Hound & Co is a new online marketplace dedicated to all things dog! We interviewed founder Laura Green about Hound and Co’s start, how Hound & Co helps “dogpreneurs” and rescues, her own hound, and more!
Spotlight on Hound & Co
How long have you been in business?
I had the idea of creating a dog product marketplace in 2014. I still had my old job in the corporate world and was busy with that. Less than a year later in the summer of 2015, I decided to take the leap and begin the development of my business. In August of 2016, Hound & Co officially launched (www.houndand.co) and we began welcoming sellers and rescues to the website to create their own online shops and rescue profiles!
How would you describe your business?
Hound & Co is dedicated to dog lovers everywhere, designed to serve as an online marketplace for exclusive, hand-crafted dog products as well as an online resource for all things hound. The marketplace is supported by sellers of artisanal dog-related products including collars, treats, toys, outfits, and more. All of the products you see in the Hound & Co marketplace are made for dog lovers by dog lovers.
At Hound & Co we want to make the shopping experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. We’ve collected the best one-of-a-kind products, hand-crafted products made by dog lovers like you, all in one location! At Hound & Co we are proud to support small businesses and creative entrepreneurs by providing them with the perfect outlet to sell their dog-related items.
In addition to providing a dog-centered marketplace for the buying and selling of artisanal pet products, Hound & Co is also devoted to supporting the work of local rescue organizations. We are proud to partner with local rescue organizations to promote events, to raise funds, and to provide an avenue to spotlight rescue pets that are in need of a loving fur-ever home.
What kind of items do you sell?
Hound & Co does not sell any products of our own. We work with the amazing small dog business owners and have their amazing hard working, handmade products on our site.
Do you have any new or exciting items that you would like to highlight?
Since we do not make our own products, we are constantly updating our website to offer our sellers/buyers/rescues more user friendly features. We consider our website our largest asset and best employee.
I always tell myself there is always more room for growth in a business. Even if you are a successful business, you should always be thinking about how to do something bigger and better than your competition. Down the road I think Hound & Co will have a lot of new and exciting features for everyone to interact with on the site.
Do you have any pets?
Yes! I have a 3 year old Italian Greyhound named Chase (@brooklynhound). My husband and I are obsessed with him and we treat him like our child – it’s kind of funny.
Tell us about the humans behind your business!
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always been obsessed with dogs. I always knew my real passion was doing something animal related. I got accepted into Syracuse University as a Pre-Vet major. A few months into college I started realizing I was more entrepreneurial in nature, so I switched my major to Marketing.
Four years later, I graduated college cum laude and worked in the corporate world in marketing for an energy company and then a real estate business. I knew I loved the marketing side of things, but something was missing.
A few years ago, I was brainstorming about my career path and came up with a business idea – an online marketplace for all things hound. A website for everything dog related. Ever since I came up with Hound & Co, I haven’t looked back. I am so happy and motivated to be starting my own business.
What else would you like readers to know?
There is so much potential with Hound & Co to be helping small business owners and rescue groups in need of more exposure to their organizations. Etsy has become so saturated with the big time sellers, making it almost impossible for any new business to come on board.
Hound & Co is here to help small business owners chase their dream and make it a reality. It is as easy as filling out a few questions and your shop will be live on Hound & Co! Hound & Co works hard to get your products in front of the right people on Google Adwords, and other search and display platforms. On Hound & Co, people visiting the site are only looking for dog products. On Etsy, people can search for hundreds of different product categories before they find the right item.
If you had one tip to share with a dog owner trying to care for and spoil his or her pet on a budget, what would it be?
To provide your dog with unconditional love. Have them become part of your family and they will be the happiest. Take them places with you and they will be forever grateful. There’s no price tag on that.
Check out Hound & Co at their website, Instagram, and Twitter! Also, if you’re so inclined, check out our shop Brooklyn Bowtied on Hound & Co!
