Mississippi Made Vendor Spotlight: Jones Bones
Rena Register is a Laurel local, dear friend to many, and a notable helping hand during Laurel's most significant moments. She has worked as the Missional Mobilization Coordinator for the Jones County Baptist Association for fourteen years. Her work has significantly impacted our county and its residents, and she loves how she gets to serve people in crisis. She's also been a new homeowner featured on Home Town when Erin and Ben restored her grandmother's tiny house on her family's land. While Rena is known for many incredible things, her compassion for "man's best friend" is where she believes her strengths flourish most.
Rena is a full-time petsitter in Jones County, and her schedule stays booked with homeowners looking for a responsible and loving caretaker while they're away.
Her love for hospitality, helping people, and animals have collided through her pet sitting company, and she felt inspired to create something new.
That's when Jones Bones was born.
Rena began to concoct a dog treat, which she desired to be a healthy yet delicious reward for pets. She loved the idea of using local ingredients, supporting local businesses, and creating a sustainable process, so she traveled across the US to discover how.
She discovered that barley from a brewery would pair well with peanut butter, and she sourced a local brewery in Mississippi to start the process.
From there, Rena received certification and reached out to other small business and marketing professionals in Downtown Laurel to seek advice. Soon, creative locals in our community shared her vision for Jones Bones.
Rena says, "Lindsay Miller helped me envision this brand and how a consumer will experience it, and Ethan Manning designed my logo with such patience and precision. Friends and family supported me the entire way! I was never alone during this whole process, and that was the best part about opening a small business of my own."
She began making large batches of Jones Bones in her home kitchen, packaging them, and selling dozens of bags in local stores, including the Scotsman General Store. In the last year, her business has grown so much that she's hired her sister-in-law to help meet the demand.
When reflecting on the last four years of owning and operating Jones Bones, Rena says she's learned a lot in the process, and the mistakes and successes have been the most crucial part.
Rena says, "I want people to know that anyone can do this. The biggest thing was that people believed in me and encouraged me. Thankfully, I had people that asked the hard questions, but no one discouraged me from doing this. I have learned over the years that it's okay to fail, because I can learn from failure. I didn't want to become a person that never leaped; I wanted to start the process and work through it. If I could encourage people to try and do something, I'd tell them just to do it. Surround yourself with people that believe in you, and get away from the negative people in your life."
Be sure to stop by her tent and support Jones Bones with us in the Mercantile Front Yard on March 12, 2022.
