Meet Laura Brown | Retail Manager, Co-owner of Pibborafi and mother of Dakota Lake

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I juggle a lot to keep a healthy work/life balance. My husband and I have a very active 2 1/2 year old, so I am always making sure that I have plenty of time for her. Luckily, Pibborafi plushies are geared towards humans 3 and up, and she absolutely adores them and is always wanting to “help” in any way she can. I also work full-time at a job that I love and have been at for almost 18 years. I usually find the most time to focus on my small business is in the evenings once my daughter has gone to bed. My brain never seems to turn off, so my best ideas always come to me at night. Lol

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am very fortunate that I have a full-time job at a company that I absolutely love! I actually just ended the year in the top of the company for a second year in a row. It is very important how I schedule out my time to focus on Pibborafi around my other schedule. I have used many days off focusing on helping Pibborafi grow. Helping rescue dogs is a HUGE passion of mine! Not only do Pibborafi Rescue Dog Hero Plushies donate a portion of proceeds to rescues, but they also deliver a message that is so important in this day and age. They show children that “different is beautiful.” Many of the pups that the plushies are designed after have features that play important parts in their stories. Some have missing eyes, limbs; crooked jaws, etc. And each and every one of them are adorable and loved pups! They also encourage people to not look past the pups in shelters that may look a little different.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love food, so we always look for dog friendly restaurants!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Zach deserves a ton of credit in helping with my success. He has helped with everything from picking up plushies from the warehouse to setting up a small shipping center. He also keeps our daughter entertained if I have important emails to send. My dog Maggie also plays a huge part in where I am with Pibborafi. I lost her to cancer and she is actually on of Pibborafi’s first plushies. I saw how much the helped rescue dogs in her memory and even donated to a children’s hospital. I knew I had to be a part of something that was this amazing; and I have helped them grow. I am now the fourth-owner of the entire company.

Website: Www.pibborafi.com

Instagram: @pibborafi

Facebook: Pibborafi

Other: Tiktok @pibborafi