Thanks Jim,
Great questions and insight.  
My market is middle to upper middle class pet owners, cats and dogs.  Quite possibly a slightly older empty nester or younger couples who's "baby" is their "fur-baby."  The  dog owners that tend to buy on impulse at special events. 
References/referrals may be golden, but its producing those first few paying customers that I seem to be hung up on. 
Sounds to me like I am on the right track or at least well on my may to getting there.  I just haven't given myself enough time for my seeds to blossom into a garden of flowers.