Mompreneur uses her mothers sewing pattern to create dog apparel and launch Gold Paw Series
Gold Paw Series is a family-run dogwear company dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and their owners with thoughtful, practical solutions to everyday problems. Learn more about the Gold Paw Series founder Rebecca Gadd in her interview below!
Welcome Rebecca, Please tell us a little about yourself:
I have a 4 year old daughter who has been with me in the office since she was born. She’s been to trade shows and meetings, essentially being raised the same way I was. I come from a long line of stubbornly independent entrepreneurial types. As a kid, every family vacation involved detours to vendors and shopping trips were always to check out the competition. As such, I really don’t know anything else. I love being a mom and I love the freedom to be one that owning a business can provide. I’m pretty religious at this point of not doing work on the weekend, because it can consume you if you let it. The downtime really helps my creative side though.
Where did the inspiration for Gold Paw Series come from?
The original design came from a home sewing pattern that my mom designed when she was home with me after I was born. We kept the pattern and resulting shirt for a couple decades and then after I graduated from college with a degree in apparel design I thought, this is the perfect product. Dogs were really starting to assume their current position as family members and the development of high tech knit fabrics lent themselves to the design.
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What kind of approximate start-up costs were involved in getting Gold Paw Series from concept to launch mode?
We’ve really developed the business in stages. At first of course we did everything ourselves. As time has gone on we’ve been able to utilize more professionals. I’d say we got ourselves going for around $20,000.
Who is your Gold Paw Series for and how does it benefit them?
Our dog clothes are very practical garments and so have a broad audience. It’s for anyone whose dog gets cold or wet, so basically everyone with a beloved dog and some disposable income. 🙂
Please provide one business tip that you feel can really help a mom entrepreneur with her business.
Get a professional photographer. Unless you are absolutely amazing with photography, no money is better spent than on photography of your product or service/location. It doesn’t have to be expensive. That was the single biggest factor in being taken seriously by large accounts and the media.
Related:Â Mompreneur Interview with Writer & Story Worker Carina Lyall
1 thing you do for yourself to unwind from it all?
I know it isn’t chic to say, but I love a good bit of TV watching.. so many amazing shows right now!
Share a website you like to browse just for fun.
I like Houzz.com for fun
Share a favorite book.
One of my favorites is George Saunders’ In Persuasion Nation, a collection of short stories.
Gold Paw Series is a family-run dogwear company dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and their owners with thoughtful, practical solutions to everyday problems. All of our products are proudly sewn in the USA, which is also where many of the materials are sourced. The company is firmly committed to finding new ways to reduce the impact of Gold Paw Series products on the environment, from raising the percentage of recycled materials in our textiles to using biodegradable packaging.
Connect with Rebecca
Website:Â http://www.goldpawseries.com
Facebook:Â https://www.facebook.com/goldpawseries
Twitter:Â https://twitter.com/goldpawseriesÂ
Very cool dog outfits. WIll buy for some fur babies I know.