Caleb Hubert
For many, growing up is a process of figuring out who you are and what you want to do. Adulthood comes with trial and error, searching for the right path. But for Caleb, that path became clear early on. At just 18 years old, he has already built not one but two businesses—Caleb’s Aquatics and Heads to Tails Boutique.
Caleb’s journey didn’t begin with a grand opening or a carefully crafted business plan. It started in his family’s living room, where he sold fish to customers who had nowhere else to turn after the local pet store, Critters, shut down. He had the knowledge, he had the fish, and, most importantly, he had the drive. What started as a small, word-of-mouth operation—selling just enough to reinvest in more fish—slowly grew into something bigger.
His first major step came when a café with an aquarium was closing. Seeing a chance to expand, Caleb bought the aquarium and moved it into his garage, turning the space into a makeshift fish store. Business kept growing, and soon, the garage wasn’t enough.
The next leap was securing his first storefront—a space that required extensive renovations. It wasn’t perfect, but he made it work, moving everything from his garage into the store. This was the true turning point for Caleb’s Aquatics. Customers kept coming, and before long, he needed to expand again.
That expansion led to his current location, but Caleb didn’t stop there. As his customer base grew, people started asking about pet supplies beyond fish—especially for dogs and cats. Spotting another opportunity, he launched Heads to Tails Boutique in a separate location, offering pet supplies, grooming services, and even a self-service grooming station. A lot of first-time fish owners don’t realize just how important aquarium maintenance is. It’s not just about feeding the fish-water quality, filtration, and regular cleaning all play a crucial role in keeping an aquarium healthy. As Caleb’s customer base grew, he noticed that many people were struggling to maintain their tanks. Seeing an opportunity to help, he expanded Caleb’s Aquatics to include Caleb’s Cleaning for professional aquarium servicing, cleaning, and installations.
But running a business isn’t just about passion—it’s about sustainability. Financing, payroll, and scaling operations became part of his daily reality. What used to be a solo operation has expanded to a team made up of four full-time and four part-time employees. With this kind of growth comes great responsibility. Without outside investors, every dollar had to be carefully managed. Learning to balance personal and business finances, handling payroll, and making tough calls about expenses were some of the biggest lessons he had to face. “Every expansion has required careful planning, every hire brings new responsibility, and each financial decision has had real, tangible consequences."
Aberdeen has played a crucial role in Caleb's journey. As a hub city, it draws customers from surrounding rural areas, providing a steady stream of foot traffic to both of his stores. More importantly, the local community has been incredibly supportive—something echoed by many other entrepreneurs in the area.
Starting so young meant Caleb’s teenage years looked different from most. While others were focused on prom and senior year, he was securing leases, managing staff, and making business decisions. That early responsibility forced him to mature quickly, but he doesn’t regret it. Now, as he looks to the future, he sees even bigger possibilities. His goal is to eventually combine Caleb’s Aquatics, Caleb’s Cleaning and Heads to Tails Boutique into a single, expanded location, streamlining operations while offering an even wider range of pet care products and services. But his vision doesn’t stop at Aberdeen. He hopes to take what he has built and bring it to other cities, offering customers the same level of expertise and care that have made his businesses thrive.
It’s an ambitious plan, but Caleb has never been one to shy away from a challenge. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs? “Just do it. Take the risk, step out of your comfort zone. You’ll figure things out along the way.”And if his journey is any indication, he’s living proof that sometimes, the best way to start is simply to start—and to never stop growing.
