Where is the customer service?

I know technology is a great thing and all, but sometimes I just want to talk to a real person that cares!  You can order whatever you want online.  You can purchase all types of service.  But just try talking to a live person one on one.  If you try to call the phone number they list, will you get to talk to a person?  Even better, will you get to talk to a knowledgeable person who is invested in what they do?  Chances are that if you do get that special person, it will be after you've been on hold for a LONG time.  

One of the things I like best about having my own company is providing EXCELLENT customer service.  I know, answering the phone is maybe a bit old fashioned, but the people on the other end of the line seem to really appreciate that I answered.  When I get an email, I try to answer it as promptly and completely as possible.  When I am working with a person face to fact, I try to imagine what I would want if I were that person.

In our age of automation and immediate gratification, asking for great customer service seems to be unreasonable.  Sometimes people email me several times so they can clarify and make sure they want to buy my product.  Then they apologize!  A person should not have to feel like they need to apologize for making sure they are getting the item they want.  It is their money they are spending and they should be able to make sure it is spent the way they want it to be.

I have made it my goal to treat each person as I'd want to be treated.  It seems pretty simple.  But I hear over and over again that they really appreciate it.  I think this is what sets small companies such as mine apart from the big companies.  I believe there are still a lot of people who hunger for customer service.  

Don't Dogs already HAVE coats??????

Why would you use coats on dogs, especially in the summer?

These are cool coats for dogs.  Dogs can't cool off like us people.  They don't sweat and they wear fur coats year round.  They do pant, but that's not enough to help on really hot days or with a lot of activity.  

Cool coats cool off their bodies through evaporation.  If you don't believe it works, you only have to watch and see how dogs act.  When they are hot and panting, they LOOK uncomfortable.  When the cool coats are working, you can watch them stop panting and relax.  They have energy again to fun things like agility!

Dogs are some of my favorite people!

I just got back from my dog show in Denver.  It was a great success!  I got to catch up with dogs and people I've been seeing and working with over the years. Working online is great and allows for a lot of flexibility.  However, you can't beat face to face contact.

These little guys are some of my favorites!  My friend, Betty, brought them over to my booth so I could see how cute they are.  They're wearing the coats they got from me, of course. This day it was raining and getting ready to snow so they were nice and snuggly warm!

I always learn so much when I attend the dog shows.  I get to see all types and breeds of dogs and hear about the needs they have so I can create clothing that works for them.  The dogs and their people give me new ideas for product creation or ideas for improving what I already create.  Every time, I come back feeling excited about all the new projects I can work on.  It keeps me fresh and inspired!

What it's all about!

What it's all about!

 



 

 

I'm back from my Dog Show in Denver.  It was a GREAT success.  I love seeing the dogs wearing my stuff and talking to their owners about how my products are working for them or what they need from a new product for their dogs.  I have my online store and that is great. However, it is grounding for me to actually meet face to face. 

This sweet girl was strutting her stuff with this tiny coat and had everyone talking.  She would have stood there all day for pictures, but her owner decided they had other things to do still, go figure.  I spent much of the show having dogs of all breeds and sizes model my products so watch for pictures in the coming weeks. 

First Big Show of the Year!!!!!

Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show

February 12-16, 2015

Made by De is attending the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show for the 5th year in a row!

This is always a favorite dog show of mine.  Not only do I get to see LOTS of dogs and people, I get to revisit one of the historic sites in Denver, Colorado, where I grew up.

A show of this size always has lots of bustle! So many breeds of dogs; it's hard to imagine them all in one place.  And not only conformation shows for all 5 days, but agility competition, rally competition, meet the breed demonstrations and lots of other events to help the uninitiated understand the dog world.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Made by De to reconnect with returning clients and friends, as well as meet new ones.  Anyone in Denver during this event, be sure to come by and see me.  I have existing favorite dog coat designs as well as new stuff you just might love for your pup/pups! And I make all of it so if you're looking for something special, let me know.  I specialize in custom work.

See you in Denver!!!

Using one of my pictures to make a pinable post

So, I'm trying to learn how social medial can be used.  I'm learning to post, pin, tweet, blog, backlink, etc., etc.  Today, my project is to use one of my own pictures, make it worth pinning and then actually pin it.  I learn better through demonstration, so I'm watching YouTube and found a video by Sarah Avila that showed me how to edit via Picmonkey.com.  Picmonkey.com did not have to be downloaded so I could just go to the site and start editing the pictures on my computer.What was nice is that she showed me step by step what to do.  

I then searched for YouTube videos to put the pin in the post.  I found several of them.  Problem is that if they are very old, the Pinterest site and the blog site have all been updated and don't exactly match up to the video instruction.  I found one by Simon Vannuccini that was helpful.  Between that and fumbling around with the help center on Pinterest, I think I have a pinnable photo.    Now, I'm going to take a break and let my head decompress.  

Maybe you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

"What if I fail? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"

"What if I fail?  Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"

Erin Hanson wrote a poem from which that quote originates.  I might have to get more familiar with her work.  I've seen that particular quote lots of times and I stop to read it, and FEEL it, every time. What a great quote!!!

Who hasn't asked themselves that "What if?" question at some point.  I surely asked myself that question in one form or another when I started my dog coat business, pretty much daily. Who would quit a respected, great-paying job like nursing to start up an independent handmade business that may or may not be able to pay any kind of salary, at least for a while?  I would, and I'm really glad I took the risk.  My business has been growing steadily.  And guess what?!?!?  So have I.  I am learning every single day, about business, about creating, about myself.  

What I've come to understand is that flying is a WONDERFUL feeling.  Sure, you fall sometimes too, but you get back up and then you FLY!    

"What if I fail?  Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"