Starting a business: how Made by De got started

Dogs come in all different shapes and sizes. However, some of their needs are the same, such as the need to stay cool in the heat. A dog cool coat can help prevent overheating, so your best friend can enjoy their time with you even in the heat.

Starting a business; in the beginning.

Starting a business making custom dog clothes has been an adventure. I have been making custom dog clothes for more than 15 years now (hard to believe……the time has flown!).  I didn’t really think much about making anything for a profit before then, and certainly about having my own online business.  It is funny how life works.

I was an RN for lots of years but got tired of the long shifts, working weekends and holidays, running all day, and having very little control over how my day went. It was good, mostly, especially the pay, but I wanted a change.  That’s when life decided to intervene.

Life works in mysterious ways.

Although it doesn't sound like a good thing, I got injured.  After I broke my ankle, I couldn't work as a nurse until I healed up. This unfortunate event was actually just the thing I needed to get me out of my rut. 

While healing, I had time on my hands.  But I am the type of person who doesn’t sit still much, so I wanted something to do. We had an old sewing machine sitting around, and I decided to play with it.

At about the same time, I had a friend who had a little local coffee shop that sold gifts and trinkets. She would buy dog coats made out of repurposed second-hand clothes from another lady in town who needed the extra cash.  They were stacking up at her shop!

As I met other dog lovers, they would tell me about this dog they had that they just couldn’t fit with a coat, or that dog that had issues staying clean or cool.

People buy dog coats, really!

We got to talking, and I told her I was looking for something to do and would try to list them on eBay.  Many of them sold there.  However, in trying to sell them, I kept hearing from this person who had a dachshund or that person who had a Mastiff that was having a hard time finding something to fit their dog.

Since I was learning how to sew, I told them I would make coats for their dogs.  After doing this a few times, I thought maybe I could try putting together a website and to sell the coats I was making and see what happened.

Starting a business!

I put together a website and then an Etsy site.  I talked to more and more people about it and started trying social media or google ads for marketing. And I quit my RN job.

I also started exploring in person sales at agility trials and dog shows. Turned out, I could set up at events and sell my stuff there too! It was a lot of work going to events and setting up a booth, then taking it all down, preparing for another show, and doing it all again, but it was a really great learning experience!

At the shows, I talked to lots and lots of dog lovers.  They liked the fact that I made coats to fit their dogs.  Many of them told me how tired they were of buying stuff that didn’t fit.  Or not being able to find the right raincoat, etc. Many of my clients would ask me about this or that item they were looking for, and usually, I could come up with a way to get it done for them.

A custom dog coat can be made to fit any dog. Made by De creates each product just for the dog for which it is intended.

I've developed new and better products and updated my website numerous times since then, but it all started because of a usually negative event that turned out to be a positive one.

See my page, Made by De, for more information about all my products. Do you know why a dog needs a dog coat? Read my posts about Why a custom dog coat isn’t expensive or How a dog coat can help your athletic dog to discover more about dog coats and clothes.

Do you use dog clothes for your dog?  What do you want them to do for your pup? Tell me about your experiences in the comments below.