We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Maraschiello. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

When I opened my dog accessory business at age 20, I did not realize how it would change me, how I would grow as a person.

I started Groovy Pooch when I became a first time pet owner, during the pandemic. I had always suffered from anxiety and mental health issues since a young age that made me doubt myself, and hesitate to let my bright, creative personality shine.

When I began hiking with my dog, as she was very active and loved to explore outdoors, I felt a newfound sense of belonging within myself.

I was connecting with my furry companion, connecting with nature, and connecting with myself in a way that I hadn’t been able to do in a while.

As an artist, I was feeling inspired to create something that expressed how I was feeling.

I began designing patterns that expressed a bright, positive mood, and I knew I wanted to create dog accessories, as I was sure that I wasn’t alone out there. There had to be others who felt transformed through dog ownership.

And so, I combined my artistic designs with products that were made for daily life with dogs.
All of my products are specifically designed to support the needs of dog owners, (ex. Hands free leashes, dog walking bags that can fit a water bottle).

Our mission is to transform the lives of dog owners through products that make you happy, make you excited to go on that walk with your dog, and improve your overall well being. For all the joy dogs bring into your life, they deserve to be celebrated with products that make them stand out!

Sarah, 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?

My name is Sarah. I own Groovy Pooch & Co., a dog accessory brand. All of our products are hand designed, making each one their very own little art piece. Through our curated collections of accessories, we hope to capture the attention of pet owners who are looking for gear that stands out, but ultimately serves a function.

Our approach to our designs and concepts very much revolve around the pet owner lifestyle. This holistic approach translates into our social media, interactions with the community, and overall branding and messaging. This approach is something that reflects my own personal journey of healing, and the reason why I started Groovy Pooch & Co.

When I was 20, living in the pandemic, I was suffering from anxiety and mental health struggles. I was creative/artistic from a young age, but during this time, all inspiration was lost. That winter I got Willow, my french bulldog, and I found my best friend.

Our bond was instant, and as the summer came, we found ourselves going on hikes and taking walks through the forest. Through my bond with Willow, our routine of walking, I felt renewed. My creative inspiration was back, and I knew what I had to do. I had to make accessories that I wished I could find, that would express my newfound sense of peace, creativity, and joy all thanks to owning a dog.

For 2023, Groovy Pooch will be introducing our first vegan leather collection, and we have committed to 100% eco friendly packaging. We also have a local Dog Walking Club that supports walking your dog in the name of mental health, and building community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As a full time university student and a business owner, resilience was something I learned fast. My passion for arts, and joys of owning a dog led to the creation of my dog accessory brand, which not everyone around me took seriously. Given my young age, and dreamer mindset, I faced a lot of pressure from those around me to admit failure. It was easy to let those voices get in my head, and to embody those opinions. I got to a point where I had to make a choice – to trust myself 100%, or let the opinions of others lead to my failure. And so I learned to be resilient within myself. To ignore the doubts, the epic fear of failing. Resilience is something that lives inside of me, and honestly pushes me forward in my thinking, in my creativity, in my professionalism, and overall growth as a person.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Given that my business operates and relies on social media for customer interaction, I have a wonderful brand ambassador group that opens for application every season. This is a way that I’ve built connections with clients that will last a long time. Through this program, ideal customers connect with me on a deeper level, and see the behind the scenes of the business and my work methods. They appreciate our products and showcase them to their friends and own social networks. This amazing community is what makes the business so inspiring and fun.
I also have a VIP program through Instagram stories. About once a month for 24 hrs IG followers have the chance to join the program (The program is using “Close Friends” on Instagram, and the chance to join is clicking yes using IG’s poll feature) On this VIP story I share BTS videos and daily life, get help voting on product designs, and really focus on building true friendships and community with our followers and supporters.

Contact Info:

• Website: groovypoochco.com
• Instagram: groovypoochco