Collars & Leashes & Clothes, Oh My!

[Dori & Rua]

As many of you know, last summer I talked about making collars & leashes, agility items, clothing & blogging.  I bought several domains (after input from all of you).

My blog is www.lifewithrua.com.  I have tried to post a couple of times per month.  It is a way for me to exercise my right brain, and because there are only 8,000 plus DK members, I figured I wasn't reaching enough people to brag share about my Life with Rua.  LOL

I also bought a domain that I intend to sell collars, leashes & agility equipment on.  It is www.KangaRua.com.  It is a work in process.  I will start with collars & leashes since they are the easiest to ship, and go from there.  I have a ways to go, but I am making progress.  I had sewing machine issues and bought the wrong size plastic slides.

 

Had to set up "shop"...when I buy my next house, I will turn one of the bedrooms into a real sewing room...right now, with my house for sale, I am limited.

 

New Janome Serger & Janome Professional Sewing Machine.

 

The below is a matching leash & collar set...Spring Stripes!

 

Above is a collar (will be making a leash, too)...Pink Horses!

 

At the same time, I also bought the domain www.BellaRua.com because I just loved the name, but I didn't know what I was going to do with it.  But, after making Rua several cheerleading outfits (also make some for Ellen's two girls http://www.doodlekisses.com/profile/EllenSutton), Rua's Halloween Costume (Mimi Linna has put in an order for one for Lilly), and a number of other items, I have decided that BellaRua will be for clothes.  

 

Gotta have fleece wear..

 

And who girl wouldn't want a wool pink & black plaid coat.

 

So, here is where I need some advice and I couldn't think of a better place to go than here!

I want to "brand" what I sell, so I thought woven labels would be the way to go. I really love the look of this site and the logo...http://www.lolaandfoxy.com/.  I wish I could come up with a cute little logo, but that would hugely increase the price, and after how much work it was to come up with DK logo, I am not sure I want to go there.

I found a place that will do simple ones for a reasonable price for small quanity.  I like the cream background with pink (of course) text - 1/2" labels so they fit on a collar. 

http://www.everestlabel.com/product/half_personalized_labels.php 

 

1. So, do you think it should be just larger font size "KangaRua" or two lines that include website (I would order the same style for BellaRua)?
2. If you were in the market to buy a collar, would the pink text deter you from buying a collar for your male dog?
3. If yes, would a simple white or cream background with grey or black text be better? 
4. Or, black background with Pink & white (I do like this actually better than the cream label - but perhaps this should just be for BellaRua - black & pink have always been my favorites for Rua).
5. Is it better to have a logo from the very start (I would have to have someone create it) and brand that way or start out with just the plain labels and change later)?
6. Anybody have an idea for a logo? When we had the DK contest, Camila made this logo of Darwin which I liked (I bought a decal & several mugs)  http://www.cafepress.com/+sticker_oval,551576209.  Perhaps a logo like this...an outline of Rua?
7. What should I charge for a 1" collar?
8. What should I charge for a 5' Leash?

 

I appreciate your input!  Thanks so much.

 

Dori & Rua

 

 

[Doris]

I'm not good with decisions, but can't wait to buy some fleece hoodies for Bodi!!!!!!!!!!!  Good luck with your endeavors!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I think try to match the prices with similar products in the stores - good quality ones, such as silverfoot, rcpets etc

http://www.silverfoot.com/

http://www.rcpets.com/rcpets/splash.html

I think it also depends on how much it costs you to make - including your time!

I am not one to dress Cooper up, but since moving to  a cold climate Im much more into it - and of course i always want her to look good - even her collar and leash are colour coordinated!

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

Having a boy dog, my vote is for the black with pink and white lettering.  The other is too girly and depending on how noticable it was, might influence my purchase.

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

I forgot to answer some of the other questions...I have spend a fortune on collars, leashes, toys, If I remember right the most i"ve paid for a collar was 18 and that was a plain of the rack collar at a "green" store.  As for clothes for harley, a teeshirt would be about the only item I would consider except for neckerchiefs, just very difficulty to find items for the really large doods.  And would you take custom orders for leashes?

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Wow, you go, girl!!! I have always been impressed with your creativity and admire your determination to take your hobby to the next level! While I can't imagine purchasing your darling clothes for Knox, I will be interested in seeing what you design for collars. There IS something I'd like more of for Knox and it is a bandana-type scrunchie that I purchased at a private groomer's shop. It is made from a jersey-type material and it basically a "tube" that stretches over his head and bunches up around his neck. It is so much better than a typical bandana as there is no tying involved. -- and can't come off due to a loose knot or rough play. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about??? I would love to upload a pic but my laptop is broken and I'm typing this from my iPad.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I have been looking on the internet and I think what I'm talking about is a GAITER and not a scrunchie! What I'm talking about is like a tube and it's about 15 inches long and 8 inches wide. Since it's made out of a jersey material, it gathers softly around his neck.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is really way beyond my areas of expertise and I'm afraid interest. I don't dress my doodles, have plain collars and made my own leashes. I do think that unless you love doing this and/or forsee having assistants or mechanization you may find it difficult to make any money this way. As I wrote to Camilla not long ago, anything which requires your own labor and materials makes it hard to make a profit, unless you find a large enough market willing to pay a significant premium. I don't mean to discourage you but to caution you. I do wish you the best luck.

[shelly]

YES!  FINALLY!  You go, Dori -girl!  I have said for a LONG time that those 'agility-sticks' would be a big seller!  And now... the clothes!  I am so glad this is taking off!  Can't wait to see more Rua-wear out there!  Good luck!  sorry I can't help with the decisions - I'm not very good at that!  LOL

[Leslie and Halas]

Wow! Congratulations! There's a girl at the larger flyball tournaments that makes collars, leashes, and tugs. She's there running her dogs anyway, and her teammates help her man the booth when she's running. She takes orders there, until as late at 10:00am Sunday, and finishes them by the end of the weekend. You pick the fabric and the backing, so you can get exactly what you want. She works her butt off! I think her prices are incredibly low. For a regular buckle collar like you have above, she only charges $10.00. I think her leashes are $15. Cozy critter.com, where I've purchased Halas' flyball collars, charges $15 for a regular buckle collar. In specialty stores, I've seen them for $20-25. I don't know what the perfect price is, but you need to recover your cost and something for your time and talent. But you're an accountant, so you know that already. Can you get a price break on your materials if you order more? That would enter into it, too.

As far as the logo label, I like them both, but with a boy dog, I would like the black one better. Could you order both and use whichever one goes best with each collar?

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I agree with Andrea about not having 2 websites. Not only will it be more work for you but it will be harder for people to find you. I would also suggest associating the logo with your products as early in production as possible so it becomes the face of your product. Hand made, non-bulk products, that are well made are worth a little extra, so I would suggest not under valuing your product, but realistically costing out your materials, time and overhead (it is a business) before settling on a price.  Good luck - this is very exciting.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I agree with this 100%.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Dori...I can't help you with your decisions but I NEED COLLARS and LEASHES for my boys!!!!!!!!!!  I am addicted to collars..I buy LOTS of collars...and I want nothing more than to give you my money so that you can make beautiful collars for my boys.