I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions; instead, I prefer to set achievable and meaningful goals. It’s incredible to think that Pawfectly Delicious celebrated its five-year anniversary in October 2023. Over the past half-decade, we’ve worked tirelessly to create employment opportunities for disabled adults, but there’s still so much more to accomplish. As 2023 recedes into the rear-view mirror, allow me to share some of our team’s accomplishments and highlight our goals for 2024.

Here’s a summary of the accomplishments and initiatives undertaken by our organization in 2023:

1. Expanded Employment Opportunities: We welcomed four new team members, increasing our team of differently abled employees from six to ten.

2. Social Media Impact: We hired a nonprofit-focused social media consultant to enhance brand awareness, create impactful content, engage potential donors, and drive product sales.

3. Strengthened Partnerships: Our Marketing and Community Outreach Team Lead worked diligently to bolster existing wholesale partnerships and establish new relationships, elevating brand visibility.

4. Enrichment Period: At the end of each shift, we introduced an “enrichment period” to reinforce job and life skills, encourage employee input, and foster camaraderie between our baking and packaging teams.

5. Community Engagement: Our team members actively participated in service opportunities, interacted with retail partners, and honed valuable life skills.

6. Pro Bono Expertise: We tapped into the business community’s pro bono expertise for guidance in social media strategy, strategic planning, and pricing analysis. 

Our goals for 2024 are bold and ambitious, but necessary to grow and to set the foundation for the future:

1. Revenue Target: Our aim is to achieve a total revenue of $150,000.00:

   • $100,000.00 from grants or contributions.

   • $50,000.00 earned through sales.

   • We’re striving for an earned revenue profit margin of 5%.

2. Team Growth: We plan to add two new team members to our workforce, with a vision to employ 20 employees by 2028.

3. Product Expansion: Our goal is to have our product available on the shelves of 25+ retail locations in the DC metro area including one major retailer.

4. Fundraising Event: We intend to host a major fundraising event, aiming to raise $10,000.00.

5. Community Engagement: We’ll organize bi-monthly community team events to foster camaraderie, community collaboration and awareness for the disabled community.

These goals reflect Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treat’s commitment to growth, impact, and community involvement!  

We owe our success in the past five years to the support of our customers, retail partners, collaborators, and donors. Your support and recognition of our mission mean a lot to us and to the lives we impact one dog treat at a time.

I am excited to see how this new year unfolds and the collaborative achievements that lie ahead. Our team comprises dedicated employees who approach their work with enthusiasm, a fantastic group of community volunteers, and a remarkably talented and committed staff. Together, we are poised for success!