We recently connected with Izzy Sanders and have shared our conversation below.

Izzy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Izzy’s Barkin Bandanas began as a labor of love for my own pets. Previously, in my teenage years, I would ask neighbors if they needed to have their dogs bathed. My friend and I took the summers by storm. We would bathe and brush all of the neighborhood pets for our pocket money, to go to the pool or movies. Once bathed, I would make very basic bandanas from fabric squares and return the pups to their owners. Every week when my family did weekly shopping, they would buy fabric squares for me to keep our pets dressed in the most fashionable cute themes and holiday themes.
Fast forward several years, as I completed my college degree returning from my last semester studying in Italy, the pandemic closed the world down. Originally, I was scheduled to complete applications and return to Northern Europe to complete my Master’s Degree. However, it became apparent that with everything going on in the world, that might not be possible on my original schedule.
I remember during the beginning of the pandemic, I was cleaning and organizing our family home. Looking for anything to pass time, I was even stripping the old wood work and repainting room by room. While I was involved in the home projects, the idea for Izzy’s Barkin’ Bandanas began to evolve. My love of making bandanas for my dogs started to get me thinking I could make bandanas for other dogs and put them on consignment in small privately owned pet shops. I then adopted my Great Dane, Cali. The best model literally fell in my lap as our 16 year old dog had passed weeks before. Cali gave me the confidence to put myself out there and open up a business.
Right about that time a new local small Farmers Market started in my area and I jumped at the chance to make bandanas and sell them at the Farmers Market. By July of 2020, I was a regular at the Farmers Market and I began to locate other dog themed events that I could be a vendor and sell my dog bandanas. It was at that point I realized these were a hit and there was even a demand for cat sizes.
I have prided myself since the beginning on having a rotating array of hundreds of fabrics — something for everyone. At times along the way, I’ve been doubted on certain fabrics or ideas. However, that weekend event would come, the new patterns would sell so quickly that I had to hurry to make more for the next event. Soon people were looking for me at events, seeing what cute new fabrics I had located to make bandanas from.
As summer started to wind down and fall arrived, it was festival season. I booked even more events, and I became busier than ever. I started adding accessories for PAWrents to match, hair scrunchies and even key chains.
That same fall, my mom had the idea to invest in an embroidery machine to in turn expand my range of products. While I admit I thought she was crazy and no one would want embroidery, she proved me wrong. Before I knew it I was making family matching Christmas pajamas, monogram tshirts, embroidered dog bandanas. You name it, I made it on that little machine. The ideas kept coming and I kept making never slowing down. Soon, my company began to make a name from word of mouth and my social media following continued to grow.
I have always and will always say, this is the hardest hobby I have ever had. It has also taught me incredible patience. There are countless days that I was minutes away from finishing an hour long tshirt and somthing goes wrong. With embroidery, theres rarely any salvaging that. You are back to square one.
Being 100% self taught, I learned my mistakes, pivoted and started again each time. I never let those failures stress me out (at least for more than a night). With patience, I restart the designs and learn from my mistakes and finish it exactly as I envisioned.
Through my business, I have been able to become friend with so many other like minded individuals. I am so thankful I have those friends to fall back on because when you enivitably have those days where it feels like everything is going wrong, they are there and understand this small business world.
By the Spring of 2021, I was booked almost every weekend for different events, festivals and markets. I kept the same sentiment since the beginning. I want to offer something for everyone, whether it be my dog bandanas or embroidered apparel.
Just when everything seemed to be going great, my machine broke. I sent it to multipe repair people. Everyone shrugged their shoulders. It was then that I decided that I have to take this business seriously and just make the large investment into a commerical machine because I was not going to let my clients down. I am such a hands on learner, I forewent the classes available and for the next 3 days I worked night and day on this machine figuring out all of the ins and outs.
I now have two commerical machines so I am able to keep up with order volume. I am also custom designing fabric now for my dog bandanas so they are exclusive to my shop.
All I can hope for in the future is continuing on my journey of crafting beautiful dog bandanas and embroidered apparel and accessories.

Izzy , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

4 years ago if you would have told me that I was going to be a 27 year old small business owner, I likely would’ve laughed. I was set on moving back to Europe for a third time, going to graduate school and eventually relocating to Italy full time. The pandemic threw a wrench in a lot of peoples plans, including mine. My dreams were crushed, but nonetheless I pivoted and opened up a business. Now I honestly cannot imagine doing anything else. I love making my own and people’s ideas come to life through embroidery. Embroidery I will say has taken over about 65% of my business, but I am someone who sticks to my roots. There is still a want and need from many for my dog bandanas and accessories, so they are not going anywhere.

I think something that sets me apart is the love I have for this craft. When I started, there were very few embroiderers in the area. I took my time, learned the machines in and out. Learned how to perfect designs. Upgraded when necessary. I didn’t do this to make quick sales. When I started, no one was looking for embroidery. I 100% took a leap of faith with this business.

With my brand, I am most proud of my design work. I make new designs just about every single day. I don’t look for what is popular at the time or what is going viral. I strive to make designs I haven’t seen anywhere. My designs have been replicated time and time again, I just remind myself that means I’m doing something right and it’s the sincerest form of flattery. I am seriously proud of the product I put out.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I try my best to foster brand loyalty by trying my hardest to always be a step ahead of the game. As I mentioned before, my designs and ideas have been replicated time and time again. I’m at a point now, years later, where I don’t let that bother me. I pivot, make and post some new designs.

In addition, I’ve built quite a large customer base over the years. I chat with them often and I build long lasting relationships with them. I still have customers from the very first embroidered items I listed.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

For my business, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele is being open to making anything. I have never turned down a project. I love doing custom work and custom embroidery work has a huge market since it lasts forever.

Contact Info:

• Website: izzysbarkinbandanas.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/izzysbarkinbandanass
• Facebook: Facebook.com/izzysbarkinbandanas