We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Winer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
When the pandemic hit. As with most people I was quarantining at home. It was just me and Charlie. As I looked through social media I saw an app that could make your pet or an animal talk. I started making some fun videos of Charlie singing and talking about his deep thoughts, which were usually about catnip and his funny personality. We would have dance parties and have videos of him just being a cat around his kingdom (the house) that would make people smile, Charlie was definitely the cat to do this!
As more and more people fell in love with him I created some social media accounts and groups so people could just follow him alone. Part of my mission is to spread love, joy, peace and happiness around the world. I received so many messages about how Charlie was helping them through this difficult time and they couldn’t wait to see him everyday. It created Charlie Chap the WonderCat. People from all over the world are following him from Germany, to the UK, to Australia, to his home state of Minnesota. He now has over 30000 followers and it keeps growing.
Throughout the pandemic I kept making videos of Charlie and made it very much about Charlie and his point of view. If people asked a question… he would answer. Then I created a few products so people could have a little bit of Charlie Chap the WonderCat in their home. This included a book, The Adventures of Charlie Chap the WonderCat, which is for all ages. We have gotten wonderful reviews. The book details Charlie’s story of being rescued, finding his forever home, and knowing he is loved no matter what. It was important to me to make a hardcover book that would last and that people could use for our Wednesday event every week called Headbutt Wednesday, Charlie always explains that a headbutt means we love you, we care about you, and we want to be with you, but you need to be gentle. The Hardcover book has a big picture of his face so people could boop his nose or just smile at his cuteness.
As I am a huge animal advocate and a supporter of literacy campaigns. I got The Adventures of Charlie Chap the WonderCat into our county library system for those who wanted access but couldn’t afford it. I have also donated several to organizations that have reading to the animals programs. What is better than reading to cats and dogs waiting to be adopted about a cat who found their forever home and is so loved.
It is very important to me that the videos of Charlie in the house are just about him being a cat, letting him roam and do his thing. He was diagnosed with asthma and inflammatory bowel disease during the pandemic. Another part of my mission is to be advocates for feline asthma and IBD as many people I have found don’t even realize cats can get asthma. I give Charlie medication everyday he is doing very well. Every month we try to. do a “CSA” – Cat Service Announcement educating people about Charlies cat asthma and IBD and to check with their vet if they think there is an issue.
I created a website www.charliechaptwc.com so people could learn more about him and find products that would make them happy.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have always been artistic and creative. I went to graduate school and got my degree in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, It resonated with me as it is in many ways an art form and treats every person holistically. I knew I wanted even more of a creative outlet to work with. With Charlie Chap the WonderCat, LLC it allows me to do just that. The artwork in my book, the pictures of him, and the videos give me a joy that is like nothing else. Getting messages from people about how much it brings them joy and helps them is what I am most proud of. Never in a million years did I think it would turn as big as it has.
If all we can do is spread love, joy, peace and happiness in the world then we should. We need more of that. In Chinese medicine we often talk about
Qi which is the vital energy in the body. When you’re around an animal there is a beautiful Qi which you definitely cannot feel when they are not there. Like being around a WonderCat.
What sets me apart is he is actually speaking in some of his videos vs. just dubbing over with a voice. It adds to his character and personality.
Bringing happiness with the videos while letting charlie just be a cat and having fans see him in his glory living his best life is so wonderful. Honoring him and his happiness while knowing he helps others and knowing I am doing all I can to create the most amazing life for him, I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission has always been to spread love, joy, happiness and peace around the world. To advocate for animals and advocate for literacy programs. To educate about feline Asthma and Inflammatory bowel disease. To help shelters and rescues with their reading to animals programs.
My goal is to keep growing and work with schools or organizations to create educational programs with Charlie as their spokesperson. To have Charlie Chap the WonderCat be a spokesperson or MC for Cat Video Festivals around the world and an educational spokesperson for Vet offices and rescues around the world.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I had been saving some initial capital knowing I was going to create something. Since Charlie Chap the WonderCat was created during Covid, the money that went for travel, entertainment, and restaurants I saved and used for this venture.
We are so excited! We are working on a limited edition plushie of CharlieChap the WonderCat. It is quite the process and in design phase. You can sign up for alerts and presale info at https://charliechap.gimmeswag.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.charliechaptwc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetcharliechap/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/charliechaptwc
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/@meetcharliechap
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@charliechapthewondercat
Image Credits
Photos copyrighted and TM Charlie Chap the WonderCat,LLC