Twelve Weeks Later!

I know that I said in the last post that I wanted to write this little blog at least once a week (!) but when I saw that it had been 12 weeks since my last post even I was shocked!! 

So, what have I been doing in that time? Working my little socks off of course! At the end of February we got a rather lovely order for our wax dog coats from a well known store called Hawkshead, who do fab walking gear for you and your man, and now do fab walking gear for your dog! And their stores are Dog Friendly too! 

They have taken six of our most popular sizes, small, medium short, medium, whippet, and the two sizes of our Kent coat, that covers the belly and is great for westies and spaniels.

They also chose most excellent colours, green, brown and tartan. So, if you are in Hawkshead Village in the beautiful Lake District, and you have forgotten the dogs coat, or just fancy trying one before you buy, pop in to their wonderful store! 

That kept us busy until Easter when we delivered. 

Then it was full steam ahead getting ready for Badminton Horse Trials which last year was cancelled the day before we set off! This year the weather did us proud, the sun shone, and the peeps came out in their thousands, and I mean thousands! What a busy show that is! And so many fabulous dogs, all shapes, and all sizes! 

OUR best seller??? Bandanas!! they accounted for a third of all products sold! Obviously the fashion accessory for dogs in the horsey world! 

As usual we met lots of whippet customers who bought our wonderful soft collars, our warm jumpers and our properly shaped wax coats! We love whippets! 

After five frantic days of selling we packed up the van with a lot less than we went with, and headed straight to a local pub for a meal and a well deserved drink before heading back home, there by missing all that Bank Holiday traffic! 

That is where the time goes! The day we got back was my birthday, and it was the big 5 0 this year so I have been celebrating since then, with champagne, good food, and a Girlies Glamping weekend at a local Featherdown Farm. I can recommend it, maybe I will write a post about it......we'll see how the time goes!

See you all in a week or 12!

Debbie x

Best Intentions

My intention has always been to write my little blog at least once a week! But my actions have not been so. 

Running your own business is extremely rewarding but also extremely hard work! In the days before we all had a computer in our houses let alone on our laps, when I left work, I did just that. Now it seems much harder to leave it. So, our evenings are often filled with paperwork, or should I say computer work, and posting on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

Hence no time for blog writing and I seem to be filling the gap with Instagram. I think that I really love the fact that Instagram is a sort of instant micro blog, and gives me lots of opportunity to chat to customers, and other like minded peeps!And I post on there at least 3 times a day, sometimes more!

 So, if you are interested in knowing what is going on here at Redhound, do follow us on one of the above, or if you like to dip in and out, then please do continue to read my little blog, albeit infrequently written! 

Thank you for reading.

A Good Start

I cannot believe that it is the middle of January already! It's been non stop at Redhound HQ.

Week 1 was spent getting orders out to customers, and week 2 making new samples for Top Drawer, a trade show that we attended to show our wonderful little collection of dog products to the world of retail outlets, big and small!

New styles included four new bed fabrics, all very yummy, as confirmed by one stockist in Devon who ordered 70 of them!! ( she has two shops ) and new shops in Northumberland and Suffolk.

Dog clothes are going to be big business this year, I can't say any more at the moment, but watch this space!!!

2013 is looking mighty fine for us at Redhound, and in the words of that song 'things can only get better'!

Christmas Tradition

Every Christmas day for the last 9 years (since we have had the dogs) we have a tradition of going to the coast to walk on the beach. Come rain or shine, we still go. 

So, Christmas Day 2012, the wettest year on record, the forecast was predictably gloomy! But we are not easily put off, an 80% chance of rain did not stop us making the flask of coffee, with a little nip of whisky in, packing it in a bag with some home made chocolate brownies, kitting the dogs out in rain coats and jumpers and we were ready to get on the road!

Camber Sands is our most local sandy beach now that we live in Kent, and if you have never been, you should go. Miles of sand and dunes and although the little town is not really what you might call picturesque the beach is stunning.

The rain pelted down all the way down through the lovely countryside, and when we arrived we did have to wait 10 minutes in the car with a cup of coffee as even we were wondering what we were doing, the dogs had been thinking that since we left the house! But as if a Christmas miracle had happened the rain stopped, and the sun even showed its face!! So we got our hats and coats on and off we went!

It might have been dry, but the wind was gale force! Bracing was the word we used! The dogs had a fantastic time, Frankie running in the dunes and Bruno chasing a frisbee that flew in the wind. 

Frankie in mid flight!

 Bruno going against the wind!

The sky was magnificent and we were not alone in our madness, there were other dog walkers and even someone on a horse. 

So all in all, we were glad we had made the effort, it was fun and  exhilarating and it always fills me with joy to see my whippets running around, doing what they do best!

So here is to tradition, and if you can't be traditional at Christmas when can you be! 

Happy New Year, and we look forward to sharing 2013 with you. 

Show Time!

I know it's a cliche but where does the time go? I haven't had any time to write a blog post since October! When I started this little blog, I thought I'd have time to do at least a post a week! Well, nearly 6 weeks since the last post there seems to be something not quite right with my calculations!

So, what has been keeping me so busy I here you ask. Simple. Two big retail shows. Those of you that follow me on Twitter, Facebook or my personal fave, Instagram will know that we attended the Country Living Christmas Fair at the beginning of November, and the Wealden Times Midwinter Fair just last week. 

 Up to Islington we went with the van loaded up with Redhound goodies to sell to the lovely ladies (and some gentlemen) who attend this very popular sanctuary of retail therapy.

This year I made the stand look very Christmassy, and we topped up our stock with lots of dog treats from our friends at the Beach Dog Bakery, another Kent based business. 

We had garlands, baubles, brightly coloured leather collars, and snowflake Christmas jumpers.

All of our beloved vintage dogs on wheels went to good homes with delighted new owners. It never ceases to amaze me just how popular these little dogs are. 

What I love about this show is that it is a great time to catch up with some old friends, and being in London, a few nights out at lovely eating establishments! Drinks with the lovely ladies at Poppy Children, and a meal at Bill's with Poppy Treffry were both enjoyable.  

Five frantic days ensued and much stock was sold, and the van was a little lighter on the way back home.

One week later, after frantically making up the orders that had come in while we were away, we set up for  our local fair at Bedgebury, The Wealden Times Midwinter Fair. Seemingly just as popular as the Country Living Fair. I was a little concerned that no dogs were allowed (they were encouraged at the Summer Fair) but I need not have. The lovely ladies of the Weald came and loved what we do, and bought their dogs coats, collars and Christmas Crackers! 

It's been a bit less frantic at The Barn this week. Only one show to do, The Rare Brands Market at The Corn Exchange in Brighton next week. Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December. Pop in if you are in town. 

Roll on Christmas I need a rest!!!

Red is the Colour!

At this time of year I am forced to feel festive. NOT out of choice, but necessity, because it is that time of year when we at Redhound have to get ready for the big Country Living Christmas Fair.

So it has been all about RED this last couple of weeks. Red Christmas jumpers, Red bandanas, and Red Christmas stockings!

I have been working out on the knitting machine all week, and to my surprise I seem to have a slightly more toned waistline, who needs the gym.

Next week it will be all about bandana production. Lots of triangles of lovely cotton in beautiful prints, and then I will be putting the sewing machine through its paces, zoom zoom.

And this year we are offering our bandanas with a treat tree as a gift pack! There will be frantic packing of these lovely gifts the day before setting up at the show no doubt.

 This week I have been amazed by the response I have had on the social media sites, there was a time not so long ago, when those two words just wouldn't have been in the same sentence! Running a business is so different now to how it was when I had the Wedding Dress Shop. But I have embraced it and use Twitter (@RedhoundforDogs) and Instagram (@redhoundfordogs)

 I am getting orders from all around the world! Collars and Coats are going as far away as Australia! 

I love the sharing of thoughts and pictures, and the way that I can connect with my customers in a more personal way. 

This little dog won a bandana for being our 700th follower on Twitter, and it gave me such joy to make the owner so happy!

And George is so terribly CUTE!!

Last but not least we took a delivery of wonderful bright coloured dog collars made in the softest of leather by our shoe maker friends in Devon. 

I love them all, and I am sure that the good people of London will too>

You can buy tickets on line at www.countrylivingfair.com

or call the ticket hotline 0844 848 0152

7-11th November at the Business Design Centre Islington

So if you are going pop along to meet us, stand P34

A Trip to Suffolk

It may seem like we are always on holiday here at Redhound, but it just so happens that our long weekend in Devon was closely followed by a week in the lovely dog friendly county of Suffolk. In fact this was our first week away for over 3 years! So we were really ready for it! 

Suffolk is a beautiful county and we stayed in a lovely converted stable that we booked through a great website www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk All of their properties are of a high standard, and lots are dog friendly too. The Stable had underfloor heating which is heaven to the whippets! We loved the peace and quiet, the only sounds at night were foxes and owls, and no street lights so it was very dark at night, great for restful nights and restorative sleep, both of which we needed! 

We found some lovely shops, I loved this one, so traditional, and they sold a bit of everything, from rabbit food to wool!

We ate some fantastic food, fish featured on all menus, and I got my fix of fresh crab, Bruno has discovered at the age of 9 that he too likes crab!

We found some amazing churches and they all had these beautiful hand embroidered cushions on the pews 

We went to some beaches and had fish and chips! And lots of sea air! 

 More embroidered cushions on pews and we saw The House in The Clouds at Thorpeness!

Then the week was over! We were supposed to be resting, and relaxing, but this doesn't come easily to us, so we had fantastic days out, great dog walks and lots of exploring. We even met the man who discovered the Hoxne Hord, the biggest single find of Roman coins, jewellery and much more. Now in the British museum he is 89 and still going out with his metal detected! A really lovely gentleman, and a great character!

So back in the Garden of England now, and in the throws of moving our business to an old Kent Barn, we truly have outgrown the house!

These two are glad to be home and back in the usual routine which involves lots of sleeping during the day, and less exploring and walking! They have a holiday every day here!