Meet Josh Feinkind | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Feinkind and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve been entrepreneurial from a young age starting a snow and leaf removal business at 12 to a student book & ride exchange web site in college (pre-Facebook). When I moved in with a girlfriend who had a cat, I recognized the potential for cat furniture that looked great in the home while serving the cats needs to climb and perch. Midway through business school I was faced with two career paths; start at the bottom of a large corporation or be at the top of my own. I chose the latter.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Refined Feline was built after noticing a need in the market for a cat product that actually looked good in the home. When I moved into a girlfriend’s apartment, her cat had nowhere high to perch and we didn’t want a ugly beige shag carpeted cat tower in our living room. Searching the internet, there didn’t seem to be many options, hence I recognized an opportunity. That was almost 20 years ago. Since then we’ve had our share of ups and downs. From industry awards and acclaim from major media to losing thousands of dollars from factory bankruptcies, as well as, more recently, a major hike in freight costs. They key to our longevity is keeping our overhead down and continue to persevere. We’ve built a great line of products that both cats and cat lovers can appreciate, from litter box cabinets to cat shelves, and we continue to expand with aesthetic yet functional designs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The great thing about LA is its size and the plethora of options. You can get a completely different vibe just a few miles down the street. Guests would be thrown in to the fire starting in West Hollywood. Gay or straight, you have to love the vibe along Santa Monica Blvd and dip into the famous Abby during the weekday where you can dance all night and avoid the weekend’s line that’s often around the block. Personally, I’m not a foodie, but I’ll appreciate a restaurant’s décor and take advantage of LA’s year round outdoor seating at a place like Gracias Madre. After some window shopping we’d stop by Crumbs & Whiskers on Melrose for a coffee and play with some kittens while planning for some culture at the Hammer museum. Making our way west, I’d break out the “good camera” and photograph skateboarders at the Venice Skate Park then we’d finally relax in laid back Santa Monica. Its beaches is a great way to unwind a week-long trip.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I come from a line of businessmen. My grandfather came to America with nothing after his family was wiped out in WWII and started first a chicken farm and then later a slip cover sewing business. My father was a purchasing director before buying a medical device business which he ran until he retired. These examples built my confidence that I could succeed in business.

Website: https://www.therefinedfeline.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refinedfeline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/refinedfeline

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therefinedfeline

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRefinedFeline