November 5, 2009A Little Q and A with… Eco-Pup Dog Clothing

I must admit, being the owner of big-ish dogs, and generally disliking all things frou-frou, I’ve always had a pretty meh kind of attitude vis-à-vis dog clothing. My dogs don’t need it, as they have enough fur to clothe an average-sized village, and I’m just not the put-clothes-on-my-dog type.

Or so I thought.

Then I start this dog blog, and — slap me and call me Fanny — there’s all kinds of dog clothing out there that’s not only not frou-frou, it’s actually rather… cool. Case in point? Eco-Pup Dog Clothing. Eco-Pup’s dresses, jackets, hoodies, tees, and more aren’t only stylish and funky, they’re also super-dee-duper green: Eco-Pup sells only clothing made from organic and eco-friendly materials like cotton, bamboo, and recycled plastic bottles.

Susanne Postill started Eco-Pup in 2008 after looking high and low for stylish, earth-friendly clothing for her senior dog, BoBo. Su was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions about earth-conscious dog ownership and running an online business.

1. First things first — tell us about your pups!

I have two adorable senior dogs. BoBo is a pekepoo (Pekingese/toy poodle cross) who turned 18 in June, and Cody is a Spitz who just turned 16! Sadly, BoBo’s not very active anymore, but she loves cuddling in your lap and eating cheesy treats (while laying in your lap). Cody thinks he’s still a puppy and likes to chase the cats around the house, and also *loves* cheesy treats and bananas.

2. What’s the hardest part of running an online retail business?

Running an online retail business is quite time-consuming. I have to wear all the hats for the business, but I really enjoy it, mainly because I’m constantly learning and (best of all) it involves dogs!

3. Do you have any advice for fledgling entrepreneurs out there?

It’s really important to have a clear business plan in place when starting a business. Take the time to research your business’ target market and research the various (more like millions!) of marketing and advertising methods you can implement.

4. Tell us about the impact, if any, social media has had on your business.

Social media is a great – and fun – way to connect with people and businesses internationally. It gives people the opportunity to be more involved with Eco-Pup by sharing photos, comments and feedback on the products. In fact, Eco-Pup’s ‘top dog model’ Buddy the Puggy was discovered on Twitter!

5. It seems like “going green” is all the rage these days and people are finally getting more serious about ecological responsibility. Do you fear that the general public may get tired of the buzz eventually, and eco-friendliness may become little more than a passing fad?

No, if anything I think it will be the opposite. It’s so important to do what we can to preserve the environment and our planet, and I think “going green” is much more than just a fad. Living a green lifestyle gives us a chance to do our part to ensure that our children (and their children’s children..) and animals will be able to enjoy our planet like it is today.

6. Do you have a favorite eco-friendly dog care tip to share?

I like to reuse empty tissue boxes to hold all of the (clean) doggy waste bags. It sits near the front door, so it’s super handy, and looks much nicer than a messy bag of bags!

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Thanks, Susanne! Now, everyone scamper on over to Eco-Pup and check it out!