Pennsylvania
Average annual sales
$225,000
Items sold
97 million
The dog lover whose cake mixes spark joy for canines—and jobs for Pennsylvanians
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Puppy Cake
When it comes to her pets, Kelly Costello has always had a sense of occasion. As a child, she hosted weddings for the family dogs, a tradition she carried into adulthood, throwing birthday parties for her four pups. That love of celebrating dogs inspired her to create Puppy Cake, the company she founded in 2007 to make dog-friendly cake mixes and treats.
After launching in the Amazon store, Costello propelled Puppy Cake into a multi-million-dollar business at one point employing nearly two dozen people around Pittsburgh, PA. With help from seller tools like Amazon Global, the brand’s best-selling canine confections reach pet lovers in the United States and Canada.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see how a simple, thoughtfully made cake can bring people together, strengthen the bond between pets and their owners, and sprinkle a little extra happiness into everyone’s day,” she said.
After launching in the Amazon store, Costello propelled Puppy Cake into a multi-million-dollar business at one point employing nearly two dozen people around Pittsburgh, PA. With help from seller tools like Amazon Global, the brand’s best-selling canine confections reach pet lovers in the United States and Canada.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see how a simple, thoughtfully made cake can bring people together, strengthen the bond between pets and their owners, and sprinkle a little extra happiness into everyone’s day,” she said.
Growing with Amazon: small business owner proves big business dreams can thrive from anywhere
Mountaintop, Pennsylvania
Nosey Nose
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. With the help of Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service, Rodgers was able to seamlessly transition her budding dog enrichment business, The Nosey Nose, to the remote community without sacrificing growth.
Today, Amazon is The Nosey Nose’s fastest growing sales channel and its tools and services allow Rodgers to operate her business from the comfort of her family’s small-town community.
Today, Amazon is The Nosey Nose’s fastest growing sales channel and its tools and services allow Rodgers to operate her business from the comfort of her family’s small-town community.
Amazon keeps small business “one step ahead” as it scales globally
Elverson, PA
NordStick
After a pandemic layoff derailed Garrett Drumheller’s career, the sports physical therapist leveraged his wellness background to invent the NordStick, a portable strength training tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts meant to reduce hamstring injuries. With hands-on support from Amazon Strategic Account Services, the small business is leveraging Prime Day to power sales and reach new customers, generating a month of revenue in just two days during last year’s annual deal event. In just three years, NordStick has reached over $6 million in sales. “I’m a hundred percent devoted to growing my business and helping more people outside of what I can do in just one physical therapy clinic through my products—and Amazon remains a staple of that,” Drumheller said.
Glass half full: Artisan says selling on Amazon is “life-changing”
Christina, PA
Bottled Up Designs
In the basement of her Pennsylvania home, Laura Bergman built a factory for her Amazon Handmade following.
“There’s a guy outside my window pulling his plow with horses and I’m in my basement, where I can reach millions of customers,” said Bergman. “This does not exist anywhere else.”
She joined the Amazon Handmade community in 2014, marketing herself among other artisans, was badged as a certified small business and signed up for Fulfillment by Amazon to reduce her backend work. It didn’t take long, she said, for customers to find her “corner of Amazon” and start buying.
“There’s a guy outside my window pulling his plow with horses and I’m in my basement, where I can reach millions of customers,” said Bergman. “This does not exist anywhere else.”
She joined the Amazon Handmade community in 2014, marketing herself among other artisans, was badged as a certified small business and signed up for Fulfillment by Amazon to reduce her backend work. It didn’t take long, she said, for customers to find her “corner of Amazon” and start buying.