Meet Ashley Chandler | Handmade pet accessories

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Chandler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I didn’t plan out my business for long in advance, it all just happened within a short period of time. I fell in love with dressing up my Shih Tzu, Baylor, so I was always on the hunt for cute and affordable accessories that were also good quality. I had a hard time finding exactly what I was looking for so I decided to make accessories for him myself. I began by making bow ties in various sizes and styles until I found exactly what I was looking for. I was so excited with my new found hobby Baylor quickly had an abundance of bow ties for every occasion. About a week or so later I had an idea to take a chance and list them on Etsy and the rest is history. Over the past seven years my shop has grown in many ways. I now have a website and attend events as a vendor. Ive also expanded from just pet bow ties to making bandanas, dog & cat collars, collar flowers, sailor bows, and cute options for pet parents to match their bestie.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What sets me apart from others is the quality of my products. I spent a lot of time over the years focusing on the quality of my products making sure they would last a long time. Im extremely happy that my products last through rough play, several rounds of washing and my customers have been able to wear the products for years. The process wasn’t necessarily easy getting to where I am today however, it did all fall into place for me over the years. Taking risks has played a significant role in getting my business where it is today. As I’ve grown my business over the years I have taken many risks. Designing and adding new products always come with the possibility that customers won’t be interested resulting in unused inventory that can be hard to move. Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years has been to stay positive and understand you can’t make everyone happy. It can be difficult at times, but the joy it has brought me far outweighs the disappointments and I am so thankful to be where I am today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
To show someone the best time ever in the city there are several places I would want to take them. One of my absolute favorite places to go is the Georgia Aquarium. After a trip to the aquarium we could go to the world of Coke which is conveniently a short walk away! Another one of my favorite places to explore is the Atlanta Botanical Gardens especially around the holidays. There are so many good places to eat in the city, one of my absolute favorites is Superica the food is always delicious and you cant go wrong with a marg.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mom. She’s been extremely supportive from the very start of my business. She takes time out of her day to attend my vendor events with me, helps take deliveries to the post office, and tests out my new products to help me know when they are ready to sale. One of my favorite things to do is shopping for new fabric prints with the help of my mom.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BaylorsBowTies

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baylorsbowtieboutique/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baylorsbowties/

Other: www.baylorsbowties.com