Etsy Store Profile: Chilly Paws

In our second installment, we'll get to know Danielle Baker and her Etsy store, Chilly Paws.





1. Name: Danielle Baker

2. Etsy Store: ChillyPaws http://www.rendachs.etsy.com/

3. Year Founded: 2009

4. Is this your first online store? ChillyPaws is my first venture online - I joined Etsy in 2008. I lurked about for a while - deciding how to best showcase my items.

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because... I liked the venue that Etsy offered, being in a 'store' with other dedicated shop owners along with Etsy's reputation was enough to get me interested in opening a shop. I am able to reach a broader audience.

6. I would describe my store as.... A place to purchase the highest quality items for your pets. The 'go to' place for discriminating pet owners. I offer a product that rivals Mercedes Benz in luxury and quality for the doggy Divas of the world.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... The following my shop has from customers outside the U.S. Etsy has truly helped me become an 'international' seller!

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: There are not enough hours in the week for me! My business is steady and growing - except for the holidays, which is my busy time - I love it! I work at least 65 hours per week - either sewing, shopping for unusual materials, working on new creations or just talking about it!

9. My most marked characteristic is... You are able to pick out items from my shop by the quality of the materials used, the detail of the design and the durability of my items. The most marked characteristic would be the originality of my designs. My items are tried and true -My dogs used my bed - my cart covers, my toys and my towels. My dogs insist on quality control - I work for the woofs and wags. If my dogs didn't use my Snuggle Sacks and blankets, how would I know my products are as good as they are? My grandcub Cairo, a white Bengal tiger also wiggled his furry bottom in my snuggle sacks as a tiny cub - so you see everyone enjoys a ChillyPaws Snuggle Sack.

10. In my spare time I... My spare time is limited. I enjoy reading, I love the beach and I am blessed with amazing friends. During the holiday rush I sleep in my 'spare time'!!

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: It took 3 weeks for the first customer to take a chance on one of my items - I was so nervous. I held my breath until my first positive feedback. What a rush!!! someone loved my items - My first sale was a pink shopping cart cover.

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... a shop without new listings gets no sales. Stale merchandise lingers.

13. I market my store by...ads on twitter, squidoo, facebook and referrals.

14. I wish I knew how to... Relax and enjoy the moment.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be... I would like to be able to cope with daily pressures better - to relax more and worry less.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: having instant access to an international market. I can work in my PJ's with my dogs all around me...that's the best!

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: Never being able to actually walk away for a few days for a get-away. Also, I work alone - and sometimes it would be nice to have more direct interaction with customers.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is... You have to be dedicated as you establish your store. Listing consistently and getting involved with the Etsy community. Customer satisfaction is paramount to your success. Make sure your product is well made and well advertised....and promote! Promote! Promote! Business cards - hand them out to everyone everywhere.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... Microwave potholders - from http://www.handmadebit4u.etsy.com/ - They're perfect for the "too hot, ouch" out of the microwave bowl of soup or stew or to insulate your hands from an ice cold ice cream bowl. I can't live without them.

Danielle didn't add an item to promo from her shop, so I figured I'd add my two cents! With the wind nearly knocking me over today and temps plummeting, when I saw the picture for this listing all I could think was, "Could this dog look any more comfortable (or adorable)!" If your dog could use a new bed or you're looking for the perfect gift for that special relative or friend who has a dog, be sure to check out Danielle's Dog Bed (it also includes personalization)!

Thanks again Danielle for sharing your thoughts and experiences and giving advice on how others can enhance their own Etsy shop!

Etsy Shop Profile: Twenty Little Lights

Here's our very first Etsy Shop Profile!

1. Name: Ann

2. Etsy Store: Twenty Little Lights, http://www.etsy.com/people/TwentyLittleLights

3. Year Founded: 2011

4. Is this your first online store? yes, it is.

5. I decided to open an Etsy store because.... I wanted to be creative again, after having a period of several years wherein I didn't have the time or space to paint and create. I wanted to do something for the local cat shelter, but my working hours and the fact that I am rebuilding my house didn't permit me to do voluntary work at the shelter itself on regular times. So I decided to paint when I had the time, and try to sell these paintings to give the shelter part of my profits.

6. I would describe my store as.... really colorful and full of cats! :-) At the moment I have a lot of cat-related items because of the link with the cat shelter. My plan is to expand my themes in the future, and have items with different subjects.

7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been... the fact that Etsy sellers support each other so much to promote their items. It really feels like one big community that works very hard to keep that community growing. Instead of seeing each other as rivals, they help each other out wherever they can.

8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store: That really depends. Sometimes I spend at least two hours a day on my shop, other days it's just ten minutes. That's the fun of being an Etsy seller: you can spend as much time as you want. However: I do notice that it pays to spend more time promoting.

9. My most marked characteristic is... that I love cats! I'm on the border of being a crazy cat lady, trying very very hard to keep the number of cats I keep to a limited number. :-) I dream, paint, breathe cats. They make me laugh, comfort me, make me feel at home. I attract them wherever I go, I don't know why.

10. In my spare time I... read a lot. At the moment about interior design because I'm rebuilding my house. I also love movies and always try to discover new treasures. I'm a big Almodovar fan and have a soft spot for animated stuff.

11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale: about a month and a half. It's nerve-wrecking! :-)

12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was... that bad pictures don't sell your items. As a real amateur when it comes to photography, it's not easy to make beautiful pictures that do your items right when you don't have a professional camera or lighting. Practice makes perfect, and I still need a lot of practice!

13. I market my store by... having a Facebook and Twitter page. When I get the opportunity to be featured on a blog, I will try to do so, but most blogs ask astronomical fees for advertising. Something that's way too expensive for people who have just opened their stores, or just see it as a hobby.

14. I wish I knew how to... make great pictures, and to market myself better! But I find the tips that Etsy gives to their sellers very useful.

15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be... to be less impatient. I do have patience when I'm painting or making stuff. But when it comes to achieving things in life, I tend to run before I can walk.

16. Best part of having an Etsy store: meeting people from all over the world, and the feeling of being part of a real community that buzzes of creativity. It's a real boost for my own creativity.

17. Worst part of having an Etsy store: the frustration when sales are down. Wondering what you are doing wrong and if you're even good enough.

18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is... I believe I can't say I already have a succesful store yet. It takes more time to achieve that. But if I can give advice to fellow creative people: keep doing your own stuff, creating your own style. Try to keep believing in your own specific style.

19. Last item I bought on Etsy was... a stack of very colorful and quirky fabrics to make more plushies and lots of wooden buttons for those plushies!

20. Product I chose to feature from my store is: Mr. Giggles. It's my first plushie. I made it after a lot of tips from my mother, who is a professional seamstress. It was fun to be able to ask her for advice and to brainstorm with her.

Thank you Ann for sharing your experiences! Remember if you'd like your shop profiled and have pet-related items you sell on Etsy, email me at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com or convo at my Etsy Store, LoveAtFirstBark.

Make your Etsy Store Stand Out From the Crowd

Back in the day when I was a reporter for my local newspaper, I was in charge of two special features. One was a 20 Question profile where I had to find an interesting person and have them fill out a questionnaire about themselves. The other was a small business profile where I reached out to new businesses and wrote stories about them to give them local exposure.

I've decided to resurrect these items and combine the best attributes of both as I think they help not only provide more information about the Etsy stores that are created, but also a bit about the people behind the businesses.

If you'd like to participate and have your Etsy store featured on my blog, simply fill out the questionnaire below and email it to me at loveatfirstbark@gmail.com. You can also provide me with a link to a product you'd like featured and describe why you chose it and this information will also be added to your profile.

ETSY STORE PROFILE

1. Name:
2. Etsy Store:
3. Year Founded:
4. Is this your first online store?
5. I decided to open an Etsy store because....
6. I would describe my store as....
7. The biggest surprise in opening my store has been...
8. Typical number of hours spent per week on my store:
9. My most marked characteristic is...
10. In my spare time I...
11. Length of time before listing my first item and making my first sale:
12. Biggest business mistake I learned the hard way was...
13. I market my store by...
14. I wish I knew how to...
15. If I could change one thing about myself it would be...
16. Best part of having an Etsy store:
17. Worst part of having an Etsy store:
18. The best piece of advice I can share on having a successful Etsy store is...
19. Last item I bought on Etsy was...
20. Product I chose to feature from my store is...and I chose it because...

Thanks for your participation. My goal is to help spread the word about Etsy stores and their products. There are so many wonderful items available by creative and talented people. Let yourself stand out from the crowd! Feel free to email me at: loveatfirstbark@gmail.com or convo me at my Etsy store LoveAtFirstBark

Doggie Needs a New Pair of Shoes

We've already had some biting days in the Midwest and as I walked my shepherd Xella yesterday, I realized that soon the path we currently enjoy at a local golf course will be covered in snow, then plowed and heavily salted. It's nice for me because it's one of the few places that I don't have to wear my Get-A-Grips and can walk normally in my tennis shoes, but the large amount of salt they use on the path in order to make it nice for me makes it horrible for Xellie's feet. Even trying to steer her around some areas, if she even looks at the salt she seems to start limping.

Last year we whipped out the dog booties I had stored in the deep recess of the hall closet. I like the idea of the booties, but it seems that whoever we put them on, be they puppy, adolescent, or adult, the booties have always gone flying off their feet and it's very difficult to get them back on when the wind is howling, the snow is deep and the dog is jerking his or her foot out of my hand every two seconds.

So we're off to find new shoes this year. Shoes that will actually stay on their feet, won't turn on their foot and give them the protection they need from the snow and ice. I just came across these shoes on Etsy and they look promising. These would stay higher up on their leg which I like for shepherds and the fact that the store, Woofsdogboots, take's my dog's dimensions into consideration, makes the probability of a better fit more likely. While Xella has little feet, Hasko's feet are huge so obviously the same pair of shoes won't work.

Even more that a dog coat, a good pair of shoes goes a long way for the cold winter months. They keep your dog's feet dry, protect them from ice that can cut their paws and salt that can burn and won't allow them the opportunity of ingesting salt or other chemicals should they lick their foot after a walk. So if you're like me and your dog is in need of a new pair of shoes, I'd check this store out!

Healthy Eating Options for your Dog

We all love our pets. There's an article on Yahoo today that highlights some things we can do to help our pets live longer. Among them is keeping a healthy weight. Our shepherds have never really had an issue with this before, but now that two of our dogs, Rainer and Jenna, are over 8 years old, they had gotten a little on the heavy side.

A big reason was the food we were feeding. I'm all about good quality ingredients and was feeding them Taste of the Wild, Wetlands formula. The dogs really like it and have done well on it, but it does have a protein content of 32% and fat of 18%. Feeding Rainer and Jenna just three cups a day was keeping them tipping the scale a bit.

So I started doing some additional research and tried a bag of Solid Gold's Wolf King. They also liked that formula (actually there's not a dog food they won't eat), but I noticed that after feeding them this food for a few months, the weight was starting to come off. They were still getting 3 cups a day, but I found that this food's protein and fat content of 22% and 9% was really helping them get back into the shape they were when they were 6 or 7 years old.

They're now at the point where they look lean and healthy again (and have both gotten their waists back) so we've decided to up the content again a bit so they don't lose any additional weight. We've gone back to a line we fed a few years back, but got too expensive for our pack: Blue Buffalo. At 24% and 14% protein and fat contents respectively, it should be just the right fit.

Now that everyone's weight has been managed, it's important not to blow the whole thing by feeding too many treats. The dogs don't mind, but we don't want to pack on the weight again. We've gone healthier with the treats we feed. A current favorite--dehydrated sweet potatoes! Rainer loves bananas and dried apples are also appreciated.

A dog treat that combines these flavors is carried by newbie Etsy seller, WaggingTailsGourmet

As someone who reads every label and hasn't fed my dog anything I can't pronounce well over 15 years, it's always nice to give your dog homemade food and treats that are better for their digestion, and overall health.

What's your dog's favorite treat?

Happy Birthday Jager and Ilsa!

November is a birthday month in our family, specifically of the canine kind!




I can't believe that Jager is now 4 years old today! It seems like only yesterday we were picking him up at the airport. He came to us from Germany, via the famed Kirschental Kennels.





Ilsa turned 5 on November 4! Even though she's of German bloodlines, she came to us via a kennel in Illinois. A shorter drive and no issues involving being in a airline crate for 10 hours, then an airplane hanger after that. Remember that if you ever import a puppy to bring waterless shampoo, towels, paper towels, water, a collar and a leash because you don't get anything but a little puppy inside a pee-soaked crate!


I don't know if you're like me, but every dog in our house gets a birthday cake. I love homemade items and our dogs always devour their cake in a matter of minutes. I like knowing what's in the food they eat and I'm not into anything that's colored bright red or green and filled with so many preservatives it can be kept for the next 20 years.


Here's the recipe I use:

1 cup white or wheat flour (one of my shepherds suffers from allergies so I substitute oatmeal flour. Just put some instant oatmeal in a food processor and pulse into flour, then use just like you would any other flour)

1 teas. baking soda

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup oil

1 cup shredded carrots

1 teas. vanilla

1 egg

Put everything in food processor and incorporate. Bake in a greased cake pan at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Store leftovers in a plastic baggie or container. There won't really be much in terms of leftovers however!

Life too hectic to bake yourself? Then check out an All Natural Happy Birthday Cookie Cake, care of Elizabeth and her Etsy store, Shorty's Gourmet Treats.

Etsy Holiday Dog Breed Christmas Cards

The holiday season is now upon us and holiday cards will soon be making their way to mailboxes across the country. I've created a Treasury List at my Etsy site, LoveAtFirstBark of some of my favorite card designs. I've also added some new ones here (as a German shepherd owner I had to give a shout-out to my favorite breed). Just click on the pics for more information!