19-year-old college student launches online dog supplies business

HARTFORD, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - A new online dog supply store launched at the beginning of this year. The founder is a 19-year-old, full-time college student who also works a full-time job. Mav’s Market was a dream she said she didn’t see coming true for another 10 to 20 years.

Founder and owner of Mav’s Market, Madison Leasure said she was inspired to start her business after a visit to Texas this past winter to visit family. While she was there she attended a vendor show and said she saw a handful of women, just like her, who started their own businesses. After an encouraging talk with her dad, Madison put Mav’s Market into motion, but she said this specific concept was something that had been on her mind for a while.

“I came up with the name probably three years ago. I was like ‘Oh my pet store’s gonna be called Mav’s Market’, I fell in love with Maverick, he’s my soul dog so that’s kind of what started it all,” said Madison.

She said that managing her time has been a small struggle in this journey, she explained how her biggest challenge this far has been the most life-changing.

“I’ve never done this, I’ve never known anyone who’s owned a small business or started a small business, so figuring out how much change to bring to a vendor show, I had no idea. So those little tiny things really are the biggest challenges for me,” Madison said.

Madison explained that what sets her business apart from the typical pet store, is their niche of quality. She said she always looks for the nutritional value of the edible products she sells, double-checking the ingredients. When it comes to toys, she looks for ones that don’t include stuffing.

Before she chooses which products she wants to include on Mav’s Market, she has to run it through a quality test from who she considers to be the owner of her business, her 3-year-old Australian Sheppard, Maverick.

She said, “If my dogs don’t like it, it doesn’t make the cut. We only carry the best,” and continued that, “We’re not your regular pet store. We really care about you and your dogs and their health and their well-being.”

By May of 2025, Madison said she hopes she can open her own brick-and-mortar in Hartford and looks to inspire young entrepreneurs to follow their passions as well.

“Just do it. I always say that, just do it. I started in 4 days and I know everyone has those little things that are like that’d be cool. You’ll have the support if it’s a great idea and if you’re passionate about it and if you put time into it and it’s gonna work out,” Madison said.

Mav’s Market will return to the Black Market’s final show on April 6th and 7th and Junkin Market days are April 19th and 20th. She also plans to donate a basket to the Royal Family Kid’s 25¢ Fundraiser.

To learn more about Mav’s Market click here.