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So Cal Entrepreneurs: A Dog Food Horror Story
The Healthy Spot, founded by Andrew Kim and Mark Boonnark. This story originally ran online in 2015.
Andrew Kim couldn’t stand the thought of his dog falling ill during a major pet food recall in the Bay area in 2008 and a business idea struck him that alarmed his parents, hard working Korean immigrants.
Andrew took his degree from UC Berkeley and had used it to secure a comfortable position as a researcher for an equity hedge fund firm. Concern for his dog and other pet owners kept gnawing at him and he used his professional skills to dig deeper into the marketplace and what opportunities existed. Andrew concluded he could start a business and fill a niche in the pet food industry by providing high quality pet foods.
Andrew and his business partner Mark Boonnark discovered a mid-market position for quality that wasn’t available in the Big Box retail outlets and with price points that didn’t scare away most buyers like those found in boutique outlets. “We saw the need to be advocates for pet owners and their dogs,” said Andrew.
His parents didn’t understand the concept. His mother owned several donut shops and his father was an independent contractor. They saw their businesses as necessary since they didn’t have a strong education with degrees behind their names. Andrew and Mark assured them and the industry naysayers that the numbers of dogs in households in 2008 was growing while the number of children being born to a mother and father was on the decline. There was a lifestyle to tap into and Andrew who has four dogs had a personal understanding of the trend.
For the Community
The first Healthy Spot store opened in Santa Monica and the company launched with four employees. Now, in the first quarter of 2015, the company is doing fine with a sixth store that opened recently in Studio City. Products are sold along with award winning grooming services and a doggie daycare that closes on Sundays in order to provide pet adoptions.
Each store has a similar look and feel with warm pastel colors but it’s not a cookie cutter design. Andrew sees the subtle distinctions as a way to brand the company. “We’re here to be part of the community. We want to create a friendly, fun environment. People…
