Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karli Raymond. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Karli, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I got my strong work ethic and drive from my mama! She was always a busy bee with working, crafting, sewing, planning church events, etc. I was always along for the ride where ever she was going so that passed down to me. I love to be busy and having something to do otherwise I get bored!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Like I said earlier, I love being busy, so in April 2018 I started my own business, Sew Doggy Boutique! Our then puppy, Opie, had just come home from his first hair cut with a little bandana on and he was even more cute with it on! However, I didn’t like how tight it was tied around his neck, so I wanted to figure out how to make a bandana that was more safe and comfortable, yet still stylish. I dusted off the sewing machine my mom gifted me for Christmas a few years prior and got to work. I sewed Opie a bandana that simply slid over his collar and was reversible, 2 outfits in 1!
I had so much fun sewing for him that I decided why not start an Etsy shop so I could make them for other pups. I got my first order and was hooked! Later that year I started attending craft shows to sell my goods and also found a few stores to consign in. Now nearly 7 years later I still love sewing our OG bandana but I have also added other products too including: collars, waste bag holders, bandana organizers, pet parent apparel, walking bags, and gift items for pet parents!
We now attend multiple large events in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota, sell in a few boutique stores, and continue selling on our Etsy shop! I love getting to meet our customers and their pups while we are out and about or at events through out the year or on social media.
When I sat down that night in April 2018 to simply sew my dog a bandana to wear, I never imagined what would come of it. My business has grown beyond any of my wildest dreams and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Drive. I would say I am a driven person, I don’t like to give up until I have completed a project or figured out how to make something. I find something I want do to and I don’t give up!
Passion. I am extremely passionate about what I do! When I get an order I literally do a happy dance because I get to create special items for you and your pets. I love it!
Kindness. I love building those positive relationships with customers whether it is at an event or on social media. You never know what someone else is going through so showing them kindness may just turn their kind of crappy day into a great one!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My hubby, Shawn! He has been the biggest supporter of my small biz and is always willing to help me with my crazy ideas or build any kind of new display needed for an event or store. Anytime I am feeling doubtful about myself or imposter syndrome starts to set in, he is there to remind me of what I have built from the ground up myself and that other people may copy what I make, but the thing they don’t have is ME, which is what makes my business special in its own way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sewdoggyboutique.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewdoggyboutique/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sewdoggyboutique/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
