Youth pastor to frog mogul? That's the path Josh Willard, CEO and founder of Josh's Frogs, an online retailer of reptile and amphibian products. Josh shares his journey from a youth ministry pastor to a successful entrepreneur who turned his hobby into a multi-million-dollar business. The discussion covers Josh's unique business start, his ethical approach to animal trading, and his company's significant growth and impact on the exotic pet industry.
Link:
Josh's Frogs: https://joshsfrogs.com/
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Show Notes:
00:00 A Tough Start: Losing a Job and Facing Uncertainty
01:10 Meet Josh Willard: From Youth Ministry to Frog Enthusiast
01:59 From Pastor to Frog Seller: The Unexpected Career Shift
02:54 Building a Business from a Hobby
04:20 The Leap to Entrepreneurship: Risks and Rewards
05:43 Overcoming Financial Hurdles: The Birth of Josh's Frogs
10:58 The First Steps: Launching the Website and Early Sales
13:03 Explosive Growth: From Hobby to Multi-Million Dollar Business
15:54 Building a Team and Expanding the Business
16:52 Ethical and Sustainable Practices
17:20 Conservation Partnerships
17:55 Innovative Online Retail Strategy
18:57 Challenges of Captive Breeding
21:06 Decision to Stay Online
22:42 Expanding into New Species
24:06 Unique Hiring Practices
27:15 Navigating Legal and Regulatory Challenges
33:04 Conclusion and Contact Information
