Rachel and Jacob
It has been a banner week for Pootie Pads, small catnip quilts for cats that had their start right here on Daily Kos. We got our first wholesale order and are looking forward to our second. For any of you with an idea that you dream of turning into a small business, I am telling the tale to inspire and encourage you to take your dreams forward. There are helpful people all around!
The Princess knows what every well-dressed pootie is wearing this season!
Our SCORE counselor was very helpful in advising how to structure our wholesale pricing (SCORE is a tremendous resource for anyone contemplating a small business -- I cannot sing their praises enough). First, he suggested small amounts in our "cases" of products -- so that small stores would not have trouble getting wholesale prices for small amounts. And he helped me figure out the pricing. Please know I would be happy to send the wholesale price list to any retailers interested in carrying Pootie Pads!
After receiving this charming video from Heather in SF last week (made my morning!), we went to meet with the buyer at a boutique pet shop here in Portland.
It went really well! We are waiting to hear from her -- but in the meantime received our first order from another source. ZenTrainer had put us in touch with a A Better Pet, LLC in Cleveland, OH. The owner is a small business person with a great product for dogs which she has patented, the Har-Vest, a harness/backpack for dogs that also, through its fit, sedates and settles down anxious or unruly dogs. Products that beneficially influence animal behavior are of interest to her -- and the Pootie Pad certainly fills that bill! So, if you are in the Cleveland area, you will be able to get Pootie Pads through A Better Pet.
Meryt on her Pootie Pad
Next week, we'll be getting a look at a business plan that a friend is helping us with and sending it over to a local law school. This law school has a Small Business Clinic that provides low cost legal help to small businesses and they need our business plan in order to enroll us in their program. Entrepreneurs, take note! There is help available at law schools -- and probably business schools, as well!
I'll also be learning how to use an email program so that we may begin to send out newsletters to our customers and friends -- newsletters with tips about Pootie Pads, stories of people's experiences with them, pictures of happy cats, and so on.
Bella
The Pootie Pad Store is open or use this PayPal link if you would like us to choose a fabric for you (we have some that are not pictured in the store). Please note that we are out of the Masterpieces fabric for the moment but are expecting to have more of it by the end of the week.
And if you would like to retail our product -- or know someone who might be interested, we would love to hear from you!
HoraceBoothroydIII's baby, Tribbles, enjoys her birthday Pootie Pad!