Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Deters.
Hi Sarah , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Callie Mae’s really started with a combination of my years of experience in the pet bakery industry and a desire for a fresh start. I had been in the industry for just over 15 years, and through some mutual friends, I was introduced to my now business partner, Andy Wiltz, who owns several pet-related businesses here in Kansas City. We quickly realized we shared a lot of the same ideas and passion for pets and decided to take a chance and create something of our own.
The inspiration behind Callie Mae’s is very personal. Callie was my rescue dog, and she came to us as a foster dog after living a life of neglect. With good nutrition, healthy treats, and, of course, lots of love, she was nursed back to health and became this incredibly happy, fun-loving dog that we just couldn’t let go of. She really embodied everything we wanted Callie Mae’s to be about.
Ultimately, we’re just people who love our dogs and care about what we feed them. We wanted to create a place where pet parents could find delicious, fun treats that they could feel good about giving their dogs. That idea became Callie Mae’s Barkery & Bath.
We opened our first location in Waldo two years ago, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate to grow from there. We recently added our second location in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and we’re also in the process of opening a third location in Lenexa, Kansas, which we’re hoping to have open by the end of the year.
It’s been exciting to see how much Callie Mae’s has grown, but at the heart of it, we’re still focused on that original idea: making great treats, taking care of pets, and creating a place that feels like part of the local pet community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been an easy road. In the beginning, some of our biggest challenges were simply getting the word out that we were here, figuring out the right mix of products, and, of course, learning that not everything you bake is going to turn out the way you planned! There were plenty of long days where there just weren’t enough hours to get everything done.
As we’ve grown, our challenges have changed. Now, our biggest hurdle is capacity and making sure we can keep up with the demand for our most popular treats. We’re busy, which is such a great problem to have, but it can definitely be a challenge to keep enough of everything stocked in the cases while maintaining the quality and freshness we’re known for.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While we try to be a one-stop shop for both dogs and cats, with everything from food and supplements to chews, collars, toys, and other pet essentials, our real specialty is our bakery. We also offer a self-serve dog wash, but what really sets us apart is our selection of fresh-baked cookies, cakes, and pastries made specifically for dogs.
We’re probably best known for our cheddar fish treats, our cake Paw-psicles, and anything birthday-related. Our Barkday Cake Cookies and specialty cakes have become some of our most popular items, and we also create custom cakes and cookie orders for dog birthday parties, celebrations, and even corporate events.
What I’m most proud of is that we’ve been able to create something that is both fun and meaningful for pet parents. We take the same care with our treats that people would expect from a traditional bakery, while making sure they’re made with ingredients we feel good about giving our own dogs. We’re not just selling pet products—we’re helping people celebrate the pets that are such an important part of their families. I think that combination of quality, creativity, and genuine love for pets is what really sets us apart.
What does success mean to you?
For me, success is about more than just how much we sell or how quickly we grow. Of course, being profitable and continuing to grow is important, but I think true success is building something that people genuinely value and want to come back to.
I feel successful when a customer tells us their dog loved their birthday cake, when someone discovers a new product that really helps their pet, or when we become a place that people think of as part of their community. I’m also proud when we’re able to create a great experience for our employees and build a business that they enjoy being a part of.
Ultimately, success for me is being able to grow Callie Mae’s while staying true to why we started it in the first place—making quality, fun products for pets, taking good care of our customers, and creating something that we can be proud of. If we can do all of that while continuing to grow and make a difference in the lives of pets and their people, I’d consider that a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.calliemaesbarkery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calliemaesbarkery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Callie-Maes-Barkery-Bath/61557589192704/
