Your pet business, Your way

Rachel Spencer
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Welcome to Your Pet Business, Your Way - the podcast for pet professionals who want to grow their business without following someone else’s rulebook. If you’ve ever felt bent out of shape trying to do content “the right way” or pressured to keep up with trends that just don’t feel like you, this podcast is here to help you do things differently. I’m Rachel Spencer - journalist, accredited coach and mentor, author, and creator of the Pet Business Content Planner and Companion and the Pets Get Visible membership. I work with brilliant people in the pet industry who want to put themselves out there, get seen, and make a difference - without burning out or trying to be someone they’re not. Each week you’ll hear stories, strategies and mindset shifts to help you feel more confident, consistent, and in control of your content. You'll also hear from inspiring pet professionals who are doing things their way. There are no quick fixes or copy-paste strategies here. Just thoughtful ideas, inspiring stories, and plenty of encouragement to help you build your pet business in a way that feels good, sustainable, and true to you. Come and connect with me on Instagram @rachelspenceruk

  1. 5D AGO

    How to make a plan for 2026 to fit your strengths, skills, energy, goals and values

    Are you feeling ready to make a plan for 2026 but not sure where to start? Maybe you've got some big goals for the year ahead but it's the start of January and you're easing yourself in. This podcast and blog is about making a plan that fits round you actually want to work, and what’s right for your life, your energy and your goals. In the episode, I talk about the five things I believe you need to think about if you want to make a plan that works. They are your strengths, skills, energy, goals and values. I’ll take you through what each of those means, share how to figure them out for yourself, and walk you through some real-life examples to help you apply them to your own plan. Key topics and timings: 0.20 - What to expect from this episode. 2.13 - Sponsor message - Pet Business Content Planner 3.20 - Giveaway details. 3.55 - Why planning matters and so many of us get it wrong. 4.55 - How we might look at a goal for our pets example. 6.02 - How to back yourself when you set a goal. 6.45 - Marathon example. 10.50 - Katie Gwilt planning story. 11.50 - Posting on social media regularly example. 17.08 - Backing yourself to make your goal a reality. 17.42 - Looking at matching a goal with strengths, skills, energy, goals and values. 18.30 - Defining strengths. 19.57 - Defining skills. 22.06 - Defining energy. 25.50 - Defining goals. 27.04 - Defining values. 31.54 - How these would apply for me. 32.56 - How to get in touch. 33.04 - Competition details. Links mentioned: Buy a 2026 planner or join the planner club: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/shop/ Further reading/listening: Should you buy my 2026 Pet Business Content Planner How to use the Pet Business Content Planner How to create habits in your pet business you can stick to Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you? How to choose the right pet business membership Why community matters for you and your pet business

    34 min

  2. 12/31/2025

    Why connection is my word for 2026 - and how to choose yours

    Do you choose a word for the year? Or are you thinking about yours for 2026?  Each year, I choose a word to guide how I want to feel and how I want to work and this year it’s Connection. In the past, it's been Calm and Space - two things I definitely needed during some pretty full-on seasons.  But this year, for 2026, it’s all about connection. In this post, I’m sharing why that word matters to me, how it came about, and some reflections and prompts to help you choose what you want from the year ahead too.  I hope it gives you a moment to pause and think about what 2026 could look like for you. Topics and timings: 0.20 -Episode outline. 0.38 - Planner sponsor message. 2.17 - How do you want to feel in 2026. 2.40 - Why Connection is the word for 2026. 3.10 - Why my perspective has changed. 4.37 - Some previous words of the year. 8.10 - What Connection means and the training I'm doing for 2026. 10.59 - Prompts to help you think of what connection means for you. 13.09 - Connection and collaboration example with Vanessa from Wag-Wagatha Christie groomers. 16.29 - The importance of a sense of belonging. 17.02 - How the Pets Get Visible membership can help you feel connected. 17.44 - More real life meet ups for 2026. 19.08 - Why it's not just you sitting there thinking everyone else has it all figured out and you dont. 21.18 - How imposter syndrome is with us at all levels. 22.05 - Thank you message to start the year. Links mentioned in this episode: Emotions coaching: https://www.igcompany.com/emotionscoaching Planner and Planner Club: www.rachelspencer.co.uk/shop Further reading/listening: 12 Takeaways from my Online Planning Day How to prepare for a pet business event Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you? How to choose the right pet business membership Should you buy my Pet Business Content Planner What is The Planner Club and should you join Why I am an accredited Pet Business Coach Look back and see how far you've come

    23 min

  3. 12/26/2025

    Why I'm raising my prices in 2026 – and why you might want to too

    Are you thinking of putting up your pricess in 2026? If you're a pet business owner who struggles with charging fairly, overdelivers, and feels awkward about pricing - this episode is for you. I share what my current offers include, why my prices are increasing in 2026, and how the investment I’ve made in my own training and development is shaping the support I provide. You’ll also hear from two of my lovely clients, Louise and Sarah, who’ve both grown in confidence and visibility through coaching and community support. I also explore the emotional side of pricing - the guilt, the fear, and that voice that says “no one will pay that.” In this episode I'm inviting you to reflect on whether you might be undercharging, and how to make pricing decisions that feel right and fair for you. And if working together has been on your mind, this is your heads - up to take that next step before my new prices come in from January 2026. Key topics and timings: 0.14 – Why talking about pricing is awkward. 0.44 - Why this episode is for my fellow 'terrible businesswomen' who go over the top for thier clients and feel bad about money. 1.30 – One-to-one coaching: what’s changing and why. 2.30 - What 1-1 support includes. 3.58 - Louise shares what it’s like to be coached by me. 6.48 - Membership price increase: what’s included and why it’s going up. 7.12 - The impact of community, support, and being seen 8.50 - Client example, Sarah Jones. 14.12- Sarah’s journey from invisibility to impact. 18.07 - How benchmarking my pricing helped with this process. 19.17 - The ways I'm investing in myself for 2026 - Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training. 21.34 - How pricing low impacts on how you feel and valuing yourself. 22.30 - What knocked my confidence with pricing. 23.30 - Why I can look in the mirror and feel OK about what I charge and straightforward offers. 25.34 - Pricing in a way that feels good and is fair to you. 26.15 – Final reflections on money mindset, growth, and doing what feels right. 27.13 - What to do if you want to work with me. Links mentioned in this episode: Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you? How to choose the right pet business membership Jane Ardern - putting you first in your pet business How much does pet business coaching cost? Different kinds of coaching for different stages in your business How to choose a pet business coach What is a pet business coach Why I am an accredited Pet Business Coach

    29 min

  4. 12/16/2025

    You need to versus what do you need?

    When you run a business, it can feel like you’re constantly bombarded with new things you need to be doing. You wear plenty of hats anyway, from doing the actual work, to social media, your accounts, keeping on top of your orders and appointments. And on top of that, in the ever-changing online world, with so many ways you can get your business seen at your fingertips, there’s an endless barrage of information on stuff you need to do. There will be times when what you need is directive support, for someone to say, ‘You need to.’ And there will be stages where you’ll need space to think about what you need, and you might benefit from someone to pose that question to you. In this episode, I talk about the two approaches, what coaching is, what mentoring is, and some things to consider when it comes to working out what you need. Plus, your options if you’re looking for support. Key topics and timings: 0.20 - Episode outline. 0.45 - Pets Get Visible sponsor message. 1.24 - The 'You need to' challenge. 3.25 - How it can feel like you've run back into the thing you tried to get away from, being micromanaged. 4.45 - Working at your own pace. 5.30 - When I DO tell people what to do. 7.16 - The difference between coaching and mentoring, 8.34 - Keri Squibb Pets Get Visible review. 9.48 - The three kinds of coaches I see in the pet business space. 13.28 - The coaching support I'm having at the moment. 14.40 - Having an unshakable belief in what you do. 15.00 - Why it's up to you to decide what success is for you. 16.30 - What person centred coaching is. 17.50 - What happened when I decided to go freelance. 20.02 - Training to be a coach in 2022. 21.14 - Tools in the planner that can help you figure out what you need. 22.30 - What kind of support would help you? 23.00 - How to get in touch if you'd like to work together. Links mentioned in this episode: Join Pets Get Visible: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/pets-get-visible/ Buy a 2026 planner: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-content-planner/ Further reading/listening: What is a pet business coach Should you buy the Pet Business Content Planner Why I am an accredited Pet Business Coach Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you? Different kinds of coaching for different stages in your business How to choose a pet business coach

    24 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    12 planning lessons for 2026

    Are you already feeling like you’ve got a plan for 2026 or looking for some inspiration? If it’s the latter then carry on reading because in this post and podcast episode, I’m sharing 12 lessons from the online planning day I ran recently. As well as the key areas covered in training, You’ll hear from the pet professionals who were there on the day and what works for them. Whether you're all set for 2026 or thinking of the year ahead, I hope these give you a feeling of clarity, some  reassurance, and maybe a few ideas to try out for yourself. Key topics and timings: 0.20 - What to expect from the episode 0.40 - What to expect from the 2026 Planner 0.59 - Match funding for The Big Give and StreetVet 2.30 - Planning support for 2026 and your options 2.45 - About the five pet professionals who shared their stories 7.14 - Lesson 1 - People crave structure 8.12 - Lesson 2 - Be flexible 9.43 - Lesson 3 - Keep checking to see what's working 11.14 - Lesson 4 - Plan for Jan = positive start for 2026 11.39 - Lesson 5 - Don’t forget how amazing you are 13.05 - Lesson 6 - Think of your content as a time capsule 13.33 - Lesson 7 - Energy is what will make a difference 14.22 - Lesson 8 - Being visible is SCARY 15.09 - Lesson 9 - Focus on what matters to you 16.07 - Lesson 10 - Stay on your own to-do list 18.05 - Lesson 11 - You don’t have to do it on your own 19.17 - Lesson 12 - Make sure you're connected 20.38 - Ways to work together for 2026 Links mentioned in this episode: Planner Club: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-planner-bundle/ Pet Business Content Planner: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-content-planner/ Check out Pets Get Visible - My membership for support, coaching, content ideas and connection all year round. It's currently £30/month (going up to £45 in 2026). Head here: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/pets-get-visible/ Related postsShould you buy my Pet Business Content Planner What is The Planner Club and should you join? The importance of looking back and seeing how far you've come Choosing the right pet business membership Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you?

    23 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    Jade Statt from StreetVet - If you were made homeless tomorrow, would you give up your pet?

    Jade Statt is the co-founder of StreetVet, a charity supporting people affected by homelessness and their pets. Jade, her co-founder Sam Joseph, and their volunteers, support animals in 23 locations in the UK and there are 350 vets and nurses who are part of StreetVet. It all started when Jade, a vet, was on a night out in London in 2016, and saw a homeless man whose dog had a painful skin condition. She was desperate to help but couldn’t, and the image of that dog stayed with her, so she decided she wanted to make a difference. Jade began going out and treating animals on the street, then connected with Sam, who was doing the same, and StreetVet began in 2017. In this interview, Jade shares their story, the many hurdles and challenges along the way, and how you can support the work they do. Scroll down for all the links to connect with Jade and support StreetVet. Topics and timings:  0.20 - Episode outline. 1.22 - Jade on how she started StreetVet-ing in 2016, and founding the charity with Sam Joseph. 2.32 - The volume of volunteers working in the UK. 3.12 - The different kinds of animals StreetVet support from dogs and cats to rabbits, birds and snakes. 5.29 - Trust and some of the challenges Jade and Sam and their colleagues needed to overcome. 7.00 - Working with regulations to ensure vets were able to go and offer support. 8.39 - Connecting with Josh Coombes of Do Something For Nothing and how that helped build trust with the homeless community. 10.32 - The message Jade wants people to understand about people living on the streets with their pets and why they sacrifice a home to be with their pet. 14.45 - How the difficulties with the rental market and the cost of living crisis combined could lead to more pet owners being on the street. 16.36 - How 9/10 hostels don’t allow pets and why StreetVet started the Accredited Hostel Scheme. 17.39 - The Purina Better With Pets Prize and how this has supported the hostel scheme and now 60 accept pets and 50 are now being ‘onboarded’ to have the right set up for pets. 21.32 - What working with Purina has meant for StreetVet and how a corporate relationship works. 23.33 - The StreetVet film and why it was so vital to create a film with the sensitivity it deserved. 26.49 - How the Big Give is boosting funds for StreetVet and how buying a copy of my Pet Business Content Planner between 2nd - 9th December 2025 will mean £5 is donated. This is fund matched meaning the charity will be given £10. 28.07 - Some of the stories in the film - Debs and Bluebell and working with Steph Keelan to ensure StreetVet was represented appropriately. 32.30 - Jade shares some of the ‘ugly moments’ of the StreetVet experience and managing the charity along with her work as a vet. 35.30 - Why collaboration is important for StreetVet. 36.53 - Dean Coleman, one of Jade’s clients who passed away and how losing him impacted on Jade. 39.23 - Reflective practice and emotional support for volunteers with Rosie Allister from Vet Life. 41.46 - How being a StreetVet has impacted on Jade’s mental health. 45.07 - How the awareness and support around mental health has changed. 46.30 - Homeless people cite their dog as their ‘support network’ research.  48.06 - Ways you can support StreetVet as a business. 50.06 - The Big Give and the boost this can give by doubling donations - this year’s target is £60,000. 51.03 - The Human Animal Bond Day on July 26th. 52.07 - What’s next for Jade and StreetVet and having vets and nurses in new locations, with the goal of two new locations a year for the next two years. 54.01 - Ways to connect with StreetVet. Key quotes: "If you were made homeless tomorrow, would you give up your pet? Most people say no -but have you really

    58 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    How to use your Pet Business Content Planner

    Have you bought a planner because you want to feel more organised, calm and in control of your pet business in 2026? It’s normal to start the year with good intentions of how you’d like things to be. And with a plan that you can keep checking back in on and that prompts you to look at your progress, the goals you set for yourself for the year ahead can become a reality. Whether you’ve bought a copy of my Pet Business Content Planner or you’re looking for inspiration for using any planner, this post will help you get the most of the planner you’ve invested in. Key topics and timings in this episode: 0.20 - What to expect from this episode. 2.08 - What the planner has inside and the different elements, the diary, awareness days, goals and reflections, quarterly planning, and coaching exercises. 5.30 - What a planning power hour is and how to have one. 8.15 - The importance of taking time to reflect each month. 9.40 - Building a habit of using a planner. 11.58 - Case study - Clare Ware from Insight Hounds. 13.01 - Using the Words for When section when you need support or get stuck. 15.24 - Having a monthly and quarterly check-in to see your progress. 18.39 - About the Planner and the Planner Club. Links mentioned in this episode: The planner is £40: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-content-planner/ Join the Planner Club here: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-planner-bundle/  Further reading/listeningShould you buy my Pet Business Content Planner and Companion? What is the Pet Business Planner Club and should you join? Is my Pet Business Planning Event right for you? How to use awareness days in your pet business content Navigating the rollercoaster that is running your own business The importance of looking back and seeing how far you've come Why every pet business should have a win folder

    21 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    Branding that feels good with Kate Hendry from Finbo Studio

    Kate Hendry is the founder of Finbo Studio - a branding and design agency that helps pet businesses create a visual identity that feels just like them. In this episode, we talk all about how your brand is so much more than just a logo – and how to put yourself out there in a way that feels good. Kate is the brilliant brain behind the design of my planner, and she’s worked with loads of amazing pet brands to help them stand out, tell their stories, and grow businesses they’re proud of. We talk about how she went from drawing wildlife prints for her son Finn’s nursery and selling them in an Asda car park, to creating brands that go on to win top industry awards. We cover the mistakes she’s made, the moments that made her want to give up, underpants on the radiator, and what it takes to build a business that reflects who you are. Kate explains what good branding is really about - not just colours and logos, but clarity, confidence, and creating something that supports you to show up. She also shares how feeling invisible shaped the way she now helps others feel seen. We chat about why we need to stop overthinking, how to be brave in our content, and why sometimes the hardest part of business is saying the thing you really want to say. I really hope you love this episode, and that it leaves you feeling a little bit braver when it comes to being yourself. You’ll find all the links to connect with Kate at the end of this post, along with a summary of our conversation. Key topics and timings: 0.20 - Episode overview. 2.53 - Kate’s introduction and background. 4.02 - How Kate’s self-employment business started with creating wildlife illustrations and prints for her little boy Finn and selling them in Asda car park. 7.07 - Understanding profits and margins and why Kate stepped away from her product business. 9.21 - How Kate uses the experience she made with her product business to support her clients in her new business. 13.35 - How Kate fell into the niche of working with pet brands. 18.05 - The process of helping a pet brand work out how to bring their brand to life and represent themselves in a way that feels right and reflects how they are. 23.51 - How her clients are the key for helping Kate bringing their brands to life with a case study with Kate Hart from The Sniffer Shop. 25.50 - The research process and how the passion of the business owner is brought into branding. 27.59 - How the branding and strategy and design is implemented across the business. 31.45 - How a visual identity project worked for Nina Fotara from The Confident Canine. 35.21 - How Kate would brand herself. 40.29 - The confidence you get from feeling the impression you’re putting out into the world reflects your business properly. 43.29 - Why Kate’s own experience of feeling invisible and wanting to be ‘small and quiet’ makes her so passionate about supporting her clients in feeling good about being seen. 48.55 - Originality and authenticity and how this makes running your business easier. 51.24 - Being brave with your content. 52.14 - How Kate is feeling more confident with sharing her thoughts and feelings and not being scared of being divisive and how posting your opinions will help you stand out.  54.45 - Kate’s advice for people who want to stand out and why you don’t need to be polished and professional. 57.08 - Our sharing things you’re a bit scared of saying challenge! 1.01.52 - Where to find out more about Kate. Links mentioned in this episode:Find out more about Kate on her website: https://finbostudio.co.uk/ Learn more about The Sniffer Shop: a href="https://thesniffershop.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 2m
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About

Welcome to Your Pet Business, Your Way - the podcast for pet professionals who want to grow their business without following someone else’s rulebook. If you’ve ever felt bent out of shape trying to do content “the right way” or pressured to keep up with trends that just don’t feel like you, this podcast is here to help you do things differently. I’m Rachel Spencer - journalist, accredited coach and mentor, author, and creator of the Pet Business Content Planner and Companion and the Pets Get Visible membership. I work with brilliant people in the pet industry who want to put themselves out there, get seen, and make a difference - without burning out or trying to be someone they’re not. Each week you’ll hear stories, strategies and mindset shifts to help you feel more confident, consistent, and in control of your content. You'll also hear from inspiring pet professionals who are doing things their way. There are no quick fixes or copy-paste strategies here. Just thoughtful ideas, inspiring stories, and plenty of encouragement to help you build your pet business in a way that feels good, sustainable, and true to you. Come and connect with me on Instagram @rachelspenceruk

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel Spencer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Rachel Spencer
  • Show Website
    Your pet business, Your way

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