What motivated you to start your business and what is your vision for the future of the company?

Knotty Tail was born from a passion to create handcrafted, high-quality, and sustainable accessories and dinnerware that are made to last. Our commitment to sustainability sets us apart; we source our materials locally when possible, use eco-friendly production processes and packaging, and donate our products to give back to our community. At the heart of our business is a desire to bring beauty into people's pets and homes while making a positive impact on the planet. Knotty Tail was founded in late 2021 when we discovered that the pet industry produces millions of tons of plastic every year globally, and canines are beginning to get sicker and dying prematurely over the past few decades, as per studies. As we were shopping at pet stores, we noticed a gap in the market for Eco-friendly and natural pets products. Our business was inspired to create healthier accessories and lifestyle for our rescued dog and other pets, and a strong vision for our planet to be plastic free, toxic chemical free, and zero waste. I have been suffering from mental disorders and health issues since I was a child, and I turned to art and nature to reduce stress and anxiety, improve immunity, and recover from illness and trauma. Due to my weak immune system, synthetic materials, microplastics, and many toxic chemicals, additives and pollutants had negative impacts to my health through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact. Plastics and toxic chemical pollution doesn't only threaten me, it negatively affects everyone, future generations, wildlife, mammals, and environments at different stages of life. When I made the switch to sustainable and natural products, my life changed for the better. Canines and felines experience allergies as well. Therefore, I believe they are no different and can be allergic to the same types of things, and experience the same impact as people. While I can’t change the fact that I have health issues, I am hopeful that I can encourage people to switch to sustainable products to create better health for their pets, themselves, and the world together. Our vision for the future of Knotty Tail is to become a one-stop Eco-friendly storefront with a Canine sanctuary to support those in need. We're striving for a future where we can live in harmony with Mother Nature and provide care to Canines who are struggling. Our goal is to prohibit all plastics and toxic chemicals worldwide as we believe the products we use shouldn't have negative effects on us and the planet, and that we should feel good using them. Provided that we don't have that manpower, we hope to build a space and communities that would influence and emphasize improving the overall health of animals, humans, the environment, and the planet by switching to sustainability. My passion for art, food, and nature has deeply influenced the products that we offer. We envision not only running an Eco-friendly business, but are also hosting free education workshops across the globe in collaboration with scientists/researchers to raise awareness and demonstrate how synthetic materials, microplastics, and many toxic chemicals, additives, and pollutants may have negative impacts to our health. However, our commitment to sustainability doesn't stop at our products. Our goal has always been to empower people to reduce their plastic and synthetic consumption, and it has been so rewarding to see the impact we are making together. Knotty Tail is more than just a business; it’s a movement towards a better future for us, animals, mammals, and our planet.

Why do you deserve to win the Best Youth Entrepreneur Award?

Being awarded the Best Youth Entrepreneur Award will play a pivotal role in achieving our growth objectives, furthering our mission of promoting sustainable living and helping animals in need. As a small business with limited resources, and the heavy cost of buying Eco-friendly material, a young solopreneur faces higher financial risks. What truly sets us apart is providing sustainable products at a budget friendly price which is comparable to our competitor's pricing who are not providing sustainable products. We take an Earth-first approach with everything we do, from product development, materials used, product packaging, and shipping supplies. Each product is carefully handcrafted/designed with nature as our inspiration. Provided that our profit margin is small and the lack of sales, we are experiencing financial challenges to stay in business. Sustainability is rooted deep into the core of our brand. We believe the cost of sustainable products should not be higher or compromised on quality. We are committed to create something bigger than ourselves, as I'm confident we can make a difference in the lives of others. And as always, our planet holds a special place in my heart. We are deeply committed to our business to continue making a meaningful impact on pets and their owners alike. Our business goal is to give back to the community as much as we are receiving. Currently, we donate our products and support the locals and communities as much as we can. We don't ask for their support in return, but appreciate that they inform others of our products and/or motion. We believe that being able to make the world a better place through any sized action is impactful. With financial assistance, and exposure to generate sales, we will be able to accomplish our goal to give back to Animal shelters to support dogs in need. Animal shelters hold a special place in our heart, as we rescued our dog from a shelter and understand the hardship of maintaining a shelter. This award would assist us in employing a marketing professional to provide brand and health awareness and proactive steps towards achieving the full potential of our business and mission. This award will also provide valuable exposure, networking opportunities, and create goodwill for our business and community. We wish to inspire consumers and other companies to make small and impactful changes, and offer initiatives to further their social responsibility. Winning this award would be a recognition of the hard work, creativity, and love we pour into every art piece. Our dedication and resilience have driven us to continually grow and innovate. Knowing that we can make a difference in the lives of others and our planet holds a special place in my heart. Your support means the world to us! Thank you for being on this journey with us!