Latest news with #BrookeJones
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dog owner's $2 million business idea after being forced to ditch successful career
Brooke Jones thought her career was all mapped out. She was a successful lawyer living in Thailand, so the idea of moving in with her parents in Wollongong and starting her own business was unthinkable. Then COVID hit, and Jones's international life of travel evaporated. Stuck at her parents' home with nothing much to do, she regularly found herself boiling bones for a bone broth for her 13-year-old schnauzer, Ava, who couldn't chew. It was a reality check, but also the start of some real magic. 'One time when the bone marrow dried, some of it solidified into a small chew-like sliver,' Jones told Yahoo Finance. 'I thought I'd made something special, and I started trying to replicate it.' Aussie's accidental invention turns $250,000 profit and becomes caravan cult buy Coles shopper 'stunned' after getting $50 item free due to little-known rule: 'Insane' Centrelink issues urgent Age Pension eligibility change warning: 'Double check' It was easier said than done, and, in something akin to Charlie's efforts to remake his Marvellous Medicine in the Roald Dahl classic, Jones tried everything. 'I had pots and pots of boiling bones on the go. It takes hours to get the bone marrow out, and there's quite a small amount, and it rots really quickly,' she said. 'I'd have all these racks of bone marrow to dry, and I'd wake up in the morning, and it would all be rotting on the floor. "We had quite a few fights about how I was messing up the house.' But eventually she worked out the secret recipe and, given how popular the chews were with her dog, she started selling them at local markets. It was very much a hobby but when someone opening a pet store asked if he could stock them Jones saw the opportunity for wholesale. By October 2022, Jones was ready to go back into her legal career, but she was starting to wonder if her new venture could be more lucrative. She'd made $305,000 in sales in her first year, and then something happened that made her decision for her. 'I felt sick, like I was dying one night,' she said. It turned out to be very nearly the case. Rushed to hospital a 12 centimetre ovarian tumour was found which had twisted and cut off circulation to her bowel. She needed an emergency hysterectomy and bowel removal and, when it was discovered it was cancerous, a year of chemotherapy. 'I obviously couldn't go back to Thailand,' Jones said. 'I threw myself into running the business with my mum, Julie. It grew so much that we needed bigger and bigger factory space. "That year was all about chemo, then rushing back to work and throwing up and then working.' But in a case of right place, right time, Jones's chews, which she branded Marrowz, became super sought after. 'There was a boom in the pet food industry after COVID. We never had to advertise. People were hunting us down, and wholesale became 95 per cent of the business,' Jones said. She even had to shut down her social media sites as she couldn't meet demand. People (and their furry friends) liked the fact that they were pure meat (96 per cent protein) with no fillers or preservatives. 'They are 0.5 per cent fat, so they are good for any dietary requirement, and the fact they're dried liquid means there's no choking risk, making them popular for puppies and older dogs,' Jones said. The business was growing fast and on track to make $1 million in sales by the end of 2024, but Jones had a problem. 'I'm not a front-of-house girl,' she said. 'I wanted a partner for that.' It was this need for a retail guru that took her to Shark Tank in October 2024. Davie Fogarty agreed to invest and the pair haven't looked back. 'He's been great and helped build my website and retail has already picked up,' she said. 'We made $300,000 in revenue in retail between November and January.' And this is on top of the $2 million plus in revenue expected this year in wholesale. Even better, Jones is now cancer-free and able to fully focus on the business. 'We're building stock to sell internationally. The orders don't stop,' she said. 'It's still hard. Mental toughness is important in business. There's too much glamorisation of people becoming overnight millionaires but that's not the reality for most people.'Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
Associated Press
05-02-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation leads a global movement dedicated to spreading positivity, generosity, and compassion-one act at a time . DENVER, CO, UNITED STATES, February 5, 2025 / / -- The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) is thrilled to announce Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025, taking place from February 9-15, 2025, followed by Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, 2025. These are annual events that inspire people in schools, workplaces, and communities to come together and make kindness the norm through simple, meaningful actions. 'Random Acts of Kindness Week and Day serve as powerful reminders that kindness is not just an action but a way of life. By participating, people can create ripple effects of positivity in their communities.' said Brooke Jones, Vice President of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. RAK Week is more than a celebration—it's a call to action. Whether through small gestures or larger initiatives, acts of kindness have the power to create meaningful change. Participants are encouraged to inspire, empower, act, and share kindness in their communities. Anyone can take part in RAK Week by performing and sharing acts of kindness—whether in person or online using #RAKWeek2025. Free resources, kindness ideas, and activities are available at 'In a world that often feels divided, kindness has the power to unite us,' said Rachelle Stubby, Director of Digital Strategy at The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. 'RAK Week is a reminder that even the smallest actions—a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand—can make a lasting impact.' For more information or to get involved, visit For media inquiries, interviews, or additional resources and support, please contact: Rachelle Stubby Director of Digital Strategy & Project Management Random Acts of Kindness Foundation Phone: 303-808-3246 The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) is a small, privately endowed nonprofit that invests time, expertise, and resources into its mission, Make Kindness the Norm. The organization is rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught. RAK's mission is achieved by inspiring and facilitating kindness through free resources available for use at homes, in schools and workplaces, and community-wide. Rachelle Stubby, Director of Digital Strategy & Project Mgmt Random Acts of Kindness Foundation +1 303-808-3246 X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Legal Disclaimer:
