Close The Deal Podcast with Casey Boshae

 Founder - The Gentle Pit

Introduction to Casey Boshae and The Gentle Pit

In this podcast episode, Ewell Smith interviews Casey Boshae, founder of The Gentle Pit. Based in New Orleans, Casey has journeyed from Montana to Los Angeles before landing in the Big Easy. As a TEDx speaker and successful entrepreneur, she has built a thriving e-commerce business while transitioning out of corporate America. This conversation unpacks her entrepreneurial journey, including insights on product development, scaling a business, and helping others start their ventures.

Early Beginnings and Lessons Learned

Casey grew up on a dairy farm in Montana, which instilled in her the values of hard work, discipline, and consistency. After moving to Southern California for college, she began her career in the wine industry, gaining experience in inventory management, pricing strategies, and brand positioning. Her corporate career provided invaluable lessons that later informed her entrepreneurial journey.

Reflecting on her early days, Casey emphasized the importance of focusing on one thing at a time. Overextending yourself across too many ideas, especially when starting, can drain resources and energy. She advises entrepreneurs to start small and refine their focus before expanding.

Building a Support System

Casey credits her support system, particularly her friends and family, for helping her navigate the mental challenges of entrepreneurship. She highlights the importance of having cheerleaders in your life who encourage you to persevere through tough times. According to Casey, building resilience and maintaining a strong mindset is critical for entrepreneurial success.

Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneur

While working full-time in the wine industry, Casey started The Gentle Pit as a side hustle. Her idea stemmed from her experience volunteering in animal rescue and her desire to create products that represented pit bulls in a positive light. Frustrated with the stereotypical "biker gang" aesthetic of existing products, Casey designed items that appealed to urban women and celebrated rescue dogs.

Initially, she launched with just a necklace and a t-shirt featuring a custom logo, testing the waters with small production runs. Working on her business during mornings, nights, and weekends, Casey gradually built her brand while leveraging skills and resources from her corporate job.

The Turning Point: Finding a Hero Product

A pivotal moment for The Gentle Pit came during the development of their "Pack Leggings"—a product designed specifically for dog owners to walk hands-free. Released during the COVID-19 pandemic, these leggings solved a practical problem and resonated with a broad audience. Within the first month of launch, the product generated mid-five figures in sales, marking a significant milestone for Casey's business.

This success validated Casey’s vision and laid the foundation for her eventual departure from corporate America. She believes in testing ideas thoroughly before scaling and credits this approach for her steady growth.

Entrepreneurship and Lifestyle Design

Casey underscores the importance of designing a business that aligns with your desired lifestyle. She intentionally built an e-commerce model that allowed her to work from anywhere, avoiding the constraints of a brick-and-mortar operation. This decision enabled her to move from Los Angeles to New Orleans while maintaining her business's momentum.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Casey stresses the value of starting with the end in mind. Understanding your personal goals and financial needs helps ensure that the business you build is both fulfilling and sustainable.

Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

Casey faced challenges along the way, from managing production runs on a tight budget to navigating the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. By bootstrapping her business, seeking guidance from industry mentors, and leveraging her network, she avoided taking on unnecessary debt. However, she acknowledges that some risks, like small business loans for scaling, were necessary to achieve her goals.

Coaching and Mentorship

Today, Casey helps other entrepreneurs navigate their journeys, whether they are launching a product-based business or scaling an existing service. Her coaching focuses on:

Clarifying Goals: Starting with a clear vision of the business and lifestyle you want.

Solving Problems: Ensuring your product addresses a specific need in the market.

Market Research: Understanding competitors and positioning your brand effectively.

Building Systems: Establishing processes for operations, marketing, and team management to enable scalability.

For Casey, success comes down to intentionality and planning. She helps clients reverse-engineer their businesses to avoid common pitfalls and create sustainable growth.

Reflections on Entrepreneurship

Casey describes entrepreneurship as a slow but rewarding process. While it took years to build her brand and transition fully, the lessons she learned along the way were invaluable. She encourages new business owners to embrace the journey and focus on progress over perfection.

Ewell adds that understanding whether entrepreneurship or franchising is the right path for you is crucial. His book, Your First Franchise, explores this decision-making process, offering guidance for those evaluating their options.

Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Casey’s story highlights the power of persistence, clarity, and strategic planning in building a successful business. Whether you're just starting or looking to scale, her journey offers valuable lessons for navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship.

For more information about Casey’s business and coaching services:

Visit TheGentlePit.com for her product line.

To learn more about Ewell Smith’s franchise insights -  visit YourFirstFranchise.com. He's gifting you a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes of Close the Deal Podcast.