Founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Meg Meyer, The Bear & The Rat was inspired by their two rescue dogs (and nicknamed accordingly). Their mission? Deliver fun, functional treats that support canine digestive health without cutting corners.
From frozen yogurt cups packed with prebiotics to single-serve goat milk and bone broth toppers, the brand is known for quality, transparency, and a whole lot of tail-wagging flavor. All products are made in a human-grade ice cream facility and are free from artificial additives.
But in a market where the products live in someone else's freezer, building direct customer relationships and keeping them coming back was an uphill climb.
The Challenge: Selling Through Retail, Without Losing Connection
Like many retail-first CPG brands, The Bear & The Rat had:
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Limited insight into who their customers were
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No consistent way to gather feedback or drive loyalty
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No post-purchase connection with dog parents buying their products off the shelf
In the pet category, trust and education are critical. Knowing when a customer tries something new, understanding their pup’s experience, and offering helpful guidance are essential to long-term retention. The team needed a way to go beyond the shelf and into the home.
The Solution: Turning Packaging Into a Retention Engine
BluStream helped The Bear & The Rat build direct digital relationships right from the product packaging. By integrating a QR code on their frozen yogurt packaging, the brand could invite dog parents into a personalized SMS journey.
This simple on-pack scan:
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Turned an offline retail sale into an ongoing relationship
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Triggered educational and fun messages powered by BluStream’s Product Ownership AI
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Captured valuable zero-party data through prompts and questions
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Created two-way conversations at scale
With every scan, The Bear & The Rat could now guide new customers through product usage, gather feedback, and follow up with tailored messaging, all without ever needing to own the checkout lane.
"Collaborating with BluStream has been a game-changer for us. We've managed to create a personal bond with our customers through innovative methods and the results speak for themselves. This partnership has truly transformed our business and the way we engage with our loyal patrons"
The Results: More Connection, More Insight, More Loyalty
Since partnering with BluStream, The Bear & The Rat has significantly strengthened its customer engagement strategy. With a growing base of SMS-connected customers and a surge in product reviews and feedback, the brand has turned retail sales into meaningful, ongoing relationships, building a scalable foundation for loyalty that lasts well beyond the freezer aisle.
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