We were lucky to catch up with Jessica O’Connell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
My two Shar Pei dogs and the love for the breed were my inspiration to start this small business so I had to include them in the name somehow. The word THREADS came from the fact that I use so much sewing thread to hand make all the items I offer! The name Pei and Threads just made sense to me and I quickly knew that’s what I wanted my brand to be called.
Jessica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started my business in 2020 during lockdown. I had just gotten laid off from my full-time job and had no idea what was next for me. With all the spare time we had during lockdown, I bought a sewing machine and taught myself how to sew. I made some bandanas for my dogs because I always enjoyed dressing them up. It started just as something fun to do without any intention of starting a business. It wasn’t until I realized I was pretty good at it that the business idea came to mind. There were already many dog-related businesses online, but I knew this was the industry I wanted to pursue. At the same time, I wanted to be intentional in making it different from the rest. I have 2 Shar-Pei dogs and noticed there weren’t any businesses providing themed merch for this breed. It’s so easy to find Golden Retriever or Frenchie merch, but to find something Shar-Pei related is so hard — especially cute and trendy things. So I found a gap and decided to fill it. That’s what inspired me to create Pei and Threads. Although I created the brand with Shar-Pei in mind, I create things for all dog breeds and dog owners.
One thing I wanted to make sure I provided people, and of course the dogs with, was quality items. It took me many sleepless nights of perfecting skills to ensure I was producing high quality handmade items. It’s something I really pride myself in. I always say If I’m going to ask a person to pay for something I made, it better be great! I started with just dog bandanas and bows, but over time began creating human merch, dog collars, harnesses, leashes and more!
Everything I make is done with love and excellence. My ultimate goal is to spread joy for you and your pup!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Social media has been the best source. Majority of my clients have come from either Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. These are such great platforms to showcase your products and build rapport with people.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
There are many things that have helped me build a good reputation within my market. One of those being customer service. I’m very intentional at making sure the customer is always happy. At the end of the day, customers are what keep you in business and it’s so important to value them. Another thing that has helped is originality and creativity. It’s so easy to copy what someone else is doing but that will never get you far. I’ve learned that you always need to stay true to your brand and innovate. My customers always look forward to my original designs that can’t be found anywhere else.
Contact Info:
- Website: Peiandthreads.com
- Instagram: @peiandthreads
- Facebook: Peiandthreads