A Natural Business Transition

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We recently talked with Gretchen George, president of PetRageous Designs, about where she gets her inspiration for their line of products and the latest trends in pet fashion.

Michelle:  Tell me about PetRageous.

Gretchen:  We started in June of 2004 primarily as a stoneware bowl company. Prior to then my background was a buyer in housewares. During my time as a buyer I recognized a niche for fun and creative pet bowls. Housewares to pet was a pretty organic transition.

From there we decided to be a complete bowl source for retailers. We added plastic bowls, stainless bowls and graduated into feeders. I also have an extensive background in textiles, so our growth into pet clothing was a natural transition. Clothing is now a year-round part of our business.

Toys were added in 2010, and we continue to add new styles and fabrics to our product lines.

Michelle:  Where do you get your inspiration for the products you create?

Gretchen:  Inspiration comes from everywhere. Trends and fabrics in adult and kids clothing fuel our ideas for pet clothing.
Trends, colors and styles in home décor drive our creativity in the feeding business.

Michelle:  What trends are you seeing in the pet fashion world?

Gretchen:  We see the need for both function and fashion trending in pet apparel. Our outerwear garments feature fun patterns and colors while focusing on functional demands for warmth, breathability, dander reduction, windproofing and waterproofing.  We see trends in dog apparel mirroring human fashion trends in both style and performance.

We are using the same high performance fabrics, styles, patterns and colors trending in human fashion to develop our clothing line.  Easy-use and easy-care features continue to be a driving trend for both large and small breed apparel.

Michelle:  What’s a typical day-at-the-office like for you?

Gretchen:  No two days are ever the same – even when I have a plan.
My favorite days are working on new items, developing new programs for PRD and working with our designers and clients. It never fails that there are factory production problems, shipping issues or weather related difficulties causing delays half a world away.

I also love to visit our customers to find out what we can do better or host our customers to review upcoming products and seasons.