How do you build a successful brand? Invest.

A brand is the story of your pet business. Every product you sell and every service you offer with your pet business plays a major role in the story of your brand. Your brand is the emotion and feeling that attracts people to your business.

Your brand is your reputation. It’s your voice to the world. Needless to say, your pet business brand is powerful. As Steve Forbes said…

Like any investment, a brand takes time to grow and cultivate. The authenticity of your brand story won’t just magically appear overnight. However, there are several ways you can continue to nourish and invest in your brand as you grow:

1. BUILD – Become aware of your natural strengths and talents. Incorporate them into your business, and make a commitment to practice and implement them.  For instance, our strength at Pupcake Sugar is giving puppy love. And, we work hard to incorporate that into our business and continue to work on ways to build on that strength.
2. PLAY – Allow yourself time to enjoy life. Ideas come from just experiencing and trying new things. Inspiration for your brand may come from something completely unrelated to your pet business. Don’t get so mired in your work that you forget to pay attention to the world around you. Tunnel vision can halt the growth of your pet business.
3. INTERACT – Relationships are the key to success. So, make time to meet new people and build positive relationships both in your business and your personal life. They’ll be the support you need as you continue to build your brand.
4. BUDGET – Investing in your brand costs money. Create a budget and include the costs of both maintaining and growing your brand. The budget will keep you from overspending and help you figure out a way to meet your financial needs so you can continue to move forward.
5. EVOLVE – Understand that your brand will evolve over time. Your brand today may not be the same brand 5 years from now. That’s ok. Brand stories and investments sometimes have to change so your vision can grow.

These Apple Pumpkin Bread Pupcakes are dedicated to investing in our pet business brand.

And of course, we believe that every pupcake has a love story. So, while your favorite pup is PUPPY LOVIN’ on these pupcakes, we’d love to hear from you.

What’s the greatest investment you’ve ever made in your pet business brand?

Please share your pupcake story in the box below.

And, after you’ve tried this recipe please share it with us @pupcakesugar on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or all three. We’d love to see how they turned out for you.

Ingredients

Apple Pumpkin Bread Pupcakes

• ½ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• ⅓ Cup Pumpkin Puree
• ⅓ Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Pure Honey
• 1 Egg

Instructions

Yields: 3 Mini Bread Loaves (6 – 8 Slices Per Loaf)

For Apple Pumpkin Bread Pupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In small bowl mix together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, olive oil, pumpkin puree, applesauce, honey, and egg. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes or until combined.
4. Add dry ingredients into the mixture and blend for approximately 2 minutes until well mixed.
5. Add mixture to 3 mini loaf pan cavities in a 3.8 x 2.5 inch mini loaf pan. I used the Wilton Cavity Mini Loaf Pan.
6. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes. Mini loaf bread pupcakes are done when you can stick a toothpick into the bread, and it comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
7. Slice and serve to your pup. You should be able to get 6 to 8 slices per loaf.

Notes

• This recipe is for a fun treat ONLY. It should not replace your dog’s regular meals. Please consult with your vet on the best plan for your dog’s diet.