Name of your website?Bloomingtails Dog Boutique
Your name?
Carol A. Schwed
Your Location (city, etc)
Gloversville
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Custom made dog clothing for toy and small breed dogs.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I have small yorkies and quickly became frustrated in trying to find them clothing that actually fit. The pet clothing industry's conception of what clothing for a small dog was and the reality for the toy breed was totally different. The proportions were so off that they clothes ended up in the garbage. I began adapting patterns for my own dogs, then friends dogs and eventually that grew into selling on Ebay. Ebay fees have gotten out of hand and a friend encouraged me to get my own website.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
Three years ago and it was the same, except on a much smaller and very basic site.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
A group of my friends came up with suggestions and we had narrowed it down to Neiman Barkus & Bloomingtails. Neiman Barkus was already taken so Bloomingtails was born.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
Our speciality is custom made dog clothing. We display a sizing chart for guidelines in what size range to order but each customer is sent a Sizing & Measurement form so that all of our clothing items are custom made to their dog's measurements, ensuring that items they purchase will fit. We also offer a large selection of fabrics so that not every other dog has the same mass produced outfits available in the market.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To keep it for income. It is a labor of love for us. Dogs are our passions and as long as it still is enjoyable, we will maintain our web presence.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Very slow at first, there is a lot of competition and you have to find your niche market. It is now becoming successful after a lot of time and effort.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Would hire a designer to add to our line.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
I do not want it to get so big that we could not provide personal service. My customers depend on us for custom fit and I do not want to get into mass production. I currently employ one seamstress and would add one or two more depending on volumn of business but that is as big as we would want to get.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
If a sewing machine breaks down, it stops production. Now have back-up machines for this unexpected contingency. Needed to find a balance between actually making the products and marketing and development of the website.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Website development and marketing. Even though most hosting companies offer site builders that do not reqiure html in order to get more professional and sophisticated, you will need to learn some html. I am adapt enough now that I can add things to html pages.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Networking. Everyone says it and it really is true. Join groups. Post to those groups. Quality content is another issue and one that considerable time is spent on to get the site pages indexed in the top few pages of search engines.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Had no idea of the time I would have to spend on SEO
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
On our third year and plan to continue as long as it is profitable.
What is the best advise you could give someone wanting to start an internet based business?
Do your homework. Take Web Design, HTML and SEO courses. Network. It as not as simple as getting a website and putting things for sale on it. Marketing is a huge time demand.
What is your website address?
Bloomingtails Dog Boutique
