The Original BARK Company, a leading global omnichannel brand for dogs and their parents, announced plans to further expand in Columbus, Ohio, creating 500 new full-time jobs over the next four years, pending local approvals. The planned new hire will triple the headcount at BARK’s Columbus office and enable the company to further scale its growing product offerings. The company is hiring across product, operations, management, technical and development positions, which began in the fall of 2021.
BARK achieved tremendous growth throughout the last year and is expanding to meet increased demand for its products and services. In 2020, BARK created two new business lines to serve dog parents and their needs, such as personalized meals through BARK Eats and wellness products through BARK Bright. The company went public in June 2021 through a merger with Northern Star Acquisition Group. After committing to 120 jobs in 2015, the company currently has 250 full-time employees in Columbus and will triple its workforce with its latest investment by the end of 2025.
“The incredible company culture we established in Columbus allows us to address more product demand and enhance direct-to-consumer support through high-quality care from our customer service team, ‘Happy,’” said BARK CEO Manish Joneja. “The Columbus Region’s startup ecosystem and central U.S. location are two key factors that have continued to help us scale while serving our existing customers so well.”
Founded in 2012, BARK loyally serves dogs nationwide with themed toys and treats subscriptions, BarkBox and BARK Super Chewer; custom product collections through its retail partner network, including Target and Amazon; its high-quality, personalized nutrition and meal plans with BARK Eats; and health and wellness products that meet dogs' needs with BARK Bright. In 2015, the company opened its first CX (customer service/experience), also known as the “Happy team” center in Columbus’ Carlisle Building before relocating to 500 W Broad St in Franklinton’s Gravity I building. In addition to competitive wages and great benefits, BARK offers a unique and fun work environment in its dog-friendly office.
“BARK is a high-growth company that sets a strong example by thriving in Columbus’ business ecosystem, creating more jobs and expanding close to home,” said City of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “In addition to a vibrant business community, Columbus is home to some of the most educated young talent in the country.”
The Columbus Region is an ideal location for distribution and fulfillment operations due to its geographic location, providing unmatched market access to U.S. consumers. Within a day’s drive, companies can reach over 150 million people – approximately 46% of the country’s population – which is larger than any other U.S. metro. The City of Columbus is located in Franklin County, which is home to an estimated 1,316,756 residents.
“BARK’s incredible growth story, culminating in its recent decision to go public, illustrates how Ohio is where innovative, online companies can thrive,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “The combination of an ideal business climate and homegrown talent from the Columbus Region continues be a formula where fast-growing companies like BARK can scale up and create hundreds of new jobs.”