What I discussed on the Unleash Beauty podcast

Recently, I had the pleasure of joining the Unleash Beauty podcast by Bark & Beauty Grooming Wellness Studio in Adliswil for a conversation with founder and certified groomer Yuliia.

We spoke honestly about what it really takes to build a business in the pet industry in Switzerland, and how much work, trust and expertise exist behind the scenes of both products and services for dogs.

What was discussed

In the episode, I shared how LEALE began from a very simple real-life frustration. Walking a dog should feel effortless, but in reality it often does not. I wanted a walking solution that was functional, practical for everyday life, and still thoughtfully designed for both dog and owner.

When I could not find a leash that truly matched those needs, I decided to create one myself. That idea became the starting point for LEALE and for our flagship product, a leash designed to adapt to different situations, owners, and dogs.

Building trust in the pet industry

One of the strongest themes in the conversation was trust.

Yuliia spoke about how emotional grooming is for dog owners. Leaving your dog with a groomer is not a simple transaction. It is a matter of confidence, care, and feeling that your dog is in safe hands. In her world, expertise matters, but so does reputation, communication, and the ability to make owners feel understood.

I could strongly relate to that, even though LEALE is a product-based business. For us, the challenge is different but connected. We do not meet every customer in person, and people often discover us online before they can ever touch or try our products. That means we have to build trust through design, communication, education, and the customer experience itself.

The surprising reality of grooming in Switzerland

One particularly interesting part of the episode was our discussion around grooming in Switzerland.

Many dog owners assume that because Switzerland is highly regulated, grooming must be too. But as Yuliia explained, that is not actually the case. In practice, anyone can open a grooming salon, even without deep knowledge of dog anatomy, coat types, handling, or behaviour.

That makes owner education incredibly important. Choosing a groomer is not only about convenience or price. It is about doing your research, understanding who is behind the service, and finding someone you truly trust with your dog.

It was a very eye-opening part of the conversation and an important reminder that expertise in the pet industry is not always immediately visible from the outside.

The hidden complexity of building a product brand in Switzerland

On my side, I spoke about one of the biggest surprises of building LEALE in Switzerland: logistics.

Switzerland is in the middle of Europe, but when you run an e-commerce business from here, cross-border shipping is far from simple. Sending even a small product abroad can involve customs declarations, VAT processes, fees, and administrative work that customers never see.

And that is exactly the point. Customers should not have to think about any of that. They should simply receive their package smoothly and enjoy the product. But behind that simple experience is a lot of operational effort.

For anyone thinking about launching a product-based business in Switzerland, this is one of those realities that only becomes fully visible once you are actually doing it.

Collaboration makes the industry stronger

One of my favourite parts of the conversation was speaking about collaboration within the pet industry.

Product-based and service-based businesses do not have to operate separately. In fact, they can strengthen each other. Yuliia and I spoke about how valuable it is when different people in the industry connect, exchange knowledge, and create better experiences for dog owners together.

That is also why I am so happy that LEALE products can now be discovered in person at Bark & Beauty in Adliswil. It gives customers the chance to see and feel the collection in a space that already stands for care, trust, and quality.

Listen to the episode

If you would like to hear the full conversation, you can listen to the episode on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.

And if you are looking for a grooming studio in the Zurich area, make sure to check out Bark & Beauty Studio in Adliswil. Yuliia brings a thoughtful, informed and caring approach to grooming, and it comes through immediately when you speak with her.