Pet Blog June Archive

Franga Equestrian and Pet Boutique Interview

By Interviewer at 06/29/07 19:22

Name of your website?

Franga Equestrian and Pet Boutique

Your name?

Aubrey - Franga Designs

Your Location (city, etc)

California City

When did you start your website and why?

August 2006. We used to sell our products through an eBay Store, but when eBay announced a substantial eBay Store fee increase that would have increased our selling costs by 600% with only a month's warning to store owners, we closed our eBay Store and opened our own web store.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We sell original and custom designed clothing and costumes for pets and horses. We take orders through a Zen Cart website/shopping cart and personally hand-make every item we sell. Our designs are all developed from patterns drafted in our sewing studio.

We have ready-made and custom items, and we have set up our shopping cart to accept custom orders by having the customers enter in their dogs' measurements. This ensures the best possible fit. Unlike many dog clothing merchants, our clothing is not limited to just teacup/toy/small dogs, but we make clothes for all sizes including large breed dogs.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

I am not professional computer programmer and have had very little training in website development, so there are always little (and sometimes major) problems.

Zen Cart is a free open source PHP shopping cart developed by a community of great people (The Zen Cart Team) and there are many modules and contributions developed by individuals to enhance the features of your Zen Cart store. Most of the time, the contributions work great, but there are often compatibility issues with versions, browsers, and other installed modules.

However, the Zen Cart support forums is full of helpful people who are very generous with advice and tips and most issues can be solved there.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

The easiest part is when every last thing is running perfectly and I can just sit back and wait for the orders to come in. I am still waiting for this part, probably in vain, as one thing I have learned is that there are always new problems.

What was your biggest mistake?

When I first installed Zen Cart, I installed an SEO Urls contribution that rewrites our urls to be search engine/friendly.

Instead of the following: http://frangadesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=83

It was supposed to make it look something like: http://frangadeisgns.com/Little-Patriot-Dog-Dress

It turns out this contribution was not compatible with sites running a shared SSL certificate, and it hadn't occurred to me to check the SSL pages and customers couldn't create accounts, login or checkout.

Who maintains your website and why?

I maintain our website, mainly because we are still in our early/development stage and my services come free.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Our website allows us to sell our products to customers all over the United States as well as internationally. We are physically located in a very remote area and our business would be not exist at all if not for the internet/website.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

In this day and age, all business should have a website as it is the most convenient way for consumers to learn about a company's products and services without having to call and wait to speak to someone on a telephone or physically go to the business location. Especially nowadays with increased gas prices, I personally find it more economical to order things online and have them shipped to my door. Not only does this save driving time, gas, and money because things can be purchased for less online than at retail locations, but it also saves time.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

My current view on SEO is that it is a pain in the keester. Partly because I'm still new at this webmastering thing and our website is still new. I have spent a lot of time working on link exchanges with other relevant sites, and for the most part am still blundering my way through hoping to eventually make our way to the first page on Google search. Good luck to me.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

For a while were were getting traffic from on Google, Yahoo and MSN/Live searches, but during the past month we all of a sudden disappeared. Only if we list our items on Froogle/Google Base do we get traffic from Google.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

The link submissions from other pet or horse related websites, a few eBay auctions and as mentioned above, Froogle/Google Base. Craigslist ads also help a lot.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

I'm still in a trial and error stage right now, so I'm not sure.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

My only concern right now with respect to the internet is the issue of Network Neutrality. If the FCC and large communications succeed in abolishing Net Neutrality, we'll be out of business.

What products do you sell on your website?

We sell clothing and costumes for dogs of all shapes and sizes, and for all sorts of occasions: casual, formal, special & holiday. Some of our most popular items are our Patriotic Dog Dresses, Red Velvet & Boa Trim Christmas Dog Dress, Red Velvet Nutcracker Toy Soldier Costume for Dogs with Black Faux Bear Fur Hat, White Faux Fur Angel Wings & Black Bat Wings Harness for dogs and cats, and a assortment of other clothing and costumes.

Our most popular horse product is our original Franga Designs Unicorn Browband for horses and ponies, which are available ready-made and custom with many options. We also specialize in Medieval style horse barding and saddle blankets, and other unique costumes for horses such as Patriotic Browbands, Ostrich Plume Bridle Ornaments and more.

We also custom designing services for customers who are participating in special events such as shows, parades, and parties and want a special outfit or costume for their dog or horse to stand out (and win, which they have done with our costumes!).

What is your website address?

Franga Equestrian and Pet Boutique

Fir Tree Grooming Academy - Dog Grooming School Interview

Name of your website?

Fir Tree Grooming Academy - Dog Grooming School

Your name?

Amanda Bryan

Your Location (city, etc)

Manchester

When did you start your website and why?

We only recently started a web site for our dog grooming training business. This was in response to feedback from our students who had searched for grooming training information on the web and were telling us that the resources were quite restricted and mainly located too far away from their home addresses.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We run a training school in Manchester for students who wish to learn how to groom and style all breeds of dogs. Our vast experience in the dog grooming trade as well as our business experience and involvements with other 'dog related' things (boarding kennels, dog showing, etc.) has given us an excellent grounding for our grooming school, which was opened about three years ago. Before opening the school, all of our tutors underwent a City and Guilds Teaching Certification Course - so that we were not only able to posses the required qualifications and experience in dog grooming, we were also able to impart that knowledge correctly, in a manner that the students were able to understand and learn from.

We have a strong belief in hands-on training, so our students are introduced to dogs that require grooming from their first day at the course. Throughout our course, each student can expect to work on at least ten dogs each week – with an increasing involvement in the whole process of grooming the dog. We use a wide variety of breeds and the students are taught the correct trimming and styling techniques specific to each breed. Much of the study work and the theory is given as work to be undertaken outside our ‘classroom’ hours, so the students gain the greater benefit of hands-on grooming tuition for the maximum amount of time on each course.

Our policy of “one size doesn’t fit all” is of great benefit to many of our students. We take a small number of students on to each course that we run (a maximum of four at any one time). This gives us the ability to mould the course content to the student’s requirements and the options to add or remove items from our syllabus to give the optimum content for each individual. Our student-teacher ratio is excellent, often allowing one-to-one training on many occasions - and never greater than two-to-one on any day throughout the course.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Convincing one of the tutor’s partners, who has experience in producing and maintaining web sites that he “wants” this on-going commitment to build, host and maintain our site!!

What has been the easiest part of operating your website?

Everything after achieving the above! :-)

What was your biggest mistake?

Our biggest mistake probably was overlooking the benefits of having a web site to pass on information to people who are considering entering the dog grooming business. With our web site we are able to pass on a wide range of information about our dog grooming courses and about the business in general.

Tell us how your business has benefited from your website?

Anyone enquiring about our training courses via the web site now has some background information about the dog grooming business and our course content. This saves both the enquirer and us the time of explaining much of the details that they need.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

The search engines are a necessary guide for people by indexing the internet. Although they claim to be driven by quality of content, it is frustrating when you see less relevant sites or less informative sites being returned in search results ahead of sites of much better quality. I believe they rely too heavily on the scoring from ‘inbound links’ and we still have the position, many years down the line of the internet’s maturity, where the clever web site optimisers steal positions over the genuine and informative sites that are out there - Google being the biggest culprit!

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

We believe that carefully selected and relevant links to and from our site and submission to relevant directory sites are the best internet promotion for us. This is definitely a case, for us, of the quality of links and not the quantity of links.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Direct submission of the web site details to the major search engines. It is not necessary and it takes them far too long to index your site. It’s better to get on with the site building and optimising and leave the search engine spiders to find the site for themselves, normally by the links from other web sites.

Where do you see your business developing in the future?

We are installing upgraded equipment for our teaching facility and considering new premises in the near future. If present student enquiries and course bookings remain stable, we will consider a further training facility located in the North West of the UK.

What is your website address?

Fir Tree Grooming Academy - Dog Grooming School

Bling Bling Puppy Interview

Name of your website?

Bling Bling Puppy

Your name?

Galen Seidler

Your Location (city, etc)

Snohomish

When did you start your website and why?

My wife and I wanted to start a dog boutique site and start making good money. We want to be able to quit our day jobs, and make better use of our time. We have a dog ourselves, and he inspired us to get into this business.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We sell a large variety of designer dog beds, luxury dog beds dog jewelry, dog clothes, and other great dog accessories.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

All of it. I had to do it all from scratch. A couple of years ago, I graduated from community college with an Associates in Web Technology. I used what I learned to build it.

Who maintains your website and why?

I maintain it. Until I start making wnough money to hire another web master, I'm it.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

I spent the past year studying that too. So I am the webmaster, and the SEO guy / marketer as well. SEO is a great way to gain traffic if it is done ethically (no black hat stuff)

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Article marketing, and blog posting.

What is your website address?

Bling Bling Puppy

K-9 Companion Company Interview

Name of your website?

K-9 Companion Company

Your name?

James Larkey

Your Location (city, etc)

Metamora, OH 43540

K-9CC: Setting New Standards in Dog Training!

James Larkey is the founder of K9 Companion Company and professional dog training instructor. Dogs have always been a part of his life, sharing and often creating some of his most memorable family experiences. For all the comfort and happiness his dogs bring into his life, he often found himself wondering how he could return the favor.

That question led James on a long path of discovery and insight about the nature of dogs. That question led him to K9 Companion Company. James is looking forward to the opportunity to now share that experience and insight with others who love dogs as much as him.

Tell us more about K-9 Companion Company.

The ultimate goal at K-9 Companion Company is to create happy and lasting relationships between people and their dog(s) through better education. We want to “raise the bar” in dog training and become recognized for delivering outstanding professional service. The individual success and satisfaction of every customer is our purpose as well as our promise. This makes a partnership with K-9 Companion Company a win-win situation for everyone!

I am a professional dog trainer that believes in educating clients to create lasting positive change in their lives. Unlike most trainers, our focus in education is on the dog-human relationship over obedience. We strive to create a deeper bond between humans and their K9 companions.

This is accomplished through an educational approach that aims at providing our clients with an understanding of dog behavior and positive training techniques, which can be used in our daily lives for amazing results. This partnership of dog psychology and positive training techniques offers the most effective training programs available today!

What is your service area?

Our service area encompasses all of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan offering professional one on one client centered counseling and training. We also offer fully trained dogs for companionship and personal protection shipped worldwide.

What types of training do you provide?

Our training focuses on the dog-human relationship over obedience, developing a strong bond of love and respect through mutual understanding between you and your dog.

Behavioral Counseling. Behavioral counseling goes far beyond just training. While obedience training focuses on teaching the dog new commands, behavioral counseling focuses on educating dog owners in understanding canine behavior and making lifelong changes in how we interact with our dogs to provide mental well being.

Obedience Training. Our training programs utilize principles of dog psychology and positive training techniques which offers the most effective “real world” training available today. Training can be geared to standard pet obedience or competition style obedience. Achieving a Canine Good Citizens title or Therapy Dog title are no problem with our training.

Personal Protection. We also offer personal protection training to qualified clients.

At what age should a dog begin training with you?

Foundational training and socialization can begin at eight weeks of age. However, training puppies is entirely different than standard obedience…….Our programs will educate you in these critical differences in training and handling puppies to develop their potential to its fullest.

Do you teach the dogs directly, or teach owners how to train their dogs themselves?

Client Centered Counseling ©. As professional dog trainers, it is easy to claim that we can train and rehabilitate any dog. That is why we promote Client Centered Counseling © in all of our training programs. This means we focus on you, the human, as the #1 training priority. We give you the education needed to maintain your dogs training and emotional well being for the rest of their lives.

Does training take place at your establishment, at the owners' homes, or possibly both?

We believe that one-on-one in home training guarantees the highest level of success. Why? The home is often the hardest area to gain control of your dog. When training in your home, we can better assess the situation to provide you with the proper knowledge and skills to reach your goals. Only by seeing the dog interact with their own environment, can we truly understand and solve behavior and training issues.

Training is also available at our kennel facility upon request.

Which training program is most requested by your clients?

On Leash Training Consultations. This program includes eight one-on-one training sessions. An investment in our on leash program will produce a well mannered dog that is confident in their obedience. One command control with quick enthusiastic responses from your dog will draw admiration and respect from friends and family. Beyond just training, this program educates you in canine behavior offered in our Behavioral Consultations, which is what makes our training so successful.

As a dog owner, what can we expect when we contact K-9CC?

When you contact us, our response will be prompt and professional. An initial phone conversation will reveal how our training may help you and your dog.

We will then schedule a FREE personal evaluation of your dog and your relationship with your dog at our kennel facility. In home evaluations are also available for a fee. In home evaluations are required for dominance, aggression, or extreme behavioral problems. We can then discuss your situation in detail and you can see a personal demonstration of my own dog working. You will be amazed at what you can achieve with our training programs…….Just give us a try!!!

More info. on K-9 Companion Company......

Website: www.k-9cc.com E-Mail: James@K-9CC.com

What is your website address?

K-9 Companion Company

Pet Portraits of Distinction - Yee-Haa! Artistry Interview

Name of your website?

Pet Portraits of Distinction - Yee-Haa! Artistry

Your name?

Leanne Beasley

Your Location (city, etc)

Melbourne

When did you start your website and why?

February 2005 to promote my artwork.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Website shows examples of my pet portrait artworks, about the artist, testimonials, etc

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Finding the time to dedicate to updating it often!

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Designing my website.

What was your biggest mistake?

Probably my domain name....as it does not have the words 'pet portrait'.

Who maintains your website and why?

I do, because I can & I love working with computers.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

I now receive alot more commissions and promotion of my artwork.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

Essential !!!!!

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Time consuming, but well worth while.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Helped

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

reciprocal links

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Unsure.....

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

Little - pretty good as it is but I am sure that further improvements will make me change my mind about my current opinion.

You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:

No questions at present...

What is your website address?

Pet Portraits of Distinction - Yee-Haa! Artistry

Petmeds Interview

Name of your website?

Petmeds

Your name?

Ricky Thomas

Your Location (city, etc)

petscriptions ltd,54 woodlands park road,london,se10 9xd

When did you start your website and why?

Petmeds.co.uk was founded by pet owners in order to help other pet owners escape from the high prices charged by veterinary practices for animal medication

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Petmeds.co.uk is regulated just like your local veterinary practice. We offer the exact same medication as a traditional veterinary practice and items are dispensed by UK qualified practicing veterinary surgeons but at up to a 60% discount.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Website marketing

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

to sell products

What was your biggest mistake?

I don't know

What is your website address?

Petmeds

Polly and Friends Raccoons Interview

Name of your website?

Polly and Friends Raccoons

Your name?

Polly and Friends 24 hr Raccoon Hotline

Your Location (city, etc)

world wide

When did you start your website and why?

We are dedicated to raccoons in the wild as well as those living in captivity. We do this through directly caring for raccoons and educating humans on how special raccoons truly are. We do raccoon placement as well as answering a 24 hour raccoon hot line for people world wide to call. We place raccoons that can not live in the wild with people and organizations who commit to them. This web site helps us network with people.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We have everything raccoon. This includes many raccoon stories and pictures. Our site also include help for people with raccoons and for those with raccoon related questions.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Getting the information ready to put up.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Updated information and photos

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

word of mouth

What is your website address?

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Pursel's Pawsitively Purrfect.com Interview

Name of your website?

Pursel's Pawsitively Purrfect.com

Your name?

Janice

Your Location (city, etc)

Bloomsburg

When did you start your website and why?

June 2007 -- to get the word out about the products and services I provide.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

My website gives general info on massage, the animals and the session expectations.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

getting on free listing sites

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

the actual creation of the site on Yahoo.

What was your biggest mistake?

Haven't found it yet.

Who maintains your website and why?

Yahoo--easy to create and access the site reasonable pricing

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

site is still in its infancy

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

I go here first to do research and so do other people I know.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

I have just become aware of SEO so I have no opinon yet.

What is your website address?

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