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

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

This is all so cute I can hardly stand it! 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Dori, You have gotten lots of good advice and I only have one suggestiion to add, monogramming. I love things that are monogrammed. Does you sewing machine have that feature? You do great work and I wish you all the success in the world.

[Dori & Rua]

hi all..   Sitting in a restaurant...by myself..having dinner.  A girl shouldn't have to cook her own birthday dinner

[Donna K & Quincy]

Maybe we could join you for coffee! Sometimes you just have to enjoy your own company. Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Dear Dori, happy birthday to you. It's probably a good thing you can't really hear me sing.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Or me harmonizing here: ) Happy Birthday Dori.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Happy birthday! :D

I agree - taking yourself for a night out sounds like a nice birthday.

[BG and Gavin]

Aww Happy Birthday Dori!  CLINK!!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DORI!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I second what Donna says, probably better that you can't hear me sing. Darwin is a WONDERFUL singer though... :-)

[Dori & Rua]

I am just overwhelmed with all of the suggestions and logo ideas.  I am seeing some stuff I really like.  But, it is 10:20 my time, my yummy dinner is done (had Caesar salad, Filet Marsala and a delicious choclate bread pudding...with, of course a nice Cab).  I sat at the bar...the bartender heard me talking to my sister Dawn when she called to wish me a Happy Birthday, so, when I got the bill, she had comp'd my dessert!  Made me cry.  I'll take a look at things tomorrow...when I am not full of food & wine and not thinking of my DH (and I don't mean dear - my furbabies did give me a really nice card, though, but do you think it would have been too much for him to even say Happy Birthday?). 

 

I do like Rua jumping over the name...have some tweeks on the collar hanging....thinking a leash, perhaps, hooked over the U and underlining the word with the handle part coming to rest under the K might be cool.  I like the label black with pink writing (KangaRua, with a smaller second line of KangaRua.com in white - my DB - dear brother - told me I didn't need www.).  I like KangaRua for collars/leashes/agility and will keep BellaRua for clothes...if someone wants collars, etc., from my BellaRua site, they can click the link to KangaRua, and vice versa.  The main reason is BellaRua is feminine to reach a market of males or people with male dogs, I don't want them thinking BellaRua is girly...because from the clothing standpoint...it will be geared towards female dogs.  I'll have my blog linking also. 

 

My DB is investigating a shopping cart that I can put on my site, and making sure I have the ability of including a promo code so I can make sure all of my DK family get special pricing!  :-)

 

Thank you all...it will take a while to get there, but it sure gives me purpose!

[Bonnie and Kona]

I hope you had a pleasant evening. I am so tickled your dessert was comp'ed. That is wonderful. As far a DH wishing you a happy birthday... I have a close friend that had the exact thing happen... and we do not mean dear!!! You, my dear, are wished a very wonderful year ahead with joy abounding by me and I am sure by many, many others on DK.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM US!  Dh's birthday was yesterday and it was really boring for him.  We were supposed to have a motorcycle weekend get-away but it was rained out.  I had NOTHING else planned and the kids thought we were gone so.......