In 2021, when Kayla Rodgers and her family decided to relocate from New Jersey to the small town of Mountaintop, Pennsylvania to be closer to family, there was no hesitation. “It was a simple decision,” said Rodgers. Because with Amazon, Rodgers said, she knew she could bring her budding dog enrichment business, The Nosey Nose, anywhere.
Rodgers had started The Nosey Nose in 2019 after adopting a high-energy German Shepherd mix. Frustrated by the lack of engaging training tools on the market, Rodgers created her own nose work kits and began selling them online.
As demand for the products grew, Rodgers realized she needed a more efficient way to fulfill orders than making daily trips to the post office. That’s when she turned to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). FBA is a program that lets sellers, like Rodgers, outsource order fulfillment to Amazon and offer customers free, two-day shipping through Prime. By enrolling in FBA, Rodgers is able to send her Nosey Nose kits from her kitchen table into Amazon’s global network of fulfillment centers, and Amazon associates pick, pack, and ship orders, as well as handle customer service and returns. And it comes with a savings. On average, shipping with FBA costs 70% less per unit than comparable premium options offered by other US fulfillment services.
“Amazon was a great draw for us just because of their loyal customers and robust seller programs,” Rodgers explained. “We can just send all the inventory to Amazon and then it’s really hands off, just working on the marketing and the other sides of the business.”
No longer burdened by the logistics of shipping orders herself, Rodgers was able to focus on product development, marketing, and growing the brand. Despite their now small town roots, Rodgers business has continued to grow. Between 2021 and 2023, Nosey Nose’s Amazon revenues increased 70%, going from $140,000 to $239,000.
Today, Amazon is The Nosey Nose’s fastest growing sales channel and its tools and services allow Rodgers to operate her business from where her family’s chosen community. As she looks to the future, Rodgers plans to continue expanding her product line and exploring new ways to spread the word about the benefits of nose work training.