We recently connected with Reggie Carter and have shared our conversation below.
Reggie, 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?
I would have to say my work ethic comes from my upbringing on the farm in Mississippi. We had gardens in our yard that we picked from, and pigs out back that we had to catch when they got out. (which was all the time!) There were horses we learned to ride, and cows we had to herd and feed. On the farm there was always work to be done and I know it prepared me on my quest for entrepreneurship. Hard work is what separates anyone that is great, and that has always been the root of my foundation.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Must be Ruff is a Soft Baked dog treat company based out of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Our main goal is to try and help dogs live a longer and healthier life. We believe that if you fill your body with wholesome ingredients, you will live healthier. We took that idea and applied it to everything we make for dogs. Carrots, applesauce, yogurt, honey and cinnamon are a few of the ingredients we use and receiving positive feedback is one of the most exciting things about it all. We are a family owned business, your dogs are a part of your family and we feel they deserve to live their best life as well.
Having a booth at the Minnesota State Fair is something we are extremely proud to be a part of. Our treats are also being carried at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins in Gate 34. We are also doing a collaboration with Heavy Rotation Brewing to create a Must be Ruff beer. (for people). It will be a carrot cake golden ale inspired from our
Ruffcake.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Faith, hard work and consistency are three very important qualities that helped me the most. Without faith you can’t picture the unknown. Without hard work you will never be the best version of yourself, and without consistency you will never finish anything. I would tell anyone early in their journey to dream big, believe in your ideas and pray.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
One of the books that I have drawn inspiration from is Crushing by T.D. Jakes. It talks bout how going through difficult times doesn’t mean it’s the end, but those moments are equipping you for what’s needed in order to be great. In the book he talks about the life cycle of a grape being used for wine. The grape must go through a rigorous crushing process in order to become something that gets better with time. That is a metaphor I can picture clear as day and it has helped me retrain the way I view things.
Contact Info:
- Website: mustberuff.co
- Instagram: must.beruff
- Facebook: facebook.com/mustberuff
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/must-be-ruff-brooklyn-park-2
