Today we’d like to introduce you to Amberly Winningham and Ashley Hildebrandt. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Ruff & Rags all began with two sisters absolutely obsessed with their dogs. Amberly is mom to Jaeger and Meister, two German Shepherd pups that always keep her on her toes! Ashley is mom to RJ, a sassy and spoiled Goldendoodle!
We were both constantly searching for trendy accessories for our furry friends and could never find something we loved. So here we are working to give your pups the most high-quality accessories while keeping style in mind!
We hope you will become a part of the Ruff & Rags family and find just as much joy in shopping for your pet as we do in providing these products!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The idea of Ruff & Rags sparked in May of 2023. In the short time that we’ve been making bandanas, it has been pretty smooth! Keeping up with the demand of sewing the bandanas in our home has been the most difficult since we both work full-time jobs. With the help of our parents, grandparents, and some family friends, we have met the demand that we were not expecting!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our dog bandanas are not like regular ones. With the scrunchie-style neck, the bandana is easy to slip on and is comfortable for even the most stubborn of pets. The patterns are not your traditional dog-type looks. We aim to offer trendy, fun, and popular prints that appeal to dog owners of all ages. We are most proud of the random idea of ours coming to fruition. To be honest, we launched our social media and branding without ever sewing a single bandana. We had a dream, and it happened. The community has supported us, and we are so thankful for the small-town farmer’s market that helped us get our brand out there.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson we’ve learned in this journey is that it truly takes support from others to make it happen. Running a small business is so much more work than we dreamed–especially because of the business demand. We would not have been able to sell as many bandanas and fulfill orders without the support and help of our family. It was a crazy idea that seemed small but turned out to be so much bigger.
Pricing:
- Small – $14
- Medium – $18
- Large – $18
- XL – $22
- XXL – $22
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ruffnrags.com
- Instagram: @ruffnrags
- Facebook: Ruff & Rags
