Meet Nicole Santoro | Dog Treat Baker & RN

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Santoro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting a business in 2021 manifested from a questionable and unstable healthcare system. As a Registered Nurse, I didn’t know if I wanted to be in that environment anymore, so I told my daughter, Alex, who was 13 years old at the time, to think of something we could do together. She loves to bake, and within a couple of days, she presented me with a business idea–homemade dog treats! I knew nothing about operating a business, but we just had to have faith and jump in feet first and run with it. Alex and I devised a business plan and then started researching the legalities, dog treat recipes, and supplies that we would need, and within a month, we attended our first outdoor market. This was the beginning of Donnie’s Doggie Desserts!

My daughter, Alex is just as much a part of this business as I am. we are a mother/daughter business.and she is 14 and starting high school.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I don’t know what sets us apart from other dog-treat businesses, but our primary focus is on our client, the dog. When we create a new recipe, we want to ensure that dogs will love them. It’s about taste, but it’s also about quality. It is important to us to use natural ingredients that are safe for dogs without added preservatives; therefore, our treats have a shelf-life. With all the fun we are having, this journey has not been easy. Juggling work and school schedules with family obligations and running a business has its challenges; however, when Alex and I get into the kitchen and bake, we start talking about life and goals, and having that bonding time has been very therapeutic. One important lesson that we have learned from this journey is that we can not over-extend ourselves. In the beginning, we wanted to be at every farmer’s market that we could get into, and today, we have realized that if we commit to one really good market, then that is all we need. What I want people to get out of our story is that if they are thinking of creating a business, then do it. While it may sound cliche, you do not need to have all the answers in the beginning, you just have to start, and with each step you take, a new idea will come to you, or a new opportunity will present itself, but you must take that first step. I don’t know what the future holds for Donnie’s Doggie Desserts, but what I do know is that Alex and I will continue this venture and we will grow where we are planted.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite thing to do in Phoenix is hiking, specifically Dreamy Draw and Piestawa Peak; the scenery is beautiful. My front door leads to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, and great hiking trails are also there. My favorite restaurant in Phoenix, hands down, is Duck & Decanter; their Albacore Tuna salad is fantastic, and the small businesses in old-town Scottsdale are always a great way to pass the time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My name may be listed as the business owner, but without Alex by my side, we would not exist. She is the backbone of Donnie’s Doggie Desserts. When we need to bake or get everything ready for our events, she is on it. She also creates new recipes and ideas for the business and helps with our social media; I am truly blessed to have her as a business partner. Two other important people also deserve credit, my husband, Gene, and son, Jeremy. Gene handles the finances; after all, we need money to operate, and Jeremy occasionally helps us with our events. Finally, our customers are the reason we exist. Alex and I are grateful that our customers choose our dog treats to give to their pups. Recently, we had a customer tell us that he had given up on all dog treats for his pup because she wouldn’t eat them; then, he purchased a bag of our peanut butter bones, and she loved them. It is a great feeling.

Website: www.donniesdoggiedessertsllc.com

Instagram: @donniesdoggiedessertsllc

Facebook: @donniesdoggiedessertsllc

Image Credits
Pics taken by Jacob Santoro