We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paige Elder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Paige, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Honestly, I have to blame my dad for my work ethic. He’s been the hardest working person I’ve ever known — stubbornly so. Growing up, I’d watch him tackle projects that probably required three people and half a clue, and somehow he’d figure it out, without fail and looking professional as ever.
He didn’t finish high school, but he taught himself everything he needed to get ahead. It’s impossible not to pick up that drive (and maybe a little bit of the stubbornness) when you grow up watching someone like that.
So now I work hard, too — partially out of pride, and partially because if I didn’t, well, I’d never hear the end of it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I own Buzz n’ B’s Pet Shop, which is basically my personal zoo that I somehow convinced people to shop at. We’re a full-line pet store — dog & cat supplies, reptiles, fish, birds, small animals — if it’s cute, scaly, or occasionally rude, we probably have it.
What I love most is that we’re not just a place to buy a bag of dog food. We’ve built a local hub for pet lovers. People come to us for advice, to solve problems, to get a pep talk when their new bird is driving them crazy, or to show off pictures of their cats in sweaters (which I absolutely support).
Right now, I’m especially excited about expanding the community side of things. We have been hosting monthly low-cost spay and neuter clinics that have helped over a thousand animals so far — and counting! We also love giving back, partnering with local rescues, and running donation drives to help feed shelter pets.
On top of Buzz, I also co-own Bark & Branch, a specialty pet supply shop in Meadville, PA that focuses on the more exotic side of things — reptiles, amphibians, bugs, birds, and all the unique critters that deserve quality products and knowledgeable support.
And because I clearly didn’t think I had quite enough on my plate, I also founded and run the Flagship City Reptile Expo, a biannual event that brings together quality breeders, vendors, and reptile enthusiasts from all over. It’s a chance to learn, shop, and geek out over animals most people run away from — and honestly, I couldn’t love it more.
At the end of the day, I think what’s special about my businesses is that they’re built around caring — not just for animals, but for the people who love them. Also, where else can you walk in for dog treats and leave with a snake?
So if you’re ever in the area, come say hi — fair warning, I’ll probably try to sell you on adopting something.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’d say the three biggest things that got me here are:
Being resourceful. I’ve had to figure out everything from exotic pet emergencies to plumbing repairs on the fly — Google and stubbornness are a powerful combo.
Thick skin (plus a good sense of humor). Mistakes, tough customers, unexpected chaos — you can’t let it break you. Laugh, learn, keep going.
Genuine care. I truly care about the animals, the people, and the community. That’s what makes it all matter.
My advice?
Get comfy being uncomfortable, find smart people to learn from & grow that rolodex, and don’t forget to laugh — especially when things go sideways. Because they will go sideways.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Honestly, feeling overwhelmed just comes with the territory when you’re running multiple businesses — especially as things keep growing and my routine keeps changing. What helps me most is breaking things into smaller chunks and just taking it day by day.
If I look at everything on my plate all at once, I freeze. So I focus on what I can tackle today, and trust that the big picture will come together piece by piece.
Also, giving myself a little grace helps. Some days I’m on top of it all, and other days I’m just proud I fed myself and kept the animals alive — and that’s okay.
My best advice? Break it down, focus on what’s right in front of you, and don’t forget to breathe (or laugh). Overwhelm usually feels a lot smaller once you get moving, even just the first step.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misspaigeelaine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissPaigeElaine/
Image Credits
Mike Conway
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