NatWest Bring it 2020 has provided £50 of match funding
Kickstart funding for custom made pet keepsakes
Chesterfield, England, United Kingdom
Aim
I'm hoping to give my new business a kick start by having time to make enough stock to take a stall to big dog shows.
I'm a fully qualified Architectural Technologist with many years experience behind me. However, I have Fibromyalgia, and anxiety and suffered a mental breakdown a few years ago. Since then I've struggled with the stresses of working in this industry.
I recently started making custom made brooches, show-ring number clips, pendents and free standing sculptures of peoples animals (mostly dogs so far) out of polymer clay (Fimo) and they are being very well received.
I have a Facebook page, Drakkina Dog Designs, and through this I've been lucky enough to have commissions from Italy, Germany, Sweden, & Austria. As well as multiple ones in the UK. I have also received my 1st order for three 6 inch tall free standing sculptures. At the moment I'm working full time and making these in my spare time in the evenings & weekends.
Through this, I now feel ready to take my hobby and make it into a full time business, doing something I really love and which really helps me to deal with my illnesses.
I have researched the market place, and found I'm the only person in the UK to make anything like these. There is one other person in Europe who makes similar items eg brooches etc but not sculptures; but hers are created from moulds, so are only customised with markings / colours etc.
Mine are all fully customised to be as closer representation of the persons favourite pet. I've also made several for people who have lost their pets too as a commemorative piece for them and had super feedback from them.
However, to be able to make this into a fully fledged business, I need to be able to leave my current job. This will allow me to have enough time to concentrate on being able to make a good variety & number of items to hold as stock. I also need to be able to buy the equipment to use as a stall. Buy promotional materials, cover the costs of entry as a trade stand and the raw materials to make the items. I will then be able to take a stall to the big 3 to 4 day Championship Shows around the country to get to a much wider market.
I also have lots of ideas for other items to make to expand my market, such as plaques to commemorate a big wins or making up a Champion, boxes to keep pets ashes in with a portrait of the pet on the lid etc. but again I need to have time to develop this too.
These are some of the reviews I've had through my Facebook page:
"I absolutely love my ring clip made to celebrate my retired show girl in her glory younger years. It looks even better in person than it did in the photos, and the clip is really strong, no dropped ring numbers! I would certainly recommend to my friends"
"Beautiful hand made creations - Thanks Jacky from me and Will from Italy, amazing broach- looks like my boy!"
"A beautiful brooch and perfect birthday present for a Dachshund fanatic. Highly recommended as the resemblance was perfect and I knew straight away. Thank you"
This project successfully funded on 10th April 2020