Exploring Life & Business with Dana Guyette of Near and Deer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Guyette. 

Hi Dana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always wanted to own my own business ever since my dad quit his day job in 2002 and bought his own company. He wanted to be his own boss, and that’s something that I’ve desired as well. My professional background really began about 10 years ago when I first started as a brand manager/new product developer for the gift and home decor industries. I appreciate that I was able to work alongside some very talented minds in that world, and I learned much about brand management and identity, new product development, sourcing, and supply chain, purchasing, marketing, and design. 

In early 2020, I was ready to make the change to business ownership. I researched businesses for sale in my industry and I found Near and Deer in Pennsylvania. A very unique product line, Near and Deer is a manufacturer of hand-painted faux taxidermy wall art. I fell in love with the business and knew it was a great fit given my background. Since mid-2020, I have owned and managed Near and Deer, including navigating the giant task of moving business from Pennsylvania to Arizona! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Purchasing a business in 2020 was anything but smooth. We were all set to transfer ownership of the company in May 2020, but when COVID-19 quarantine began in March, we had to pause all aspects of the business purchase. Instead of transferring ownership all at once, we transferred one marketplace at a time. I took ownership of one sales channel in August 2020, and we were able to finalize the purchase in September 2020. At that point, all sales channels were transferred to me and the work really began. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Near and Deer. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We have a small team of about six people. We do custom-painted wall sculptures of deer, moose, bison, unicorn, T-rex, and more! Near and Deer is a cruelty-free solution to the musty taxidermy of the past. All of our products are made from resin – no animals were harmed in our taxidermy! We are direct-to-consumer, but we also work with retailers all over the world. Just this month we have shipped faux moose heads to install in every room of a hotel in Canada, and last month we did an installment of decor pieces for a chain of retail stores (coincidently also in Canada). Our customers really love our fabric decoupage heads the best; this is a piece that is unique to Near and Deer and truly sets us apart from other similar shops. We can customize any of our products to fit your color palette or design aesthetic, and we love collaborating with customers to find the best piece for their home! 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Tenacity. Sheer determination to follow through even given tough circumstances (such as a global pandemic). The will to be in control of my own life and professional progress. The desire to be a different kind of leader for my team. I value open dialogue, collaborative decision-making, and mutual professional development. I’ve loved working with my team on new ideas for Near and Deer. 

Contact Info:

• Email: dana@nearanddeer.com
• Website: www.nearanddeer.com
• Instagram: @nearanddeer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NearandDeer/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NearAndDeer

Image Credits
Twin Lens Studios