Ep 10. Bentley's Corner Barkery

In the tenth episode of season three of "The Profit," the focus is on Bentley's Corner Barkery, a pet store food in Redondo Beach, California. Bentley's Corner Barkery is owned and operated by a husband and wife team with a passion for pets. However, despite their love for animals, they struggle to run a profitable business.

The episode begins with the owner, Lisa, explaining how she started the business as a way to provide healthy and natural pet food options to her community. She believes that there is a demand for such products but is struggling to make ends meet. The pet store is losing money, and Lisa is on the verge of shutting down the business.

Marcus Lemonis, the host of the show, arrives at the store to assess the situation. He quickly realizes that there are several problems with the business. First, the store does not have a clearly defined target market. They sell everything from pet food to clothing and toys, which makes it challenging to attract and retain customers. Second, they do not have a strong online presence, which is critical in today's market. Finally, the store is overstocked and disorganized, making it challenging to find products and keep track of inventory.

Marcus decides to invest $150,000 in the business in exchange for 50% ownership. His plan is to rebrand the business and create a clear identity for Bentley's Corner Barkery. He starts by meeting with the staff and explaining his vision for the store. He also takes Lisa and her husband, Roberto, to a pet food convention where they can learn about new products and network with other pet store owners.

Back at the store, Marcus implements several changes. He hires a new employee, Kiki, who has experience working in the pet industry. Kiki is tasked with reorganizing the store and creating a more streamlined product display. Marcus also brings in a branding expert to help create a new logo and marketing materials.

The team starts to implement the changes, and the store begins to look and feel different. They remove the clutter and focus on selling healthy and natural pet food. They also create a website and start selling products online.

As the episode progresses, we see the business start to turn around. The store is attracting more customers, and they are making more sales. Lisa and Roberto start to see the potential of their business and become more invested in its success. They also start to work more closely with Marcus, who provides them with guidance and support.

The episode ends with a meeting between Marcus and Lisa and Roberto. They discuss the progress of the business and the challenges they still face. Marcus offers them additional support and encourages them to keep pushing forward.

Overall, the episode is an inspiring story of a struggling small business that receives a much-needed boost from an experienced investor. It shows the importance of having a clear identity and target market, as well as the value of investing in branding and online marketing. It also highlights the power of perseverance and the importance of having a strong support network.