives. What do you do to de-stress yourself?

De-stressing for me is just being in the company of my dogs, switching off all electronic media and staying slow with them. Apart from this, I don’t find time in a day to de-stress as my WhatsApp status has always been ‘Life is gone to dogs’.

How has the internet changed the pet industry in India?

Internet is the major player in the pet business since online presence matters when comes to selling your products and pet parents are aware and like to learn more through the online channels, where word of mouth and a simple share can skyrocket your business sometimes.

What strategies do you use to market your business?

I solely rely on online marketing, through social media ads. Also, participate in any offline events happening around where we can put up a stall.

What is unique about you and how are you different from your competitors.

There are many brands now that offer homemade Biscuits, which honestly makes me happy that dogs get to taste variety. We offer different meats, veggies and pocket-friendly biscuits. Also, the multiple flours we use to knead the biscuits. We currently sell 45 varieties on our menu and the regular festival menus are a hit.

What do you feel the Indian dog bakers should do to stand out in the world?

Home run bakeries for pets are still very new here in India, compared to vast competition worldwide where homemade Biscuits feature on shelves in Big box stores. So, we need to focus on getting the product nationwide and then stand out in the world.

What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?

I have had many failures and have promptly learnt from them, changing the packaging, and shape of the bite-sized biscuits which the customers recommended and the results have paid off.

Does your company help the community?

Crews Chew help us take care of our community dogs and help us with the medical expenses of our rescued cases. We feed 100 dogs and are always on the field rescuing dogs.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

Happy dogs, the happy faces munching on our biscuits make me very happy. Through Crews chews, I have been able to feed the streeties such flavours and variety which they don’t get to eat.

What are your plans?

Getting more dogs to taste our biscuits and believe in what I bake. An over the counter bakery in a far future.

What advice would you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

This is my 4th business, lost 3. So, if you believe in an idea and have ways to work out, don’t give up till you exhaust every possible thing and even then it doesn’t work out, think of more ideas. A true entrepreneur keeps thinking.

Imran, it can be hard but it will be worth it. Don’t give up on your dream. You have only one shot at this life, please don’t be that older retired man that regrets not taking that “chance”. You’d feel better at that moment if you at least tried and failed as opposed to not trying at all.

Imran is based in Banglore and can be connected at +91 7619609610. Also his much active Instagram page is Crews Chews.