Manish Paul, a seasoned finance professional with over 16 years in equity derivatives trading, found his true calling through a heart-wrenching personal loss. In 2018, Paul’s beloved French Mastiff bulldog, Juno, passed away due to the unavailability of timely veterinary care. This tragic event was the catalyst for the creation of Monkoodog, a comprehensive pet care platform offering veterinary, dog training, and grooming services. “I lost my dog because of not getting the help on time, so I thought, why not provide veterinary care at the doorstep?” says Paul.
Monkoodog emerged as a beacon for pet parents, initially as a community providing valuable pet care insights through blogs, videos, and social media. The platform quickly evolved, launching in Delhi in 2022 to offer doorstep veterinary services, a first in the region. Paul noted, “After COVID, a lot of things have changed. People now want all services and goods to be delivered right to their door. So, why not veterinary care, then?”
Capitalizing on the success of Monkoodog, over seven months ago, Paul introduced Moe Puppy, a premium grooming product line specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the Indian market. Recognizing a gap where customers either opted for low-quality local products or expensive imports, Moe Puppy offers high-quality, locally-produced grooming products. “We can produce it here in India, so why spend so much on premium overseas quality?” Paul questioned, emphasising the brand’s objective to offer high-quality, reasonably priced grooming products.
Furthermore, they plan to export made-in-India pet grooming products in the near future.
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The Potential of India’s Pet Care Market: Growth and Opportunities
The Indian pet care market, though burgeoning, is still in its infancy compared to Western counterparts. Paul notes, “The total pet industry is close to $1 billion, whereas the US market is almost $130 billion. Considering India’s population and the changing trends, we are poised to grow the fastest in the world.” The shift in consumer behavior, with increasing adoptions and awareness about pet health and grooming, underscores this potential.
Despite the market’s fragmentation, Paul remains optimistic about the future. Established brands like Pedigree dominate, but the rise of local and international grooming brands shows significant growth potential. “Even brands like TropiClean and Hydra are making inroads, and there is still so much more that can be achieved in the next 15-20 years,” Paul remarks.
Financial Growth and Expansion Plans for Monkoodog
Monkoodog’s financial journey reflects its growing influence. Launched in 2022, the company achieved a revenue of 36 lakhs in its first year, skyrocketing to 1.5 crores in the following year. For the current financial year, Monkoodog aims for 3.5 to 4 crores, with an equal split between services and grooming products. “We are already seeing excellent growth, with revenues close to 80 lakhs this quarter alone,” shares Paul.
Paul envisions a significant expansion for Monkoodog, both in services and product offerings. With an increasing focus on education and awareness, the company aims to bridge the gap in the Indian pet care market, moving from online to offline channels as it scales. “Our goal for the next 12 to 18 months is to use our website and Amazon. Eventually, we plan to capture the offline market, which is currently 85 to 90% of the market,” explains Paul.
Manish Paul’s journey from grieving pet parent to pioneering entrepreneur illustrates the profound impact of personal loss on professional inspiration. Monkoodog and Moi Puppy stand as testaments to his commitment to improving pet care accessibility and quality in India. As Paul succinctly puts it, “The business will boom in the next one and a half to two months for the pet care services, and we will do really well this quarter and ahead.”
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