An Okanagan boy has created his own dog collar and accessory business through the love of his Boston Terrier.
Twelve-year-old Vernon resident Hudson Fairlie started designing cotton collars earlier for his dog, Jax. Due to synthetic collars, JaxB次元官网网址檚 neck was raw and losing all the hair. With the help of his mother, Sandra, who is a seamstress and has her own small business, Hudson was able to provide relief for Jax and Woof Wear was born.
Hudson has always been the creative type. He started using his momB次元官网网址檚 sewing machine when he was just three years old sewing little crafty things and learning how to use the machine. As he got older, his interest started to fade. However, because of his best friend JaxB次元官网网址檚 allergies, he began using the machine once again.
B次元官网网址淏ecause we were having issues with Jax being allergic to synthetic collars, he just decided he could make one and looked up ideas on the internet and went for it,B次元官网网址� Sandra said.
Sandra ordered some hardware to help him make a few collars, which were originally only for Jax. However, the finished product and reaction that followed led to a business idea.
B次元官网网址淲hen he finished them, they looked so cute,B次元官网网址� Sandra said. B次元官网网址淕randma and neighbours were like B次元官网网址榳owB次元官网网址� and said he did a really good job and should try selling them.B次元官网网址�
With encouragement and help from his mom, Hudson set up Etsy and Facebook Marketplace pages and listed a few of the collars. Within that first week, he received over 30 orders.
B次元官网网址淪o many people, everybody local, supported him,B次元官网网址� Sandra said. B次元官网网址淗e was just super excited about that.B次元官网网址�
Etsy has listing and transaction fees, so Sandra thought it would be a good idea to make a website to sell the collars. After all, she did have experience with creating one before, having made one for her own handmade baby product business. The Woof Wear website has allowed Hudson to keep more of the profits and has helped with exposure for the brand as well.
B次元官网网址淟ocally, people are just so great, especially when they know itB次元官网网址檚 a kid,B次元官网网址� Sandra said. B次元官网网址淚 wish it was that easy when I first started my business.B次元官网网址�
A usually shy and quiet kid, HudsonB次元官网网址檚 entrepreneurial spirit has allowed him to flourish and explore outside of his comfort zone by opening new experiences.
He met a few other kids online locally who are also little entrepreneurs, and they helped encourage him because he is shy, Sandra explained. They encouraged him to come out to the Lake Country Spring Market, which was the first market he was a part of.
SandraB次元官网网址檚 influence through the 25,000 followers of her business on TikTok and Facebook has helped grow Woof Wear. Aside from the Okanagan, Hudson has been receiving orders from coast to coast. Orders have come in from Alberta and Ontario, and even from the U.S. in Texas and Michigan.
Hudson also creates and sells cat collars and other pet accessories such as leashes and bows.
B次元官网网址淭he leashes have gone over really well because people like the idea of having a matching collar and leash,B次元官网网址� Sandra said. B次元官网网址淭he bows have also been a big hit.B次元官网网址�
These days, the promotion of Woof Wear has been toned down a little bit, as Hudson attends many camps during the summer. Sandra doesnB次元官网网址檛 want him to get overwhelmed with too many orders, but he will be attending more markets as the season goes on.
B次元官网网址淚 think the products he has are good for now and itB次元官网网址檚 kind of seeing how it goes,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗e just keeps getting more and more excited about it and wanting to add more things.B次元官网网址�
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