Petbar Issue #04 : simplebooklet.com

PETBAR SUBMISSIONS Email us at submissions petbarmagazine com CONTACT If you have any questions or comments write to us at info petbarmagazine com ADVERTISING If you would like to advertise in PETBAR email us at sales petbarmagazine com FOLLOW US Follow us on social media petbarapp Feel free to tag us or comment and let us know how much you love the Petbar Mag petbarmag EDITOR IN CHIEF Marielo Gomez CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Serour CONTRIBUTORS Hollie Freeman Alexandria Jarrell Anna Podolsky Jacob Van Nieuwkoop Carla Francis Georgia Foley Paz Castro Nick Ettridge Hannah Farr Jennifer Gregoire Ksenia Savina Nick Ettridge Paul Thomas ON THE COVER PAWMAIN Dog model philippelefrenchie Photo by elliottsterling All rights reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher The views expressed in PETBAR are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by PETBAR

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hello and welcome to the fourth edition of Petbar magazine With a new Editor and Designer duo you ll see a fresh style for Petbar magazine In this issue we had the privilege of talking with Georgina from WeWork about the benefit of having office pets We also had a natter to super blogger Hollie Freeman about sustainability and what we as pet owners can do to help With the rise of pup fluencers we re shining a light on some of the internets most adored pets as well showcasing some pet friendly independent brands and their stories Of course we can t forget our travel segments and this issue is packed with features Author Carla Francis chats pet friendly hotels I share my new favourite London hideaway and Adrian gives his Byron Bay highlights To top it all off we ll be dishing out some of our new favourite recipes to impress your dinner guests with Thank us later We hope you love reading it as much as we ve enjoyed creating it Marielo Gomez P S Don t forget to come and say hello over at Petbarapp 6 PETBAR

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HOW TO START Training begins from the moment you bring your pup home It s wise to have thought about the place you ll designate to the toilet area prior If you re starting with a puppy mat place the mat close to where you aim to have the designated toilet area eventually For example set the puppy mat next to the back door next to the garden so it s a smooth transition for your pup Remember your puppy is in a completely new scary place and it can be very nerve wracking for them being surrounded by unfamiliar scents sights and sounds SIGNS You need to be able to notice when your puppy needs the toilet Signs of this will be them walking in circles or walking with their nose to the floor As soon as you see these signs take your pup to the designated area It s important not to carry them there as they ll need to feel they made the decision and journey themselves Puppies urinate every 2 hours anticipate their needs and be ready at any moment to guide them to the right place HANDLING BEHAVIOURS Rewarding your pup with tasty treats is crucial to the learning process Shower them with lots of love once they ve finished and offer them a treat Your puppy will soon start associating good behaviour with using the designated spot Accidents are going to happen and it s crucial that when they do you don t shout at them This can frighten your pup and they can become fearful and nervous associating toileting as a negative thing altogether Instead clean up the mess so there is no scent for them to go back to look out for the next time and make sure you re ready to guide them to the designated spot Give them extra love and pats for getting it right this time CREATE HABITS Create new habits early on After eating drinking or playing take them to the garden and state a command such as go now When they do praise them and if they don t ignore them They ll soon learn what to do to get praise HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE All dogs are different some dogs can be toilet trained within weeks but it s not uncommon for toilet training to take up to 12 months to master It depends on your training consistency and your pups capacity to learn If you are struggling with toilet training seek advice from a vet as there may be a medical reason why your pup is having a hard time PETBAR 11

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IS AN OFFICE DOG GOOD FOR BUSINESS Being greeted by a bark when you step into the office could once upon a time only be a dreamlike scenario However as 2019 sweeps over us the rise of office pets is becoming increasingly popular and not just with the likes of major creative companies like Google and Amazon Having a fluffy companion as a team mascot has proven to increase team morale significantly Research carried out by Animal Smart found that interacting with animals can decrease stress in humans as patting or stroking an animal can increase levels of the stress reducing hormone oxytocin SO WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AN OFFICE PET Isaac from TOAD Diaries says It s great for creatives to have a pet around It encourages employees to interact with each other which in turn creates great relationships and gets the creative juices flowing promoting work productivity Having mutual love for the animal also builds a shared interest bringing all employees together and creating an inclusive environment Companies have admitted that they can retain talented employees as a result of having an office pet Employees build an emotional attachment to the pet making them less likely to want to leave Not only are companies using their pets to promote a healthy working environment for their employees but also their clients Patsy from U CAN STORE IT says Storing your goods can be a very emotional experience for some people We often deal with a division of assets after a split eviction and even death of a loved one Giving Rosie a pat or even a cuddle helps to comfort clients and brings a nurturing feel to the office Our office would not be the same without her So it s all sounding like office pets are the way to go but what are the ground rules for keeping employees in work not play mode 27 year old CEO Anna Podolsky from LYKA PET FOOD states the only rules are for dogs to be fully potty trained Playtime schedules must be set and agreed upon and staff are to remember that dogs are an office environment addition not the focus Robert from ROBERT HARTLEY HAIR SALON says The only rules for Hugo are toilet breaks every 3 hours by whoever is free He also needs to undergo fortnightly professional grooming and flea vacccine Natasha from PARCEL POINT says The main rules for our office dog is that he only comes in when no other office doggos are joining us for the day so each dog takes a turn They must have toys to stay entertained We all take turns taking them outside to the bathroom and for a little walk 13

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WeWork the shared community workspace is all on board the fluff wagon WEWORK Director of Community Georgia Foley says Dog friendly work environments have been shown to reduce stress levels of employees and may result in lower rates of absenteeism and higher morale and productivity Many of WeWork s 425 locations across the globe enjoy a dog friendly environment showcasing the positive benefits of allowing dogs in the workplace At WeWork we have created an inclusive culture where our members look forward to coming to work and feel they can be their authentic productive selves Pets provide many physical and mental health benefits for people Promoting wellness in the workplace a dog friendly environment has been shown to boost morale reduce anxiety and stress and trigger real life conversations 14 Another benefit found that employees are exercising a healthier work day Taking regular breaks away from their screen and taking time to get outside with natural light and fresh air Zoe from CO OP NYC says In my previous jobs I ve been so attached to my computer I used to forget to take a break but having a dog in the office has helped me Lola is a reminder for me to get outside and taking her for a short walk every few hours has given me a healthier approach to my work day It seems an office pet is the way forward with happier employees engaged clients and a focus on healthier work habits We for one are all aboard the movement Who s with us PETBAR

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INSIDE LONDON S PREMIER DOG GROOMERS PURPLEBONE JACOB VAN NIEUWKOOP Purplebone Managing Director YOU RE BASED IN LONDON S LUX NOTTING HILL DO YOU HAVE ANY CELEB DOGS AS YOUR CLIENTELE WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START PURPLEBONE GROOMERS We have Royalty Hollywood A list local Z list celebrities billionaires hedge funders famous footballers and loads of lovely ordinary hardworking people as our clients I love the fact that we have clients from all walks of life Purplebone is for everybody The lack of quality grooming services in London was the main inspiration for starting Purplebone Over the years we have become the market leader and the go to grooming company in Central London Our customers come not only from all over London but from home counties Scotland and even mainland Europe Royalty Hollywood A list and celebrities are amongst our clientele but the vast majority are regular hard working people Purplebone shampoos are available worldwide so now everybody can have a bit of Purplebone for their dogs At Purplebone we are very picky with who we hire We prefer to train our staff but we also employ staff who have been trained through the City Guilds organisation It will take several years before you are a fully trained Purplebone groomer TELL US ABOUT YOUR PETS TALK US THROUGH A REGULAR DAY AT PURPLEBONE We are aiming to be as organised as we possibly can but we do not hold all the cards All bookings are planned in advance and clients book by phone or online We have files of all our clients and know what to do but sometimes things happen and we need to improvise Our grooming staff and our Front of House staff are well trained and have excellent interpersonal skills Our days are always hectic but we still get through it due to our superb team WHAT ARE THE LATEST TRENDS IN DOG GROOMING AT THE MOMENT Ultrasound teeth cleaning is a clear trend It cleans the dog s teeth without anaesthetic and any vibration or noise Lots of clients opt for this service on top of routine grooming It is like having a dental hygienist for your dog It helps preventing teeth decay infected gums smelly breath stains on teeth to name a few advantages DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE CLIENTS WHAT TRAINING GOES INTO BEING A PROFESSIONAL DOG GROOMER I have three dogs Dora is a Brussels Griffon X Phoebe and Daisy are both Lakeland Terriers WHAT S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB The dogs are the best part I wish that all the owners were as lovely as their dogs YOU VE JUST OPENED A SECOND VENUE TELL US HOW PREMIER DOG SERVICES ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR We had a second unit in Chelsea for a few years We decided to close Chelsea and concentrate our operations in Notting Hill Currently we have two venues in Notting Hill very close to each other Premier dog grooming works because of reputation trust and customer service It is not something that happens overnight and it took us years to get where we are Our Chelsea clientele followed us to Notting Hill and clients come from all over London We excel in customer service the best possible grooming and we genuinely care about the dogs Dora Phoebe and Daisy are my favourite clients PETBAR 19

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PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR LOVELY READERS Hi my name s Paul a dog mad 40 something year old born in SA but living in the UK London since 2004 with a husband and two dogs George Winston I run a doggy daycare business called George friends which I started in 2015 WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR DOG WALKING BUSINESS Once they ve all had a good snooze or not if they re young puppies it s time for their afternoon walk which has the same format as the morning walk Off lead for at least an hour with lots more running around and playing with each other we arrive back at the studio ready to load them back into the van and drop them off at home happy and pooped after another day spent with their mates DOG DAY CARE IS BECOMING A BOOMING BUSINESS WHAT S CHANGED THE MOST SINCE YOU STARTED OUT George our mini Dachshund inspired me to quit my job as a Head Chef Catering Manager which was a very easy decision to make and start a business where I could be with him every day My husband and I had longed for a dog of our own for years and fell in love with mini Dachshunds as my cousin has two of her own We finally felt the time was right and found George through the Kennel Club who run an assured breeder scheme that promotes good breeding practice It was love at first sight when we met George for the first time at 3 weeks old I would however miss George while I was at work and it was while dropping him off at his dog sitter one morning that she remarked you could start dog walking that changed my life I did some research and worked out that I could earn as much dog walking as I was in my job at the time So with the support of my husband I quit my job and George friends was born I ve never looked back since TALK US THROUGH A TYPICAL DAY AT GEORGE FRIENDS We provide a bark n ride service at George friends so the day starts early with us spending an hour hour and a half driving around Islington Hackney the boroughs we cover picking up all the dogs in our specially kitted out van which is crate free We arrive at our HQ a 40m2 railway arch in Hackney Downs Studio at around 9 30 am Our location is ideal as we re right next to Hackney Downs a beautiful dog friendly park with loads of space for the pack to run around in We can have up to 12 dogs a day so they are split into two groups according to size temperament before they get taken out for a morning group walk which is a minimum of an hour and it s where they are encouraged to play and interact with each other off lead Firstly I didn t know dog daycare was a thing before I became a pawrent to George The family dogs we had when I was growing up were kept at home during the day and there was never any suggestion that they would be walked or looked after by anyone else other than us However times have changed and there s a greater appreciation for how dogs should be looked after and cared for now Dogs are instinctual pack animals and therefore not suited to spend long periods on their own My husband I both had full time jobs and not wanting to leave George at home all day on his own we needed to find someone to look after him for us This is when I first heard about dog daycare I started George friends as a dog walking service only as I wasn t able to accommodate dogs at home However it soon became apparent that there was a bigger demand for daycare as people seem to have busier lives nowadays and therefore spend less time at home I therefore made the decision to start offering daycare and looked for premises to work from and now only provide daycare Sites like dogbuddy com borrowmydoggy com have changed things There are a lot more people doing it now with some of those offering it as a free service which has its drawbacks for both owner user The other site is populated by those who aren t professionals yet charge for their services I searched earlier for dog daycare in the area I serve and it came back with 140 matches which means that the market is being flooded with too many people TRAINING WITH IMDT TELL US MORE ABOUT IT I ve been an admirer of Steve Mann the founder of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers for a while so it was a no brainer who I chose to train with when I decided to become a dog trainer as an extension to what I do with George friends Lunchtime is spent back at HQ which is an excellent space for them to chill out after a busy morning Being part of a studio complex there s a great sense of community and we have an open door policy to all the residents so we often have people popping into simply hang out with the dogs who are a great stress reliever PETBAR 31

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He promotes reward based training methods with absolutely no cruel punishments The IMDT is a fantastic organisation who aim to provide high quality training to all dog trainers with an emphasis on proven ethical and science based teaching methods I m currently preparing for my 2 day assessment to be admitted into the organisation as a member which involves delivering an outdoor lesson a puppy home visit a rescue dog 121 training session Wish me luck TO UK READERS WHAT S THE BEST DOG WALKING ROUTE IN LONDON London is a dog walkers paradise There is an absolute abundance of amazing places to take your dog to from the markets of downtown London to the beautiful Royal Parks and even the beaches of the Thames with the majority of parks being dog friendly Hampstead Heath which is such a beautiful area is an obvious favourite but I think it s important to champion those places which are less well known so my personal favourite is an area called the Lee Valley Regional Park which stretches from the Olympic Park in Stratford northeast to the counties of Essex Hertfordshire It s the largest park in London and covers a huge area with a rich diverse range of wildlife It s a place you can return again and again to and always discover something new The area we use the most for George friends is called Hackney Marshes which has the river Lea running through It s very picturesque with lots of narrow houseboats moored alongside the riverbanks and an actual beach where we take the dogs swimming in the summer and a vast field the size of 40 football pitches that is just perfect for giving them all the space they need to run around in safely The dogs love the Marshes and we love taking them there WHAT KIND OF CLIENTS DO YOU DOG WALK FOR We are fortunate to have the clients that we have They are a diverse group of professional people with careers ranging from performers in the West End actors lawyers doctors creatives to those who are self employed Most of them don t have kids so their dog s are their fur babies The one thing they all have in common though is an absolute dedication to their dogs and wanting to give them the best lives possible I wanted to create a home away from home for them so set about freecycling the furniture I needed to create that homely feel I m not a fan of using crates unless you have a young pup which you re training to sleep on their own so the dogs we look after have the freedom to sit sleep play wherever they like Doggy downtime is a thing if you re an older dog who likes nothing better than napping during the day but the younger dogs pups have serious FOMO and therefore spend most of this time playing with each other We love making their time with us as special as possible and what better way to do this than by celebrating their birthdays Everyone loves a party and dogs are no different Each dog gets a birthday card and a little gift and we bake each one a liver cake which is shared amongst them while Stevie Wonder sings them Happy Birthday WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS MOVING FORWARD WITH G FS George friends started as a single idea and continues to evolve I ve always understood the importance of building a strong brand which I feel like I m achieving by providing a professional reliable and friendly service and being a strong presence in the community I d like George friends to have longevity and while I don t aspire yet to have multiple daycare centres I would like to start an online business selling locally handmade dog accessories and open a hydrotherapy centre for small animals Watch this space ANYTHING ELSE I WANT TO ADD TO WRAP IT UP People assume that being a dog walker is a walk in the park which it sometimes is but there s a lot more to it than that It s a lot of hard work and looking after someone else s dog is a huge responsibility and you need to be prepared for things to go wrong because they do However it s the most rewarding work I ve ever done and I wouldn t change it for anything in the world even when I m picking up poo in the freezing cold GEORGEANDFRIENDS_DOGGYDAYCARE TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAY CARE HACKNEY STUDIO WHAT DO YOU DO IN DOGGY DOWN TIME DOES THAT EXIST I m very proud of what I ve created set up at our Hackney Downs Studios HQ It took a lot of hard work to get where we are today but I know that the dogs absolutely love being there and that makes everything worthwhile PETBAR 33

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REUSABLES From plastic bottles coffee mugs cutlery shopping bags and straws get yourself some reusables This is probably one of the most manageable changes to make It might just feel like one bottle or plastic bag here and there but one bottle multiplied by 1 billion people is a lot When you get takeaway food ask them to use your own containers and cups most establishments are used to doing this by now Keep your reusables somewhere convenient such as in your car and you ll never be without them REDUCE YOUR MEAT AND DAIRY INTAKE Did you know that the number one leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions comes from animal agriculture AKA the meat and dairy industry Farming livestock meat is responsible for 65 of nitrous oxide emissions 296 x more destructive than CO2 To create one hamburger it takes 660 gallons of water Which is the equivalent of showering for two months 1 3 of the entire world s land is desertified due to livestock and 110 animal and insect species are lost every single day from rainforest destruction Animal agriculture is the leading cause of rainforest destruction species extinction ocean dead zones water pollution and habitat destruction The truth is that our diet choices are one of the biggest if not THE biggest causes of climate change Adopting a plant based diet is the most powerful way to have a positive impact on our planet No one is perfect and we all slip up However it s all about trying our best and forming new habits Maybe you have Meat Free Monday s or start to only have meat and dairy products on weekends Any adjustments you can make will make such a difference both to our planet and to our animal friends too SUSTAINABLE PET CHOICES When it comes to our furry little friends there are some very simple changes we can make to become more conscious and environmentally mindful pet owners FOOD Buy tins not pouches Those little plastic pouches rack up real fast Switch to tins for a more eco friendly solution These can be recycled whereas plastic pouches cannot Same goes for the plastic sacks of food Some brands still sell these sacks in paper bags so keep an eye out for those Also if you re feeling extra inspired you can make your own Pinterest is great for recipes POOP Unfortunately a lot of the biodegradable poop bags out there don t have the right conditions to be biodegrade and end up sitting in the Earth like any other plastic bag Look out for 100 biodegradable bags In addition you could layer up multiple paper bags instead It s a bit more hassle but it goes a long way 35

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TOYS ACCESSORIES I don t know about you but my pets go through toys in a heartbeat and with most of them being plastic based this is pretty wasteful Instead opt for eco toys companies that have made pet accessories out of recycled materials In addition to that second hand toys and leashes collars are a great way of making use of what s already out there Keep it simple My cat would rather play with a ball of tin foil and a piece of string than any of the fancy toys I buy her anyway Same goes for the dog She d much prefer an old shoe or rag to chew VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLAR The power to push companies to start making eco friendly options for everything is literally in your hands If one day every single person refused to buy the cucumber wrapped in plastic and opted for the other they would stop wrapping them up in a heartbeat The same goes for every product We can rise and demand that change simply by choosing how we spend our money When we all boycott single use plastic companies will stop creating it End of story I hope these short sweet and simple suggestions have helped you in making some little positive changes in your day to day life Imagine how much of a difference we could collectively make if everybody reading this article implemented them The key to staying inspired and not in eco overwhelm is to focus on the solutions rather than the problem If you d like to learn more I highly recommend checking out the following documentaries Cowspiracy Before The Flood The True Cost What The Health If you d like to connect about this topic further you can check out my blog at www whalebeokay com HOLLIE FREEMAN Hollie Freeman lives in Bali and has sustainability wellness and all around conscious living at the heart of everything she does She promotes the alkalized lifestyle and at the same time reduces plastic pollution in people s homes on a large scale She also runs the blog and Instagram Whale Be Okay where she posts her stories photos travels and insights in the hope to inspire others WHALE_BE_OKAY 37

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WE HAD A CHAT WITH THE TEAM ABOUT THEIR BRAND AND HOW THEY VE BECOME THE HOT TEST NAME IN STREETWEAR TO ANY NEWBIES WHAT IS PAWMAIN WHAT S YOUR ETHOS Pawmain is a brand that blends streetwear and high fashion with functional pet products We aim to make products that include a range of dogs so we have eight sizes that cover everything from a 5lb Chihuahua to a 100lb Great Dane WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START PAWMAIN Our dog Milo inspired us to start Pawmain We wanted to style him in streetwear and the concept grew from there WHAT S YOUR FAVOURITE COLLECTION YOU VE DONE SO FAR It would be between our Pupreme Hoodies and our Jacket Collection Our Pupreme hoodie was one of our first streetwear pieces Our jackets were the first products we could really experiment with materials and incorporate functionality WHERE DO YOU MAKE YOUR PUP CLOTHES It s a multi step process we source a lot of the materials from overseas and complete them here in the U S HOW HAS PAWMAIN GROWN Our growth has been 100 organic We have never paid for advertising Our brand has grown through word of mouth by customers sharing their experience with us WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT SINCE STARTING OUT Social media levels the playing field allowing you to compete against well established brands With social media you can put your idea out there to the end consumer and receive instant feedback 42

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PUGGY SMALLS WHY DO YOU THINK PUGGY SMALLS POPULARITY SOARED SO RAPIDLY WHAT MAKES HIM AND YOUR ACCOUNT DIFFERENT TO OTHERS Puggy Smalls had a series of viral videos making his account boom He s super cute and his relaxed temperament means that he enjoys acting up for the camera We are super lucky YOU VE HAD HEAPS OF VIRAL VIDEOS HOW DOES THAT FEEL WHEN YOU SEE THE VIEW COUNT CLOCKING UP TO OVER 7 MILLION Addictive It stops everything and you keep on refreshing the page to see the views grow over 10K every few minutes Bonkers WHAT OPPORTUNITIES OR EXPERIENCES HAS PUGGY SMALLS FAME GIVEN YOU Puggy has been to movie premieres stopped in the street for selfies and he has also been the ring bearer for a couple getting engaged 50 WHAT S BEEN THE WEIRDEST COLLABORATION REQUEST Once a condom brand asked to work with him we didn t He s also been requested to be in multiple grime music videos Not so weird as Puggy Smalls is super into hip hop ANYTHING EXCITING IN THE PIPELINE FOR PUGGY SMALLS There are lots of exciting things coming soon We have also just launched our dog agency Bangers and Mash helping others get Instagram fame and gain a career with the Doggo s HOW HAS HAVING AN INTERNET FAMOUS DOG CHANGED YOUR LIFE The ultimate goal I get to spend every minute of the day with my dog It makes me super happy that the joy he gives me in person can be shared with millions via his socials PETBAR

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INFLUE Hosico 1 5M Azuki HOSICO_CAT HEDGEHOG_AZUKI Hosico is translated to Child Star in Russian He was so cute and funny as a kitten we started an Instagram account and with more time came more followers Hosico s rise to fame began after we posted videos of Hosico climbing into different boxes and containers it was so funny Hosico currently has 1 5M followers and a popular merchandise collection with everything from clothing mugs skateboards and even bath mats 52 404K I began an Instagram page for Azuki because I wanted to record what it was like to have a pet hedgehog Azuki became popular after Animation to Eat Apple and was later known all over the world for a shoot he did with a camper van A vast number of sites featured him with camping equipment and our followers on Instagram increased dramatically His popularity produced three photo books and over 100 goods sold to fans across the globe Thanks to Azuki I have made friends from many different countries I still can t believe it Azuki passed in January 2019 and not a day passes that we don t think of him PETBAR

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ENCERS Dean 251K Nibbles 24 3K DEANTHEBASSET OFFICIALPIGDAD Dean is a 5 year old basset hound living in Toronto Canada with a personality bigger than his ears His signature sass face and laissez faire attitude have captured the hearts of thousands around the world Dean became a pet influencer by putting it all out there Social media can often create and project falsehood but Dean wears his heart on his sleeve his drool on his face and his cookie crumbs on his chest In 2018 Dean won the Webby award in the Social Animals category and took a trip to NYC for the gala event He got to mingle with stars from the TV shows he watched between naps and met hundreds of fans for two days in central park Many fans friends followers brought him pizza from their favourite NYC pizza joint This gesture particularly moved Dean The best part about having a famous pet is that everywhere you go on social media you find them Another awesome part about having a pet fluencer is all the friends we ve made I rescued Nibbles when she was about four months old She was from a horrible breeder and has been through some traumatic experiences She doesn t allow many people to touch her except me Nibbles is the funniest ginger potato once you get to know her she has such a sassy character It got to the point where I was sharing too many photos of her with my family that they weren t finding it fun anymore I had to share them somewhere That s when I started our Instagram page Everyone seemed to love her We ve gathered a crazy amount of followers in just over a year PETBAR 53

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WHAT IS FRESH PET FOOD AND WHY SHOULD OUR PETS BE EATING IT WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB Fresh pet food overall encompasses quite a few different types of pet diets but at NomNomNow when we say fresh pet food we re referring to human grade gently cooked meals made with recognizable ingredients and no fillers or preservatives To us fresh pet food means food that we d be happy to eat ourselves and we have More than anything I love coming to work every day with a team of creative intelligent people with a strong passion for our mission of helping pets live healthier happier lives Without the hard work that they do we would still just be cooking pet food in our San Francisco apartment hand delivering it to our customers I think the most rewarding thing for all of us is hearing from our customers how much our fresh food has changed their lives and the lives of their pets for the better It makes all of our hard work and long hours truly worth it WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO EATING NOMNOMNOW MEALS Our customers have reported their pets having more energy brighter eyes shinier silkier coats relief from allergy symptoms improved digestion more excitement during meal time smaller stools and more NomNomNow can also be extremely beneficial to pets that need to lose or gain weight since our perfectly portioned meals remove the risk of over or underfeeding There are also many benefits to pet parents that serve NomNomNow As our meals are pre portioned pet parents can just open and serve There s no need for measuring or scooping NomNomNow is also conveniently delivered right to your door in weekly biweekly or monthly intervals depending on your preference HOW ARE THE RECIPES CREATED Our recipes were formulated by board certified veterinary nutritionist Dr Justin Shmalberg DVM who is our Chief Nutrition Officer He designed our species appropriate recipes to include only fresh whole ingredients that benefit pets and none that don t Dr Shmalberg formulated each recipe using a combination of proteins fats and carbohydrates to provide cats and dogs with the ideal balance of macronutrients based on extensive testing Our recipes for cats are therefore formulated very differently than our recipes for dogs since cats are obligate carnivores and dogs are facultative carnivores HOW HAS NOMNOMNOW GROWN SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED In the nearly four years since NomNomNow was founded we d grown from a four person operation out of a tiny San Francisco apartment to a serious contender in the premium pet food market with close to 100 employees serving customers all over the country Aside from an increased number of employees we ve moved operations into first one then two 100 percent owned and operated production facilities one in the San Francisco Bay Area and one in Nashville TN We also now offer a range of expert backed wellness products such as our Microbiome Testing Kit for Pets probiotics for overall health maintenance for dogs and cats and a specialized probiotic designed for dogs with GI issues 56 LASTLY DO YOU HAVE A PET TELL US ALL ABOUT THEM ARE THEY INVOLVED IN NOMNOMNOW I do have a pet Harlee the inspiration behind NomNomNow is my five year old miniature Aussie Shepherd and is just as much my child as my son William

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WHAT COUNTRIES HAVE YOU TRAVELLED TO WITH LYKA DID YOU HAVE A TOP DOG FRIENDLY HOTEL YOU D LIKE TO RECOMMEND Lyka and I have travelled together to Chile Brazil Argentina and USA We ve also been on many side trips with each country We loved our California coast road trip and weekend in Austin Texas If you think you ve seen a dog ecstatic to have its head out the window in the back of a car you ll have to see them when in the stereotypical hired convertible down the West Coast It was such a joy for us both I love using Airbnb to find dog friendly accommodation as it s easy to filter for the pet friendly options in each city As for hotels Lyka loved her stay in the W Santiago and the staff there also loved her YOU VE TRAVELLED FAR AND WIDE HOW DID THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE Previously I was a management consultant at Bain and Company who allowed me to work with clients across the world HOW DID YOU PREPARE BEFORE A BIG TRIP Like for humans plane travel can dehydrate dogs so it s essential to keep their fluid intake high in the days before flying Before going on a planned trip I would feed Lyka water rich foods such as celery spinach and chicken broth I would stay away from dehydrating foods such as baked treats and kibble DID YOU FACE ANY OBSTACLES WHEN TRAVELLING WITH LYKA The biggest challenge was navigating customs in a foreign language Although I speak Spanish and Portuguese they are not my first language so it made completing Lyka s paperwork and talking to the customs staff upon arrival a challenge HOW DID LYKA ADAPT TO NEW SURROUNDINGS Due to Lyka s travel throughout her life she has become very adaptable and can make herself at home anywhere For example Lyka comes to the Lyka Pet Food office with me during the week on her first day she was settled and relaxed in her new environment within hours ARE THERE ANY GREAT PET TRAVELLING COMPANIES YOU USED THAT OUR READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Lyka and I used Jetpets to navigate travel to and from Australia They were fantastic and helped to smooth the customs and travel process 59

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WHAT S THE HIGHLIGHT OF TRAVELLING WITH LYKA DO DOGS GET JET LAGGED IF SO HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THIS I love that Lyka is part of my travel memories and was right there beside me through my travel experience The highlight was that this travel ultimately led me to start my business Lyka Pet Food I ve been in a unique position to buy pet food across many countries and see how commercial pet food is focused on shelf life and reducing costs through a global supply chain Yes they do When we travelled from Australia to Chile Lyka was jet lagged for the first few days and loved her sleep during the day and would want to play at night It worked out well because I was jetlagged too so we could keep each other entertained Thanks to this experience it led me to cook food for Lyka she s never been healthier and I run a growing and successful business DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR ANOTHER TRIP AWAY TOGETHER We don t have any immediate plans now as Lyka Pet Food is growing rapidly so it s all hands on deck I would love to take Lyka on a long term trip around the whole of Australia at once one day but it will have to wait TELL US A FUNNY STORY OR A FAVOURITE MEMORY FROM ONE OF YOUR TRIPS WHAT ARE SOME TIPS TO SHARE WITH OTHER PET OWNERS THINKING OF TRAVELLING WITH THEIR FLUFF BABY Start planning early and get your dog used to their crate well before they fly Now as Lyka s founder and CEO Anna is committed to leading the change toward health focused fresh foods for pets challenging the outdated modes of practice in the industry and redefining pet food For regular updates on what happens inside Lyka follow Anna s blog at www lyka com au category blog My favourite moments are when Lyka would encounter a new object or experience that she hadn t in Australia One that comes to mind is when we ran into a family of racoons on an afternoon walk in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco She had no idea what to make of them whether to chase them or run away In the end she chose to give them a wide berth which I think was wise LYKAPETFOOD 60

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THE BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF BYRON BAY IN N S W AUSTRALIA Located a short 67 kilometres or about 50 minute drive from Queensland s Coolangatta airport or approximately 36 5 kilometres or around 35 minutes from Ballina Airport According to a recent study from property market research group Propertyology Byron Bay has now surpassed Sydney as the most expensive place in Australia to live with a median house price of 987 500AUD based on statistics as at December 2018 Having arrived into Byron Bay we checked in to our accommodation at Elements of Byron The resort has a main reception restaurant facility and bar which is your first look at the property From reception you look out on to the main pool which is resort style This pool is the main pool which is used by all resort guests including children Both pools in the resort are heated making it perfect for all year round swimming No shiver or shake as you get in to take a dip Ahh yes absolute bliss The setup of the accommodation is excellent with all the resorts private villas spread out allowing everyone a little privacy and catering for couples and families Our villa was beautifully fitted with all the essentials including a bath to soak those weary bones after a day of uumm Relaxing In the three days we spent in Byron we enjoyed the nothingness of it all there are not many things to do when you compare to its neighbouring Gold Coast with theme parks and the like or Sydney with all the sites and activities available but that s precisely what makes Byron so quaint and beautiful Relax walk and eat We would walk to the central hub of Byron Bay along the beach which was a brisk 30 minutes from Elements of Byron and enjoyed taking in a different breakfast venue each morning I will give you my must do breakfast lunch and dinner eateries at the end of this article for your reference should you get the opportunity to make your way down there I have to say I wasn t expecting so much variety and so many eateries A great combination of casual local places as well as finer dining if you prefer We visited only a few destinations within Byron Bay The Byron Bay Lighthouse which you can walk to from the centre of town Not a great deal to do up there other than taking in the beautiful view Surrounding the pool are various pool bars a gym and health and beauty spa as well as multiple cabanas to help you relax and de stress while you take in the Byron Bay sunshine Beyond this main area you will find a beach club area for resort guests only This area is directly behind fencing and gates that lead to the main public beach directly in front of the resort which is spectacular Just at the border between the beach and resort are stairs that lead to a lookout where you can sit and take in the ocean sounds this also doubles up as the perfect setting for daily 7 30am Yoga classes Elements of Byron is full of little surprises as we strolled around the 50 acres home to the 193 private villas we stumbled across various picnic areas massive life sized chess and bowls and tennis courts which are available for booking through reception Our favourite find was the adults only pool complete with swim up bar and a Mexican inspired kitchen We arrived at our perfect welcome spot where we enjoyed a few mojitos while contemplating our next move 64 PETBAR

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MY EATERIES RECOMMENDATIONS BREAKFAST The Farm which we visited for breakfast one morning The Farm is located a short drive from both Elements and the main town It is the main area where the local eateries purchase locally grown produce as well as being a great place to grab a bite and entertain the younger kids while they run around and play in the main play areas The Farm Located a short drive from the main town The Farm offers a great breakfast menu and a place where you can sit and enjoy life pass you by Now of course for those of you who read my travel articles I like to give my pick for coffee My go to coffee is my Long Macchiato there is an art to making coffee and this is where I feel I am most critical with all my articles Bayleaf Caf A great little no frills caf that offers great service great food and my pick of coffee I ordered banana bread for breakfast with my coffee and was given a whole banana loaf Just in case you were wondering yes I ate it all My pick for this short getaway from the places I managed to visit was BAYLEAF who provided a great combination of presentation service and the quality of bean used had no bitter aftertaste Byron Fresh Caf A trendy spot with a wide range of food to cater for all morning moods LUNCH Raes Raes of Watego is open for lunch and dinner My personal choice would be to go for lunch so you can enjoy the view of the beach and the day s sun Raes is a bit more on the pricey end but the food is excellent Final Verdict I would definitely recommend Byron Bay as a place to visit and could see myself letting down my hair and de stressing for a few weeks maybe even try my hand at surfing whilst keeping an eye out for the Hemsworths who live locally and can freely wander the streets of Byron without the Hollywood mayhem well that s what I hear We weren t there long enough but I did take note of some things on offer if you do want some things to do DINNER The Balcony Located in the main town The Balcony has a great atmosphere and good food as well as a good selection of cocktails and beverages We had the fish of the day and it was cooked to perfection Kayak with Dolphins Ballooning Surfing lessons Visit THE FARM Walk to the Lighthouse Horse Riding Visit the Hinterland Bike hire and explore Whale watching in season Azure Bar and Grill Located within the Elements of Byron resort this restaurant offers a good selection and leans towards finer dining but in saying that you don t need to glam it up to attend PETBAR 65

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A TRANQUIL WOODLAND ESCAPE JUST ONE HOUR FROM LONDON WRITTEN BY Marielo Gomez As I pull into the turning I endure a few minutes of exquisite suspense as I pass the speed bumps and head for the Reception sign Amongst the dense green trees I see twinkles of orange light leaking from cabins in the distance It looks just as it feels magical I park the car Lola jumps out excitedly and we walk into Reception When beginning to tie her leash on the post outside I see a sign on the door saying Dogs Welcome I bring her inside with me and am greeted by a Tuck Shop full of deliciously tasty treats I ll come back for you later I think aloud to the chocolate chip cookies smiling up at me Onwards I march to the friendly receptionist who s already cooing over Lola She welcomes me gives us the key to our cabin and directs me Easy We excitedly hop back into the car and drive further along the narrow country road until we spot our cabin I park outside turn the key and walk into total serenity My first impressions are wow this is cool My friends squeal beside me and make a beeline to nab the best bedroom Lola scuttles along the floorboards and chases after the girls enthusiastically It doesn t take long until we race over to the hot tub it sits proudly on our decking and we couldn t be more ready to hop in Its swirl of hot steam dancing in the air tells us it s ready when we are Our rooms all include fresh white robes and linen the extra touch to make our stay feel even more special Luckily if you have forgotten any essentials the Tuck Shop is on site I ll admit to having left out limes from my shopping list the girls and I have a firm tradition of toasting any special moment with a margarita The staff went on a wild lime hunt for me looking through their staff kitchen and calling out I ve got one much to my delight as I clapped like a seal standing by in Reception Fast forward a few hours and Lola is peacefully sleeping in her bed next to the fireplace Its cracking logs are generating a feel good vibe that s impossible not to adopt We sprawl out across the sofa flicking through movies on the huge flat screen It s a special night it s relaxed it s comfortable and we feel unapologetically giddy at how perfect our setting is As I stir the next morning to Lola s tapping on the floorboards I roll out of bed and take her outside I take a moment to listen to the sound of birds singing it s so peaceful and the crisp air and morning due set a sparkle across my surroundings I head back inside and start preparing breakfast for us all It s made only too easy by the perfectly equipped kitchen We have a slow morning and after laying up wellington boots bobble hats and scarves we head out into the forest to give Lola a much needed long county walk We brought a lot of food for our weekend which I would strongly advise as the cabins are in the middle of Blackwood Forest Once you re in your hut it s tough to want to leave PETBAR

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There are various tracks to take and they re all colour coded on a map to make things even more accessible We decide to work off the cheese and margaritas we consumed last night so opt for the longest walk Passing friendly passersbys we enjoy a brisk walk with lots of laughter over Lola s discoveries and the sheer joy she has to be exploring a new woodland After a few hours we find ourselves and Lola utterly exhausted We head back to the cabin stopping at the Reception s Tuck Shop for a warming cup of hot chocolate marshmallows and all We are undoubtedly enjoying this outdoor lifestyle We spontaneously decide to book in for an archery lesson There s also cycling rock climbing or a very tempting massage to choose from the selected activities Excitedly we trot back to back to our cabin and get ready for our archery lesson Lola is fast asleep in less than 10 minutes of being home We leave her sleeping and tiptoe out Our archery lesson was fantastic very competitive set with squeals high fives and lots of funny concentration faces I would highly recommend booking in It was great to try something new and there s something very liberating about spending the afternoon in the great outdoors Our normal city life either draws our activities into a jampacked bar or a sweaty spin class Winchester is a beautiful place and it was once upon a time England s capital Boasting one of the most impressive cathedrals I ve seen there is a very romantic feel to the place The local bars and pubs hum with sweet laughter and clinking of glasses as both locals and tourists enjoy their Saturday night We park ourselves at a pub called The Bishop on The Bridge The outdoor heaters and charming patio call our name and we huddle around a table with the River Itchen trickling past us With a delicious dinner and a few ciders in us we order a taxi home We spend the rest of the evening in the hot tub with Lola looking out at us probably wondering why we disturbed her quiet evening snooze Our last day at Blackwood Forest started in the same manner as the first a brisk walk to wash out the cobwebs and tasty breakfast to set us up for the travel home Then off we went back to London I couldn t recommend a visit enough The perfect weekend get away that Lola enjoyed just as much as we did I m already planning my next trip back FORESTHOLIDAYS CO UK FORESTHOLIDAYS FORESTHOLIDAYSDOGS Back at home we decide to get ready and head into the local town Winchester We slick on some mascara for the first time in days and leave Lola snuggled up on the sofa a new position she cheekily entitled herself to while we were at our archery lesson PETBAR 69

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The Cosy Tents site has all you could need plus a lot more Each tent comes with a queen or double bed thick fur throws and a mountain of cushions make the thought of a sleeping bag seem like a pity party After you re done cooing your eyes will soon scan to the log burner That s right inside each tent is a burner complete with kindling fire starters and chopped logs There will certainly be no night time shivers in this tent Cosy Tents provide you with all the equipment you need to take your experience to the next level You ll find cooking equipment a speaker esky phone chargers hot water bottles a fan for the summer months and fresh bath towels The town of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs is just a short car ride away You can find cafes supermarkets vintage shops and a lovely country village atmosphere It makes the perfect day trip to wear you out just enough for a cosy night in Due to nature and surrounding farmland Cosy Tents is not pet friendly and is for adults only The campsite is for private luxury and is a place to completely shut off from the outside world and share a special memory with someone special The campsite itself has even more joys to discover Settle under the stars with a glass of wine while cosying up by the fire pit The sound of the crackling fire and warm glow will undoubtedly be a pinch me moment of sheer holiday relaxation The outdoor kitchens are complete with BBQ s stove kettles complimentary oils teas and coffee The immaculate condition of utensils keeps the feel of luxury alive If you want to make your trip even more unique Cosy Tents can provide a Breakkie hamper to be delivered to your tent Alternatively cheers to the weekend and schedule a bottle of Moet to be waiting for you upon arrival At Cosy Tents glamping is not compromised the bathrooms are in a league of their own Intricate tile details decorate a generously sized showroom feel complete with products fresh linen a waterfall shower head and grand sinks It would be easy to forget you re in the middle of the countryside bushland 74 PETBAR

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HANNAH FARR HANNAH IS THE SUPER TALENTED ILLUSTRATOR TURNING OUR FAVOURITE PET PICS INTO HANDPAINTED ART SHE RUNS HER ETSY SHOP FROM HER ART STUDIO IN CORNWALL WE HAD A CHAT WITH HANNAH TO FIND OUT HOW SHE MAKES IT ALL HAPPEN HANNAH TELL US HOW THINGS STARTED WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START PAINTING PETS Since I was 5 years old I remember telling my best friend at the time Jasmin that I wanted to be an artist when I grew up She gasped in a shocked manner replying But you re going to have work past your bedtime in that job Jasmin was spot on I took all of the art classes offered during my school years and had my first boyfriend dump me because I didn t see him enough due to spending all my time after school in my art classroom With the friendly help of my art teachers I entered the university for illustration Plymouth College of Art and now looking back I cringe at my old work After three years of uni I dropped all my art tools and jumped into a hole of dead end jobs for years I went from stacking shelves to waitressing to preparing food in a deli I was slowly becoming miserable and had art nagging in the back of my head So I thought to myself I d better do something with my degree I started painting my favourite thing dogs My family and I have always had pet dogs around The memories I ve got of these pets have always given me this warm fuzzy feeling on the inside That feeling we all get when you are talking over your friend to direct their attention to that cute dog across the street or you pass a cat and it stops looks up and starts meowing at you for you to tickle its chin is what I want to capture in a painting and give that joy to people I just painted pet portraits for 5 or even free just to have a creative outlet This slowly got the ball rolling and was putting some of my wages in a rainy day fund Then out of the blue my youngest brother fell ill with a rare blood disease He was rushed to the hospital and was given a 5 chance of living He made it out and now every day his health is getting better This gave my life a big kick up the butt and showed me that life can be taken away within seconds I chose the jump into the freelance work and burst into tears giving my boss the letter of resignation It was an outburst of excitement sadness and fear So here I am a whole two years into freelancing and no regrets WHAT S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS AND WORKING FOR YOURSELF The freedom is everything however something which I didn t know I would struggle with until you are working for yourself Scheduling out your day yourself is hard at first when you haven t got a boss or co worker there telling you what to do I used to try and get up first thing in the morning and crack on with my emails but now I know that I can t write out a sentence which makes any sense until after lunch I found out that I m at my most energised and creative in the morning and so this is where I get my primary lump of painting done Picking your days off is a bonus too however I do find myself beating myself up when I m not working which can lead you down into a negative spiral however I m finding this gets easier with time as I now know when to rest have a day off and chill because at the end of the day I don t want to end up burnt out and hating what I m doing Running a small business you really find who you truly are as a person it s one of the best things I ve done for myself in my life I wake up wanting to get out of bed every day and have such patience and gratitude towards everything Yes there s still a bit of stress now and then but I ve only got myself to rely on PETBAR 91

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TALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS OF INITIAL CHAT WITH A CUSTOMER TO THEM RECEIVING THEIR WORK It s super easy I get sent an email or a message through my Etsy shop in which customers send me their photos of the chosen one s the more the better so I can really capture the pet s energy and love in a piece I then sketch up the painting and send back a photo to make sure the customer is happy with the proportions layout of the painting Next up is painting time in which I update the customer every time I ve worked on the piece Some pieces can take from 4 hours up to a few days depending on size LASTLY TELL US ABOUT YOUR PETS I ve got an eight year old Shih Tzu called Maggie she s at your ankles 24 7 with smelly breath that can kill a man Maggie has a heart of gold she goes to the dog groomers every couple of months and comes back a sassy determined diva queen move to the side Beyonce Then there s Megan who s celebrating her 2nd birthday She s energetic very cheeky and outsmarts me daily She can open draws untie tight knots and can climb on the furniture to chew the lampshades In 5 years I hope to be Still here painting but with more products in my shop Maybe another dog or two in my life just don t tell the other half WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE I post daily on my Instagram which is hannahfarrs and my Etsy shop is www etsy com shop hannahfarrs 92 PETBAR

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WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WOODPETKER HOW DID YOU LEARN WOODWORK Our cat Astrid She inspired us to create unique but stylish furniture for pets We couldn t find anything we liked when we started looking for cat beds or feeders so I decided to make my own I had a choice to spend my initial budget on courses but to remain without tools or to study with video tutorials but to spend my budget on tools I chose the second option it took me about 5 months to learn about the tools and basic woodwork skill WHERE DO YOU CREATE YOUR DESIGNS All of our products are created in our workshop which is located near St Petersburg in Russia Our first workshop was tiny but very cosy but last winter we decided to rent a bigger room There are lots of power tools tables and everything we need to work even our dog Our workshop has preserved red bricks and a white mosaic wall We love it HOW HAS THE INTERNET HELPED YOUR BUSINESS TO GROW We started working and getting attention through Instagram This was our leading platform which allowed us to announce our activities in Russia Last winter I discovered Etsy which helped us to get acquainted with foreign buyers The internet helped me a lot in learning the basics of working with wood but that s another story WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ANY BUDDING CRAFTERS WHO WANT THEIR OWN BUSINESS First of all you should never be afraid to do something new The fear that it might not work Kills projects Secondly money doesn t have to be what you work for The idea should be the primary goal Thirdly you need to be modern in everything in projects in views in dealing with potential buyers and like minded people Fourth you need to be able to look for inspiration but not to steal other people s ideas we often face this unfortunately Be brave and work hard DO YOU HAVE ANY HELPERS No I currently work alone but I like it that way I know every stage of the work so I have full control but my husband Sergei helps me with obtaining materials and with the more challenging physical work Our demand is increasing rapidly so I think I should start to consider taking on an assistant PETBAR 97

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WHAT S IT LIKE WORKING FOR YOURSELF At first it was no days off including weekends but this big minus made up for a huge plus I can work on whatever I like Over time I ve built my perfect schedule and plan weekends to be any day of the week When you work for yourself you become responsible for everything and so it needs all your strength I find so much joy working for myself and one of the best parts is always coming to work with my dog TELL US ABOUT YOUR PETS We have two pets a tri colour Sphynx cat Astrid and a dog without a breed Rickman Astrid appeared in our house over three years ago She s amazing A real cat Queen proud affectionate and very beautiful Rickman came to us unplanned my friend saved a puppy with very poor health he lived on the street and was exhausted When I saw him I knew he was my dog After a month of treatment he came to us from Moscow He is now 6 months old his health is safe he eats good food and runs classes at the dog school In 5 years time I Want to see our project grow We ll have a few assistants some cool automated machines and our range would have expanded We ll be in a small studio where buyers can come and see our products You can follow Ksenia and see what she s working on at woodpetker 98

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YOU USE ANIMALS A LOT IN YOUR ART WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS I love featuring animals in my illustrations because not only are they visually appealing but I also love showcasing some of their mannerisms that we as humans can relate to I grew up watching nature documentaries with my dad and that love for animals never went away As an artist I thoroughly enjoy painting the details of animals the soft fur of a dog the feathers on a puffin stripes on a tiger claws on a dinosaur spikes on a hedgehog I try to keep my animals looking somewhat realistic but I also play with their facial expressions making them slightly human like without being cartoony WHERE ARE YOUR CARDS STOCKED We are lucky to have our cards stocked in over 500 shops in the US as well as a national retail chain and several shops in Canada and the UK We re excited to begin a new relationship with a distributor in Australia and New Zealand which will hopefully help introduce our line to lots of new friends down under Our cards are also available online through our Etsy shop and through a wholesale online marketplace called Faire WHAT DIFFERENT ROLES DO YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAVE WITH THE BUSINESS My primary role is to create all the artwork for our card line as well as oversee print runs with our local Los Angeles printer I also update maintain our catalogue and digital platforms like our Etsy shop and ourInstagram Jim handles all the logistical aspects of running our company including maintaining inventory interfacing with our sales reps wholesale buyers order fulfilment shipping and accounting Together we come up with ideas for new products new releases which wethoroughly enjoy TELL US ABOUT YOUR OFFICE SPACE We both work from our homes and we live only 10 minutes from each other It s an ideal situation for us because we re both parents of young kids and we get to spend more time with them instead of being stuck in a long commute Not to mention we are saving loads on rent My office studio space currently doubles as a guest room and my brother and I both have stacks and stacks of boxes and large shelves filled with cards in our living rooms Luckily our spouses don t mind the Yeppie d cor One day we hope to move into a separate studio but for now we really enjoy working from our homes and appreciate the convenience of it 102 PETBAR

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HOW HAS YEPPIE PAPER EVOLVED SINCE FIRST STARTING OUT DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS TELL US ALL ABOUT THEM When we first started out my brother and I had no prior experience in the greeting card industry We learned through trial and error which cards in our line seemed to resonate with customers and which ones did not We picked up our first sales rep group a year or two after we launched and that was a game changer We ve added more sales reps since then and with their expertise and vast knowledge of the industry our line and our stockist list has grown With every new release we strive to hone our voice and our brand while still trying to push ourselves not to be boring Yes I have an 18 lb Cream coloured terrier mix that I adopted through a local Los Angeles rescue group They found him at a high kill shelter as a stray His name is Royce and we think he s around 10 years old He s been with me since before I met my husband got married had kids I always joke that he s my first child He follows me everywhere and I think his favourite time of day is after our kids go to bed so he can have our full attention HOW HAS THE INTERNET HELPED YOUR BUSINESS GROW The internet has helped us grow in so many ways We have our wholesale catalogue available to view digitally through our website and we sell our line through Faire which can be super convenient for busy store owners and buyers We also sell directly to customers through our online Etsy shop I post regularly on my Instagram as well sharing everything from works in progress behindthe scenes packaging visits to our printer and product shots Store owners from near and far have found us through Instagram which is incredible It has been a great marketing tool for us and an easy way to share new product releases as well In 5 years I hope to still be running Yeppie Paper I genuinely love what I do and feel so lucky that I get to make art for a living We want to continue to create fresh new designs for our customers We re working towards expanding our product line from greeting cards to other exciting products that will feature my illustrations I m looking forward to seeing where the next five years takes us You can keep up with Jen over at YeppiePaperJen PETBAR 103

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METHOD STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds to barely melt it It shouldn t be hot but it should be almost entirely in liquid form STEP 2 CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES Using a stand mixer or electric beaters beat the butter with the sugars until creamy Add the vanilla and the egg beat on low speed until just incorporated 10 15 seconds or so if you beat the egg for too long the cookies will be stiff WHAT YOU NEED STEP 4 8 tablespoons of salted butter 1 2 cup white sugar I like to use raw cane sugar with a coarser texture 1 4 cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1 1 2 cups all purpose flour more as needed see video 1 2 teaspoon baking soda 1 4 teaspoon salt but I always add a little extra 3 4 cup chocolate chips I use a combination of chocolate chips and chocolate chunks STEP 3 Add the flour baking soda and salt Mix until crumbs form Use your hands to press the crumbs together into a dough It should form one large ball that is easy to handle right at the stage between wet dough and dry dough Add the chocolate chips and incorporate with your hands Roll the dough into 12 large balls and place on a cookie sheet Bake for 9 11 minutes until the cookies look puffy and dry and just barely golden It s key to take the cookies out even if they don t look doneotherwise they ll be overcooked STEP 5 Let them cool on the pan for a good 30 minutes or so They will sink and turn dense buttery and super soft These should stay soft for many days if kept in an airtight container

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MEXICAN BAKED EGGS WHAT YOU NEED 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 brown onion finely chopped teaspoon chilli flakes 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 2 teaspoons ground cumin Salt and pepper to season 1 large 300g red capsicum deseeded finely chopped 400g kidney beans drained rinsed 400g can diced tomatoes cup 125ml water 4 eggs at room temperature cup coriander leaves 1 avocado thinly sliced METHOD STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 180 C Heat oil in a large non stick frying pan over medium heat Add onion chilli smoked paprika cumin salt and pepper and cook for 4 5 minutes or until softened STEP 2 Add capsicum kidney beans tomatoes and water and bring to the boil Reduce heat to a simmer and cook occasionally stirring for 8 10 minutes or until thickened Spoon the mixture into four 1 cup capacity ovenproof dishes Make an indentation into each bean mixture and crack an egg into each STEP 3 Bake for 15 18 minutes or until the egg is cooked to your liking Serve with coriander avocado sour cream lime and tortillas Sour cream lime wedges and small toasted tortillas to serve 108 PETBAR