What happens when you’re tired of following someone else’s playbook and decide to create your own?
Meet McKenna Burzimati, who went from being the frustrated employee with great ideas that weren’t valued to building the Berkshires’ first and only barkery and boutique – Roxie’s – a business so beloved by the community that it’s been voted best pet store multiple times!
In this episode, we’re diving into how she turned her veterinary background into a competitive advantage, her creative ideas like surf and turf barkuterie boards and barkday bash biscuits, and how she built something truly big in a small space.
She shares her game-changing strategies:
🙌🏻 Start simple – selling through social media with just Venmo and cash payments from her apartment
🙌🏻 Leverage your background – using vet tech knowledge to build customer trust and product credibility
🙌🏻 Follow trends creatively – asking “how can we include the dog?” when human trends emerge
🙌🏻 Structure EVERYTHING – keeping detailed annual event records to track what works and what doesn’t
Plus, hear how she expanded her space in June and the exciting plans for a second location!
Whether you’re stuck in a job that doesn’t value your ideas or looking to turn a hobby into a thriving business, McKenna proves that when you combine passion, education, and creative thinking, you can transform from employee to award-winning entrepreneur.
ABOUT McKenna Burzimati
Owner and Founder of Roxie’s Barkery
McKenna Burzimati is the proud owner and founder of Roxie’s Barkery & Boutique, a dog boutique in North Adams, Massachusetts, known for handmade treats, custom cakes, local goods, holistic pet products, and engaging events. What began as a small home-based pet treat business inspired by her rescue dog Roxie has evolved into a community hub where dogs and their humans feel at home. Drawing from her past work experiences in various businesses, McKenna learned what kind of leader she wanted to become – valuing structure, creativity, and employee input over the frustrating environments she previously encountered where good ideas weren’t welcomed. Her business philosophy centers on building a place where great ideas are welcomed, structure and creativity coexist, and people love showing up, because she understands firsthand what it’s like when that’s not the case.
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