Westminster – Dog Day in the summer is proving to be a good time for two local businesswomen who specialize in providing dog-related products to pet owners.
One business offers handmade bandanas to help dogs look their best online, and another offers homemade healthy treats for dogs.
Dogs with bandanas are Internet favourites.
Fifteen-year-old Kari Laliberto from Westminster started a company called Aussie Pup Company after adopting her dog Charlie during the pandemic. After creating an Instagram account for her new puppy, Laliberte noticed how popular photos of dogs in bandanas were on the platform.
After buying some bandanas for Charlie, she decided to design and create handmade “dogwear” accessories.
“I had a sewing machine, but I had never sewn in my life,” Laliberte explained. “But I created an Instagram page for my new business and started sewing.
Marketing using social media
Orders for her bandanas began coming in no doubt because Charlie the Australian Shepherd, who had over 1,000 Instagram followers even before Laliberté made her first bandana, was modeling the product. She also created her Etsy page for new business.
“Initially, I was able to build a little bit of Instagram for my business through Charlie,” said Laliberte, who plans to start her sophomore year at Oakmont Area High School in the fall. “And it was a surprise when we started taking the first orders.”
Rumors of her new business began circulating online, Laliberte said, with several customers ordering bandanas for their dogs to model for their Instagram followers. Customers who included a link to Aussie Pup Co. received a discount code that they could pass on to their followers. Customers who got at least 10 of her followers to follow her company were given scrunchies specially designed for dogs, she added.
“(These customers) typically buy at least one bandana from each collection, so this worked really well and it really helped boost my business,” she said. .
Design for the times
Laliberte is constantly updating its collection of bandanas, with most of its designs reflecting the upcoming holiday or season. Her current summer line includes bandanas adorned with flamingos, sunglasses, beach her accessories, the Stars and Stripes, and patriotic feet. She also started adding dog bow ties to her inventory.
Laliberte, who spends hours each day sewing bandanas and coming up with new design ideas, said she was surprised at how quickly her business took off. But she says she loves every minute of it.
“I love seeing the finished product. I love seeing my dogs having fun. When I’m bored, instead of sitting in my room and sitting on my phone or something, I can be productive.” I love doing things,” she said, adding that she has plans to expand the business in the near future. She said, “I would like to add dog ribbons and collar covers. I would like to use more customized bandanas.”
Laliberte is also exploring ways to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. Charlie, whose breed inspired the name of her company, has epilepsy, she explained, and plans to use her own business to raise awareness of canine epilepsy in the future. I said I want to
To keep up with new Aussie Pup Co. products, follow @aussie_pup_co on Instagram and TikTok.
chick and her house
There’s nothing a brightly dressed puppy enjoys more than a delicious homemade treat. That’s where Hubbardstone’s Katie Alden comes in.
Alden started a company called A Chick and Her Homestead after her German Shepherd, Kovu, developed a rash that didn’t go away with conventional veterinary treatment. After trying allergy shots and prescription medications to no avail, Alden decided to switch her dog to a raw diet, and Cove’s symptoms cleared within a week.
“And it’s been two years since I’ve had to take him to the vet,” Alden said. She started making her own dog treats, she said.
“I also started making dog treats for friends and family. Everyone said they should sell them because their dogs love them and they are so good for their skin and coat. “And then it all happened.”
Bring dog treats to the summer market
Alden, a nurse at Sizer School in Fitchburg, began selling single-ingredient dog treats this summer, primarily at Stirling’s street market on Saturdays and every Friday at Westminster’s Farmer’s Market. The response from both pets and owners has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I love dogs coming to my table and getting treats. I have a lot of samples. I’m very passionate about what I do,” Alden explained. . “It’s fun, it’s not work.”
She hopes to sell sweets at a few more local markets if she can fit into her schedule.
get state approval
Alden’s dog treats come in three flavors: dehydrated sweet potato, freeze-dried smelt, and freeze-dried beef liver, and she makes 10-15 bags of each flavor each week. Every time she comes up with her new recipe, she sends it to a food lab for testing and then sends the results to the state’s Department of Agricultural Resources for approval, she said.
Alden said he hopes to expand his business to include online sales in the near future, but would like to learn more about what it takes to sell dog treats over the internet.
“Massachusetts has a lot of requirements and it’s actually pretty crazy,” she said. “Actually, selling dog food has more requirements than selling human food. They want to know how much protein, how much water, etc.”
change of heart
There is some irony in the fact that Alden had a successful dog-focused business and was interested in expanding the service to include dog daycare and training lessons in the future. acknowledged.
“When I was little I was terrified of dogs to death, but now I love them,” she said.
To learn more about Alden’s dog treats, visit her Facebook page at Achickandherhomestead Farm Fresh Treats or visit her YouTube channel at A Chick And Her Homestead – YouTube to see how her treats are made. Please check if it is