Scribbles Corner puts pooches in fun and fashionable clothes
Dog walk led to business
By Shari Kaplan
It all started when Missy Smith and Brian Nicks of Los Gatos were walking their Yorkshire terrier puppy, Scribbles, down the street, and everybody began to fawn over her.
Scribbles is an extremely cute 4-pound furball with beady eyes peeking beneath silky fur bangs, a carefree disposition and a waggy tail, but the "oohs" and "ahhs" were not over the dog.
The commotion was over the dog's clothing, because Scribbles was all dressed up and with some place to go. Little did she know, however, that this one outfit--handmade by Smith--would lead her owners into a successful business venture.
"Small dogs have a hard time regulating their body temperature, and we didn't want Scribbles to be cold," Smith says of the inspiration for sewing her first set of canine clothes.
"Wherever we went, people would ask to buy the clothes--right off the dog's back!" Nicks relates, laughing. "Initially, we were just doing this for fun. But then everyone wanted to buy these clothes for their dogs, so we had to start a business."
Smith, who like Nicks, works for a software company in Campbell, downplays her sewing talents by calling herself "a hobby seamstress." The outfits, however, now for sale on the Scribbles Corner website, are hardly the result of a mere dabbler.
From dresses to rompers to pajamas, the clothes are tough enough to keep up with frisky dogs, yet cute enough to dress a baby in. Another of Smith's goals was to make the clothes comfortable enough that the dog would actually enjoy wearing them. She certainly succeeded with Scribbles, whom she and Nicks say loves wearing clothes. That and the attention Scribbles has learned the clothes bring her, Nicks admits with a smile.
"So many of the dog clothes we've seen on the market are more like costumes that are fun for a few minutes--until the dog throws a fit," Nicks adds. "We want our clothes to be fun and comfortable."
Currently, Scribbles Corner offers a half-dozen or so outfits for male and female dogs ranging in size from extra-extra small to medium. Among the most popular fitting requests are for Yorkshire terriers, other terriers such as cairns and Westies, and other small breeds, such as chihuahuas and toy poodles. Smith says, however, that she's happy to take custom orders for dogs of any size or shape.
In the meantime, Smith, Nicks and Scribbles are enjoying their newfound fame. But do the clothes make the dog, or does the dog make the clothes? They're not sure, but Nicks has an amusing observation nonetheless:
"We've been stunned that wherever we go, everyone treats Scribbles like a child when she has her clothes on!"
For more information about Scribbles Corner, visit www.scribblescorner.com on the Internet, or call 408.472.8465.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
