Because of Bobo... - Bobbi Panter Pet Products

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By Candace T. Botha, Publisher
It
Because of Bobo...
separable, and so began a love story that
would last 16 years.
After spending several years in LA,
Bobbi decided that she wasn’t particularly
fond of the lifestyle that was so closely
associated with a career in acting, so she
returned to Chicago.
“Living in LA certainly was exciting, but
it’s nothing like I do now,” Bobbi says of
her early career.
was a classic story of love at first
sight.
No, not the breathless kind you
read about in a romance novel. Instead,
it was a heart-to-heart bond between a
beautiful, multi-talented dog lover and an
eight-week-old Shih Tzu that became her
best friend and beloved
companion.
The tiny ball of fur
was given the name
“Bobo” by Bobbi Panter,
who, at the time, was
an aspiring actress and
writer.
Born in Pennsylvania
and raised in Chicago,
Bobbi is an alumna
of the Second City, a
world-renowned comedy theatre and school
of improvisation. Like
many young actresses
often do, Bobbi headed
west to Los Angeles,
where she worked in
television in several sitcoms, including Who’s
the Boss?, and many
national commercials.
During her career,
Bobbi also wrote, produced and starred in a
two-woman show.
It was while she was
living in LA that Bobbi
“rescued” an adorable
pup from a pet store in
Los Angeles.
“I fell in love with
Bobo the moment I
Pictured above, Bobbi Panter with her signature collection
saw her,” Bobbi says.
of natural pet products. Photo by Connie Summers.
Bobbi and Bobo
At right, Bobbi’s beloved Shih Tzu, Bobo.
Photo courtesy of Bobbi Panter
instantly became in-
Although Bobbi is still in the spotlight,
so to speak, it is not as an actress, but as
an “innovator” and entrepreneur. She
is the founder and CEO of Bobbi Panter
Pet Products, a signature collection of
chemical-free shampoos and conditioners
for dogs and cats that is available at more
than 3,000 pet retail stores and grooming
salons nationwide. Bobbi’s products also
can be found in human salons, boutiques
and, yes—even feed stores—throughout
the country.
With the corporate headquarters of her
company based in Chicago, Bobbi and
her husband, Matt Arnoux, a successful
Chicago attorney she met through mutual
friends, now divide their time between the
Windy City and Anna Maria Island, where
Bobbi’s family has had a home for 41
years.
Sadly, Bobo is now only part of Bobbi’s
life in spirit and joyful memory; she journeyed to the Rainbow Bridge in 2005. But
her legacy lives on in the line of products
that Bobbi originally created especially for
her after treatment for a medical condition made Bobo’s skin dry and flaky and
caused her fur to lose its sheen, thin and
fall out.
Six years after
Bobo’s passing,
it is still difficult
for Bobbi to talk
about her pup
without tears
glistening in her
eyes.
“Bobo was my
heart,” Bobbi
says.
“We all love
our dogs,” she
adds. “When
we cry or have
a bad day, they
always make us
feel so loved. I
wanted to give
something back
to Bobo for the all the
support and love that
she had given me.”
So, how does
someone with a
background in acting,
writing and produc-
Bobbi Panter’s Legacy for Her Beloved Pup
Lives On in An Ever-Expanding Collection
of Natural Pet Products
34 Sarasota/Manatee Pet
ing make the transition to successful pet
product entrepreneur?
Without a doubt, a deep love for—and
abiding devotion to—her four-legged
furry companion were Bobbi’s sole inspiration.
Like many Shih Tzus, Bobo had watery
eyes, a common condition that often
leads to loosening of the retinas from an
energetic shaking of the head when these
playful pups tug and toss their toys.
When Bobo was about eight or nine
years old, she suddenly began running
into furniture and experiencing depth perception issues; once she fell in the pool,
and another time, she fell in the canal
behind the family’s Florida home.
Bobbi took Bobo to a veterinary eye
place,” Bobbi says. “He then removed the
cataract.”
Bobo’s recuperation required two weeks
of quiet sedation to safeguard her already
compromised vision.
“I carried Bobo everywhere to keep her
as calm and still as possible,” Bobbi says.
Sadly, the surgery and the steroids she
had during and after the procedure took a
toll on Bobo’s tiny body.
“Bobo was just miserable,” Bobbi
explains. “The steroids she had to take
affected her fur and skin. The fur actually
began to fall off of her tail, and her skin
became very dry and flaky.
“The drugs also changed her entire
personality; she once was so spirited and
soon became very subdued; she no longer
table salt!” Bobbi says. “It’s frequently used
as a cheap filler and thickener in many of
the products on the market and, not surprisingly, it can be very harsh and damaging to a dog’s skin and coat.”
And so Bobbi embarked on a long, yet
love-filled journey to create a product of
her own that would help her beloved pup.
With absolutely no background or experience in product development, Bobbi
spent hours upon hours reading, learning
and reading more. In her research, she
studied books on natural healing remedies for both people and for pets and
compared and cross-referenced recommendations for all-natural ingredients and
essential oils that would be both beneficial
and safe to use.
Since Bobbi Panter Pet Products first was launched in 2003, Bobbi’s signature collection has
evolved, gently treating a range of common problems in pets. In each of the products,
only the highest quality, hand-selected essential oils and natural ingredients are used.
Photo courtesy of Bobbi Panter Pet Products
specialist, who was unable to save the
retina, and Bobo lost vision in one eye.
Bobbi was devastated, but the veterinarian assured her that Bobo would adapt.
I remember the doctor telling me, ‘It
bothers you more than it bothers her,’
Bobbi says.
As Bobo grew older, her vision was
again at risk when she began developing a
major cataract on her other eye.
“To save Bobo’s vision, the eye specialist first lasered the retina to promote the
growth of scar tissue to hold the retina in
pranced around or held her head up
high,” Bobbi adds.
In her quest to find a product that
would soothe Bobo’s skin, restore the
sheen to her coat, and—most importantly—make her pup happy again, Bobbi
came up empty-handed.
“I bought moisturizing shampoos and
conditioners that claimed to be all natural,” Bobbi says, “but there was nothing on
the market that helped Bobo. I tried every
product available, and she ended up looking even worse than before.”
Bobbi explained her dilemma to a
friend, a chemist by trade, who suggested
that Bobbi send her the list of ingredients
from the latest product that she had tried.
“We were shocked to discover that the
main ingredient was sodium chloride, or
“From the outset, I had a vision of how
I wanted the product to look and smell,”
Bobbi recalls.
After first experimenting in her own
kitchen, Bobbi then compiled a list of 10
chemists and called every one.
“The last person I called was a little lady,
who was excited to work with me in developing products for dogs,” Bobbi says. “I
told her exactly what I wanted and which
ingredients I wanted to use.”
Bobbi’s first objective was to create a
product that did not contain salt.
“It was difficult to figure out how not
to use sodium chloride, but still make the
shampoo the right consistency,” Bobbi
explains. “Instead, we used conditioning
ingredients as thickeners.”
Continued on Page 36
Sarasota/Manatee Pet 35
geous Dog everywhere I went, and soon,
Bobo’s story began to catch on.”
Together, Bobbi and Bobo were inter Bobbi’s signature line of shampoos are,
viewed for local, regional and national
in fact, the only products now on the marmagazine and newspaper articles and apket that do not contain salt.
peared on TV and cable shows to promote
It took nearly 2 1/2 years of trial and
the new product line.
error to create just the right blend of esBobbi’s collection of products first
sential oils and natural ingredients.
received national attention on television
“I remember our very first batch looked
after she had been in business for about a
like egg yolk,” Bobbi says with a laugh.
year.
“So, we went back to the lab and changed
“QVC was conducting a product search
the percentages until we got it right.
to discover the 100 ‘best new finds,’ Bobbi
“These are all my own formulas, and
recalls. “So, I signed up on the
each one is trademarked,”
shopping network’s Web site.
Bobbi adds with pride. “They
“I always knew that I would
are custom formulas and
one day be on QVC,” Bobbi
fragrances with hand-picked
adds. “I don’t know how I
ingredients that are difficult to
knew, but I just did.”
make; every single product was
Bobbi was one of 7,000
a monumental process.”
young entrepreneurs that ap The first product that Bobbi
plied for the product search
introduced seven years ago
and among the final 100 that
was Gorgeous Dog, a “natural
were selected.
beautifying shampoo” that is
“We were only given five
a concentrated and pleasantly
minutes to make our presentapeach-scented blend of Vitamin
tions,” Bobbi recalls. “The night
E, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera, Chambefore, I remember thinking,
omile, Rosemary and Lavender.
‘This is ridiculous; the chances
Like all of the products in her
of being selected were like
line, Gorgeous Dog is tear-free
finding a needle in a haystack’;
and pH balanced to match the
it was crazy.”
eyes.
Bobbi eventually appeared
“I can still remember the
numerous times on QVC to
first time I gave a bottle of
promote her product line.
the finished product of GorHer first appearance on the
geous Dog to Bobo’s groomer,
shopping network, however,
who would test each of the
was marred by tragedy. In Auproducts for me,” Bobbi says.
gust 2005, her beloved father
“When I picked Bobo up from
passed away. While she was
the groomer after she used the
at the funeral home making
product, I could see a huge
his final arrangements, she redifference in her skin and coat
ceived a phone call from QVC;
with just one wash.”
the producers had an opening
With the initial success of
and wanted her in Seattle to
Gorgeous Dog—which was so
appear on the show.
named because Bobbi whole“I was totally distraught after
heartedly believes that “every
losing my dad,” Bobbi says
dog is a gorgeous dog”—
with great sadness. “But when
Bobbi began to develop other
Above, pictured in front of the fireplace in her Anna Maria Island home,
I hung up with QVC, I thought
products that addressed specific
Bobbi Panter and her two adorable Shih Tzus, Bebe and Cece, who now
to myself, ‘Hold on a minute;
problems that her own dog or
have their own premier collection of pet shampoos.
her friends’ dogs were experiencPhoto by Connie Summers your father was waiting for
this; he would want you to go
ing.
on.’
Next in line was Itchy Dog, a
wipe-off conditioning and moisturizing
“So, Matt and I traveled to Seattle, and
natural shampoo that moisturizes dry,
shampoo that doesn’t require rinsing.
I appeared on QVC just five days after my
flaky skin and relieves hot spots.
Officially launching her company in
father’s funeral,” Bobbi adds.
“Itchy Dog has been the best seller in the 2003, Bobbi worked with a “very small PR
Despite her heartbreaking loss, Bebe, a
collection,” Bobbi says. “I knew it would
firm” to market her new products.
Shih Tzu puppy Bobbi adopted in March
be when I developed it.”
“I needed to get Bobo’s story out, so I
that same year, was still a small “bright
Made with soothing and healing ingredi- did some marketing on my own, as well,”
spot” in her life. The tiny pup accompaents, Itchy Dog even has been effective in
Bobbi says. “I would take a bottle of GorContinued from page 35
36 Sarasota/Manatee Pet
relieving the symptoms of psoriasis and
poison ivy in humans, Bobbi says.
Other products in the signature collection include the odor-eliminating Stinky
Dog, a shampoo that, although gentle,
is powerful enough to remove the smell
of skunk after just one wash; Bad Hair
Day Dog, a shampoo and conditioner in
one that softens, smooths and detangles
unruly fur; Snarly Dog, a spray-on, leavein conditioner that detangles and restores
the natural sheen to a dog’s coat; and
Gorgeous Dry Dog & Cat, a spray-on,
Although all of Bobbi Panter’s products
nied Bobbi and Matt to QVC in Seattle.
are safe for cats, Bobbi began to receive
Less than two months later, tragedy
customer requests for cat shampoos.
struck again when Bobo passed away in
Bobbi Panter’s Signature Cat Line now inthe beginning of October.
cludes Shaggy Cat Shampoo, a shampoo
The same day that Bobo passed, Matt,
and conditioner in one that detangles and
Bobbi’s husband, was standing in front of
reduces dander and matting; Scratchy Cat
a PETCO window in New York City that
Shampoo, a natural, soothing product
featured a life-sized photo of Bobbi and
that relieves scratching and skin flaking
Bobo. When she called to tell him her
while reducing dander; and Smelly Cat
news, he said to a weeping Bobbi, “Bobo
Shampoo, a natural deodorizing product
made Manhattan!”
that eliminates odors.
“Bobo was completely blind when she
Felix, by the way, loves the baths Matt
died,” Bobbi says. “Looking back, it seems
now gives him!
I never had a chance to grieve for her,
Since launching her first collection,
because I was still reeling from the loss of
Bobbi always has envisioned creating a
my father.”
variety of different product lines. In recent
Not long after Bobbi lost Bobo, she
adopted Cece, Bebe’s
sister from another
litter. The pet-friendly
Panter/Arnoux household now has two
dogs and a cat named
Felix. Bobbi affectionately calls her two
pups “the girls.”
In the years that
followed, Bobbi
continued to expand
her product line.
After adopting Bebe,
she developed Baby
Bebe Puppy Shampoo and Baby Bebe
Puppy Spray. Both
products are specially
formulated with extra
gentle ingredients to
clean and condition
the finest puppy fur. Above, Bebe and Cece pictured with their new line of shampoos, which
In 2008, Bobbi introincludes Precious Puppy, Oatmeal & Shea Butter, Ocean Breeze,
Fresh Berry and Orange Citrus. Photo by Connie Summers
duced Charlie Dog All
Natural Flea and Tick
Shampoo. Named
years, with the downturn in the economy,
in memory of Bobbi’s father, Chuck, the
she realized the timing was right to create
caricature of the dog on the label, Bobbi
a new line of “good products at a great
says, even resembles her father!
price.”
Safe for use on puppies, kittens, dogs
In developing her newest line, Bobbi
and cats, Charlie Dog is a natural, greatknew that quality could not be comprosmelling antidote to a variety of annoying
mised.
insects, including fleas, ticks, mosquitoes
“I couldn’t take my signature line, water
and even lice on children.
it down and sell it for less money,” Bobbi
Now available in a gallon-sized bottles,
says, “so I needed to develop a completely
Charlie Dog also can safely be used on
different formula.”
horses.
And that she did.
“Horse owners use Charlie Dog and love Earlier this year at the Global Pet Expo
it!” Bobbi says.
in Orlando, Bobbi’s newest collection,
Bobbi also has created Bobbi Panter
Bebe and Cece dog shampoo by Bobbi
Natural, a line of products exclusively
Panter, made its national debut. Using a
formulated for PETCO but now available
brand new custom formula and only the
at other pet stores .
highest quality, hand-selected ingredients,
Bobbi created five new dog shampoos—
Precious Puppy, Oatmeal & Shea Butter,
Ocean Breeze, Fresh Berry and Orange
Citrus.
The new shampoos, Bobbi says, are
“both gentle on the dogs and the dog
lover’s budget.”
“A lot of people won’t even look at
shampoos above a certain price point,”
Bobbi says. “With my new Bebe and Cece
line, now they can purchase premium
products at an affordable price.”
The manufacturer’s suggested retail
price of products in the new line is only
$9.99 for a 16-ounce bottle.
During the past eight years, Bobbi not
only has set a new precedent in the pet industry with her steadfast commitment to
quality, but she also
has established a new
protocol in product
labeling.
Unlike the products
created by other pet
shampoo manufacturers, Bobbi lists not
only all the ingredients used, but also
their functions, on
the back label of her
signature line.
“There are no regulations in this industry, so companies are
not required to list
ingredients,” Bobbi
says. “Some manufacturers offer partial
lists, while others just
paraphrase. But, I
want my customers
to know exactly what
ingredients are in my products and how
they can help their pets.”
Every one of Bobbi’s product labels also
proudly reads, “Made with love in the
USA.”
What also is interesting to note is that all
of the essential oils and other ingredients
in Bobbi’s products are not imported, but
originate here in the United States.
As an example, Bobbi says, “I only use
the highest grade aloe vera in my products. I could buy it in China, where it is
very inexpensive, but the quality just is
not comparable.”
It has been a long journey, to be sure. Admittedly, the work, at times, can be
Continued on Page 38
Sarasota/Manatee Pet 37
Continued from page 37
wearisome, like when there are boxes
upon boxes of products that need to be
packed in the warehouse, and Bobbi, who
is very much a hands-on business owner,
pitches in to get the job done.
“There are moments when I think
to myself, ‘All I wanted to do was help
Bobo,’” Bobbi says with a laugh. “But
something keeps driving me to do it.
“I love it...all of it,” Bobbi says with conviction. “The satisfaction of helping both
dogs and their owners is so fulfilling.”
Often, it is the testimonials from satisfied customers and professional groomers
that bring Bobbi the most joy.
“One customer sent me an e-mail, telling me that her dog had been in misery
with a skin condition for years until she
used Itchy Dog,” Bobbi recalls. “She ended
her e-mail by saying, ‘God bless you,
Bobbi.’”
And then there was the phone call
from a groomer in LA, who had been in
Above, Cece and her sister, Bebe,
love spending time at their family
home on Anna Maria Island.
Photo by Connie Summers
business for three decades. One of Bobbi’s
sales reps recently had dropped off product samples at his salon.
“The groomer told me that she had been
searching for my phone number,” Bobbi
explains. “She said that she had been in
business for 30 years and never came
across products like these. She thanked
me and said the products were amazing.”
Indeed, owning a business has both its
rewards and its frustrations.
To escape the stress of their busy lives,
Bobbi, Matt, Bebe and Cece often retreat
to the serene surroundings of Anna Maria
Island.
“I spent a lot of time with my dad here
in Florida,” Bobbi says; “this house was his
pride and joy. I am honoring my father by
keeping the house in the same spirit that
38 Sarasota/Manatee Pet
Here’s Where to Find
Bobbi Panter Pet Products
Forest Lakes Animal Clinic
Sarasota
Holistic for Pets
Sarasota • Bradenton
Above, as one of the “spokesdogs” for Bobbi
Panter’s newest line of shampoos, Bebe has
become quite comfortable in front of the
camera. Photo by Connie Summers
he did, as a welcoming place for family
and friends.
“We all love it here,” Bobbi continues.
“The minute we turn down the street, the
girls instantly know where we are, and
they get so excited.
“We aren’t visiting; this is our home,”
Bobbi adds.
From the time Bobbi first started custom
blending ingredients in her own kitchen,
her priorities for the products she develops have never shifted.
“What is most important in everything
I do is not only that am I honoring Bobo,
but that I also am helping so many animals; that’s truly what makes me happiest,” Bobbi continues. “I love to talk about
my products, and I especially enjoying
telling people about Bobo and my dad.
“Actually, I am really proud of each product I have created,” Bobbi continues. “My
name is on all of them, so they have to do
what they claim.”
Is Bobbi surprised where her journey as
an entrepreneur has led?
Not at all.
“There are times that it can be quite intimidating when I think about all these big
corporations that develop new products,
and here I am, launching my own line,”
Bobbi says.
“But I’ve always thought of myself as The
Little Engine That Could,” Bobbi adds. “I
say to myself, ‘I can do that,’ and I just go
from my heart.”
For additional information about
Bobbi Panter’s line of products,
please visit www.BobbiPanter.com.
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