How a Youth Pastor Built a Frog Empire 🚀🐸

Total Michigan

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