Dog treats launch teen into business world: Eagle River entrepreneur spins business training into income.

• Author: West, Gail
• Position: YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

Marketing, production, quality assurance, packaging, sales and accounting--business essentials, all. And at 19, an age when other young women worry about what to wear to Friday night's party, Chelsey Homan is juggling all the puzzle pieces that keep her business together.

Launching her business, Doggy Decadents, a year ago, Homan already has a loyal clientele, has developed a Web site, and is looking to expand her market reach as well as product selection. Today, her products sell through Anchorage pet store Paw Prince, Kobuk Coffee and Tea Co. in Anchorage, Country Canine in Eagle River, Anchorage's Saturday Market, online and throughout the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Society network.

ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING

Two years ago, Homan was a junior at Chugiak High School when her business teacher handed her best friend an application for a scholarship to Camp Start-Up, a weeklong entrepreneurial camp for young women. Homan asked for an application, too. She completed it and entered the competition for the scholarship, offered by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Society. That year, she was one of three winners who traveled to Cornell University to learn business basics from teachers and women entrepreneurs near the campus.

When Homan returned, she put her lessons into practice and began producing dog treats in her mother's kitchen.

"I had always dreamed about having my own business," Homan said. "I watched my parents, who have their own businesses, and I wanted to be like them."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Homan's father owns a home remodeling business and her mother runs her own business as a seamstress.

FINDING A NICHE

Sparking her interest in dog treats was a stint as an employee at Pet Zoo in Eagle River and her own new puppy, Skipper, a Schipperke/Husky mix.

"I could see the possibilities for dog treats," Homan said.

She began testing recipes and trying them out on her own puppy, coming up with results that Skipper favored and nutritional to boot.

"I use all natural ingredients," Homan said.

No additives--no salt, no sugar, no butter. Human-grade peanut butter, honey, yogurt, carob and other ingredients fill the dog treats, and in addition to baking them, Homan dehydrates them to increase shelf life.

Packaging them was a...