In a post-COVID world, Becky anticipated a shift in the pet boarding industry. With the surge in pet ownership and online shopping, it was clear that adapting to changing times was crucial. Embracing the future, Becky embarked on a new journey for success with freewebstore!
1. Please tell us a bit about your store?
I design and create fleece bedding for small animals such as guinea pigs, ferrets, rats and hamsters. Being a small pet owner myself I knew how hard it was to get people to look after my animals when I went away, so originally I started boarding small animals in 2016. I quickly realised, in order to do this, I needed bedding for them and started to search the Internet but couldn’t find what I wanted or the quality. So my first thing was to sew my own. I have always been creative and loved making things so I borrowed my mums’ old sewing machine, I set myself up on the kitchen table and started creating items to fit the cages for rats and ferrets.
My customers soon started asking about the bedding and when they realised I made it, bedding orders started to come in. I decided to start selling on online platforms, people would ask if I could create a certain item or make it in a certain colour so my fabric stock grew along with my creations and skills.
In 2020, when covid hit, I decided the future of the pet boarding business would be very different and with everyone buying animals and shopping online I concentrated on the bedding. I upgraded my sewing machine to an industrial one, took over the building used for the animals and filled it with a large array of coloured and patterned fleece. My product collection had grown significantly and it was time to have my own website and build Bumbles Bedding.
2. Do you have any advice for new store owners?
If you don’t try you will never know. Follow your dreams. They may take some time and hard work but be persistent and believe in yourself.
3. What were the results you were hoping to achieve when you first signed up to freewebstore?
I wanted to be able to come off of online platforms that charge high fees so I can keep my products at an affordable price to customers.
As a pet owner I know how expensive animals can be but I also know that pet owners want the best for their furry friends. Creating bedding that is not only of high quality that will last but at an affordable price is very important to me and if my selling fees are less I can keep my prices lower.
4. What is your most popular product?
My most popular products, by far, are fleece cage liners and bonding bags.
5. If you could choose one magic power, what would you go for?
I would clone myself as there are not enough hours in my day to make all the creations that are in my head, along with the everyday running of a business and taking care of my husband and fur babies.
6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I would like to be able to pay somebody to work alongside me. I would still like to run Bumbles Bedding from home because my work life balance is good and I would not want that to change. I also couldn’t imagine my day without whistling and talking to my parrot and having one of my cats sitting with me whilst I sew.
Running a business from the comfort of her home, Becky finds the perfect work-life balance. Embracing flexibility fuels her passion for success. And you, too, can follow your dreams with freewebstore.
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