Paul Cannella runs two successful, local companies that are, well, about as opposite as possible.
Let's see, there's Scarlet, 3320 N. Halsted, the Lakeview bar that recently re-opened following a 2009 fire. Into the wee hours of the morning, there's always cold beer, loud music and plenty of laughs.
Then there's PoopBags.com, Inc., Cannella's contribution to the animal kingdom and a greener community. There's always laughter whenever and wherever people hear the name of this company. Just imagine the banker's reaction when Cannella went to establish a checking account for PoopBags.com, Inc.
"I think both companies are uniquely challenging; I'm not sure one is more so than the other," said Cannella, 39. "Being a small-business owner certainly has its challenges and rewards. On the 'challenges' side, I don't have corporate funding, a huge management team or a ton of support services to answer legal, financial or other questions that come up throughout the course of a day. You have to do your homework, rely on support from your team and trust in yourself and your gut to make the right decisions. All of those challenges can also be reviewed as a reward in many ways. I'd rather have a day that changed in 20 directions than a day that was the same thing over and over again. I guess that's when a little add is a benefit!
"On the rewards side, I [ have ] mentioned a few, but I would say in general what I enjoy about working for myself is that I just get to be me. It might sound a little corny, but when you own your own business, you live it and breathe it every day so it just becomes a part of you. I don't leave the house and change into my corporate persona; I'm just Paul 24/7/365.
"I think it's a pretty peaceful and nice way to go through life."
After all, he left the corporate world Jan. 9, 2009, to pursue his two professional passions.
"I try to devote certain days to each business, but there is always a blending of the [ two ] as the day goes on. I would certainly say that [ after ] 10 p.m., its 95 percent Scarlet, just due to the nature of the business."
Cannella, who is gay ( single ) and lives in Lincoln Park, has two dogs: May, a 12-year-old yellow lab; and Lucy, a 1-year-old black lab, Dalmatian and Blue Heeler mix.
May is the root of PoopBags.com .
"As a single guy, I would always run out of the plastic grocery bags I used to pick up May's poop," Cannella said. "As a backup, I'd use the ones from the newspaper, sandwich bags, ask my Mom to save me bags, snag some from a friend's house—it was crazy. Then I started thinking about all these plastic bags. How they are made, and how they'll never go away in my lifetime.
"I laughed to myself and said, 'What if I started a company called PoopBags.com and sold biodegradable dog-poop bags for a living?'"
His 2003 idea is now on the verge of, in 2010, being a million-dollar business.
But what's with the name?
"It's the 'Kleenex' of the dog waste bags," Cannella said. "There isn't a more powerful name in the World.
"I was very fortunate to think of the idea in 2003 and secure the name. It will end up being the best investment I will ever make in my life."
PoopBags.com has been a mainstream media darling, drawing exposure around the world, in some very high-profile outlets such as Newsweek, Prevention and WGN Radio.
"We are very fortunate for the coverage we have received in numerous magazines, newspapers, blogs, Web sites and TV programs," Cannella said. "I have to admit, I get a huge charge every time I see PoopBags mentioned in the media. It makes me proud of the work we're doing at the company, and to know that we're making a difference in making the world a better place at the same time."
Cannella's 2003 idea first took legs in 2005. He worked long hours, unusual hours and had one employee: Paige Penningroth. They worked in his condo in Lincoln Park, then used a storage facility. Then he expanded and moved the business into a commercial building on Ravenswood, and finally into a larger space in the same building.
PoopBags.com now has four employees, with a fifth to join shortly, he said.
"The company is self-sufficient financially, but I can assure you that none are getting rich yet," Cannella said. "We have a solid base and the next growth phase of the economy in general, so I'm very encouraged [ for 2010 ] .
"Our goal is to break the million dollar sales barrier this year."
He added: "I want to be the largest and most popular brand of poop bags in the World. With that, comes the ability and responsibility to make a difference in the lives of people, pets and the planet."
Cannella truly is committed to the green effect.
"We love being green because it makes us feel good," he said. "How often do you get a chance to do something that can pay your way through life financially and philosophically? I left the corporate world one year ago and have not looked back a single day. I'll admit that I don't make the same amount I used to in my corporate job, but you truly can't put a price on happiness and the various rewards, including freedom, that this company has presented me. I encourage everyone to follow your dreams and challenge yourself to make a difference. It's not easy; it takes planning, but I can tell you from my heart, you will never regret trying it.
"Being green is very important to us personally and professionally. We're green most of all by the fact that we make 100-percent biodegradable dog-waste bags, along with other green-related products. In addition to our product lines, we strive to be as green as we can in the office and in our personal habits. We use recycled materials for our packaging and the boxes are converted, using 100 percent wind power. We recycle cardboard and several other materials at the office. In many ways, we help others be green. That includes managers of parks, apartment complexes, dog walkers, pet store owners and, of course, individual consumers. We give them all a simple tool to make a small difference, one poop at a time."
Cannella said PoopBag.com's global sales are mostly domestic due to the costs of shipping the products. Still, they have made sales to Australia, Europe, South America and Asia.
And his customers truly run the gamut.
"Picture a bell curve," Cannella said. "There are people who are die-hard green all the way to the right, and then it moves to the left to dedicated green and then into the middle of what I call green-and-easy. Who wouldn't want to be green if it was easy to do and reasonably affordable? Everyone who falls in that right side of the curve is our target customer."
Cannella's company also carries 100-percent biodegradable garbage bags and cat pan liners.
"I have considered other product lines and other brands as well. After dabbling with these, I think its best to focus on our core competency: poop bags," he said.
Cannella has a strong clientele in Chicago, especially the LGBT community. He also has donated products to LGBT organizations, such as the Chicago Dragons rugby team, for their raffle fundraisers.
"I don't think it will ever get old watching the expression on people's faces [ when they hear the name of my company is PoopBags.com ] . They say, 'Excuse me?" or 'I'm sorry; what was that?'"
