NYC

What It’s Like to Work at a Startup

March 13, 2013
BarkBox
I don’t talk about many things outside of crafts, New York City, and photography on this blog, but I’ve got a pretty amazing job worth talking about. I work at this little startup based in Chinatown, NYC called BarkBox. BarkBox is a subscription box for the pups of the world. Each month we ship out a box of fun and funky toys, treats, and dog goodies to the most well-loved pups in America and Canada. Like all startups, everybody at BarkBox is a jack-or-jane-of-all-trades, but my main job at BarkBox is managing The BarkPost and our Facebook page. I write dog stories, GIF roundups, and sometimes I’m even a ghostwriter for our office pups.

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
(I’ve also done quite a bit of customer support as well. And dogs are always allowed on the desk. ;))

I stumbled upon my job in a bit of a strange way– a little over 8 months ago, I answered this tweet:

CBM
After a few phone interviews, a trip out to New York, and some emails, I accepted my current job at BarkBox and then moved out to New York City from Indiana. A pretty crazy route to get to where I am now.

BarkBox Office
One of these awnings is the quirky entrance to BarkBox in Chinatown.

BarkBox Office
The door to our office.

daisy
As a kid, I was obsessed with crafts, Nancy Drew, and dogs. Well, all animals, really. I grew up in the part of the rural Midwest where if you found an abandoned kitten and asked, “Mom, can I keep her?” the answer was usually yes. Going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house meant there were lambs to catch, an ancient Beagle to pester, a Coonhound to avoid, a Border Collie to tease, and a Rat Terrier to (unsuccessfully) woo. At that age, I wanted to be a vet. I was (*ahem* am) a squeamish person around blood, but my 10-year-old self knew I wanted to work with dogs somehow. As I grew older, I kind of lost sight of the whole working-with-animals thing and I got into journalism, photography, writing, and the Internet. Who knew there would be a job that combines it all?

Working at BarkBox means:

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
Cutting plastic pups in half is a legitimate form of work. (DIY Dog Photo Stands)

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
Coffee breaks = pup poop breaks. #dirtytruth #literally

BarkBox Office
The CEO horses around a bit…

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
…The office paper shredder has teeth…

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
…Someone is always looking for a snuggle…

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
…the dogs are aspiring food bloggers

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
…and they send mail…

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
…and the humans pose like dogs in photos.

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
This is one of our office dogs, Scout, on a day when the heat was broken.

What It's Like to Work at a Startup
My favorite guest office pup, Bruce Willis the Brussels Griffon.

And an unboxing video with my pup back home in Indiana, Bridget. #ruv

PS– And if you’re thinking of getting your pup a BarkBox or you’ve got an awesome dog picture or story, just shoot me an email at stacie(at)barkbox.com and I’ll see if I can rustle up a coupon for you. ๐Ÿ™‚

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  • PONlove1 March 13, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    Sounds like the perfect job!

  • Danielle Duarte March 13, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    I wish Barkbox would expand to California and have an office out here… just really sounds like an amazing place to work for!

  • charlotte March 13, 2013 at 10:43 pm

    So jealous that you get to work with office pups ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • StacieGrissom March 13, 2013 at 11:15 pm

    It definitely is, Danielle! If we ever do, I am totally bringing up your name *repeatedly.* Hope your bullies are well! <3

  • StacieGrissom March 13, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    It definitely is. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • StacieGrissom March 13, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    Ruv the office pups so much!! <3

  • daniellexo March 14, 2013 at 12:08 am

    <3 I'm so glad you work at BarkBox! xo

  • Kate March 14, 2013 at 2:49 am

    I LOVE the BarkBox!! I am crazy about pets, crafts, people AND NYC <3!
    I have my own per sitting business, am a former Elementary Art Teacher and our daughter is an actress in NYC – living in a fabulous Pre-War building on the Upper West side near Columbia University! If you ever have an opening I would LOVE be a staff member @ BarkBox!

  • Kat March 14, 2013 at 3:19 am

    BarkBox must be so much fun to work for! I think it'd be my dream job ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Liz March 15, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    So do you no longer work at Scarves.net or can you work with them remotely from New York?

  • StacieGrissom March 15, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    I still do some posts over there about once a month! Like this one– http://www.scarves.net/blog/how-to-tie-sailor-scarf-knots

  • Jennifer Lord March 17, 2013 at 5:03 am

    Most awesome office ever!

  • Ethneliane March 19, 2013 at 5:23 am

    I'd love to get a BarkBox lol, but I live in Mexico City and I bet you don't ship over here. On the right subject of this comment: your job sounds wonderful. Being in journalism and social media and stuff myself, I know how fun it can be to combine your passions with that thing one does to pay the rent! I'm very happy you're so happy there!