Store Spotlight: Brindle's New York (& A Giveaway!)

I'm so excited to share this extra special Store Spotlight today. I discovered Brindles New York on Instagram and Holly and I were lucky enough to be chosen as brand ambassadors for this fabulous newcomer the pup e-commerce scene. After meeting up with the founders and their own pup-sonal ambassador (and the store's namesake), Mr. Brindles himself, I was struck with how much the Brindles philosophy aligns with my own.

It was love at first sniff for Holly and Mr. Brindles!

The Brindles folks feel that since our pooches are our furry family members, the products they use, from food and treats to chew toys and clothes, should have the same benchmarks for quality as those we give our human family. As pup parents themselves, they advocate for American made products with a level of care behind them that would appease even the most discerning pet owner. Brindles also believes in supporting small businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship and giving brands a stage to showcase their products and consumers a chance to discover them. Read on to learn more about the incredible story behind Brindles NY, as well as for some special treats available only to Little Holly's Big World fans!

Little Holly's Big World: What was your inspiration to start Brindles?

Brindles NY: The inspiration to start Brindles basically came from being a frustrated pet parent.  I was consistently disappointed with the vast number of pet products in the marketplace and the lack of information behind them.  

At home, I love to cook and can easily spend weeks researching the best ingredients.  Take olive oil for example. For myself, I want to be sure it is 100% pure and not mixed with an inferior oil.  I want to know where the olives are grown, and how they are pressed. 

After a series of well known pet food/treat recalls in the news, I finally asked myself why wouldn't I apply that same approach of looking for olive oil to find products for my best companion.  It turned out to be harder than I thought.  There was so many products that didn't meet our standards as we shopped online or in the “big box” stores.  

Fast forward to this spring, on a spur of the moment trip upstate to Beacon, NY with Mr. Brindles.  It was there that I met Patricia McGrath of Laughing Paw Farm.  Patricia had a table setup for the annual “Beacon Barks” festival on that day and Mr. Brindles found his way to her table of treats.  I listened to Patricia’s story of the dogs that inspired her to bake, and I saw the farm fresh Ameraucana eggs from her very own flock of hens that she uses in her treats. I knew I found someone who shared my own philosophy of doing things the right way with no shortcuts.  And, not only did I find amazing treats for Mr. Brindles but I also had the most amazing eggs for breakfast the next day!   

It was from this moment on that I knew there had to be others out there like Patricia. I wanted to find them and give them a place to showcase their products.  These individuals and small business owners are the inspiration behind Brindles.

Shopping local is great--just ask Mr. Brindles! Image courtesy of BrindlesNYC on Instagram.

LHBW: What makes Brindles different from other pet boutiques?

BNY: Brindles is different than other pet boutiques because we only feature 100% American-made products.  

However, just because you are an American made brand doesn’t guarantee you a spot on our shelves.  We are reading each and every label, researching the manufacturing process, and speaking to the purveyors of each product we carry.  We are ensuring that every brand and business in our shop is one we can be proud of and one that customers can feel confident purchasing.  Most of the small businesses we work with are pet parents themselves. They have passion and a pride of craftsmanship that gets lost among the larger manufacturers and big box stores.

West Paw Design re-knit sweaters available at Brindles NY. Image courtesy of BrindlesNYC on Instagram.

In addition, there are so many great artisans right here in NY making quality pet products and we at Brindles love to share all of them with you. 

LHBW: Why is working with small, American owned businesses important to the Brindles philosophy?

BNY: At Brindles, we believe in building a virtuous circle.  It is important to foster our local communities by supporting small American businesses that continue to grow, hire skilled workers, and give back to the community.

Here’s what I mean:

When you shop at Brindles and buy a new Toppl treat dispensing toy made by West Paw Design, you foster a growing American brand and support West Paw as they hire more skilled toy makers and sewers.  Those sewers, in turn, go out into their local Hometown, USA and buy produce from a local farmer at the market.  That farmer?  Well, he adopted a lovable rescue dog, Lassie, to help patrol his farm.  And so the farmer buys Lassie a comfy new Jax and Bones bed from Brindles.  Jax and Bones and West Paw Design both donate a portion of proceeds to charity from the purchases that Brindles made and we at Brindles also give back by donating to various pet rescue causes.

Brindles New York is a big advocate for shopping small. Image courtesy of BrindlesNYC on Instagram.

And so the circle continues….more American workers, quality made goods, a stronger economy, more pets rescued and a better community for everyone.

LHBW: Tell us the story of Rascal, or Mr. Brindles himself!

BNY: Mr. Brindles (aka Rascal) is a three year-old, cleverly stubborn, brindled French Bulldog and the Chief Tester of all products in the shop.  He likes hanging out in the dog park and chasing squirrels in Central Park. His favorite things are treats, treats, and more treats.  

Mr. Brindles sunning in Central Park. Image courtesy of BrindlesNYC on Instagram.

Like many breeds, French Bulldogs are prone to allergies and Mr. Brindles is no exception. We have to be careful with what he eats.  He is on a special limited ingredient diet that always keeps us researching the best quality ingredients. 

The Brindles store name was inspired from the color of his fur.  

I met Mr. Brindles when he was just a pup and I was courting his mama.  During our introduction phase, he would love to curl inside my legs or sit on top of them (he still does!).   One evening while snuggled on top of my legs, he quickly and suddenly ran off into another room.  A few minutes later, I scratched my leg (I am actually allergic to dog fur!!) and when I reached down my hand felt wet.   Yup, Rascal marked me as his and we have been inseparable ever since.  

LHBW:  In your opinion, what is it that makes pup ownership in New York special?

BNY: Well, most of us in New York don’t have backyards.   So we are all taking our pups outside in our PJs every morning…rain or shine.  We have a multitude of dog parks to choose from and a bevy of meetup groups to socialize.  Dog friendly restaurants and shops make it easy to take your best friend almost everywhere in this city.  The scents and visual scenery are just as stimulating to dogs as they are to people.   

Jumping for joy in NYC's own backyard!

However, its the community of great pet parents that truly make NY a special place. 

LHBW: What is the most important thing you want people to take away from the Brindles shopping experience? 

BNY: Confidence.

Confidence not only that their purchase helps support animal rescue efforts and small businesses, but that they can rely on Brindles to curate the best and safest pet products available in the marketplace from people who care about pets and not profits.

We believe that it's stores like Brindles New York that make the dog community special. To recognize an issue as a pet parent, and take the steps to go out and solve it all while supporting small businesses and rescue organizations, is absolutely amazing. If this piece made you want to run out and shop small with Brindles New York, then you're in luck! Little Holly's Big World readers can enjoy a 10% discount with code HOLLY, so you can knock out your holiday shopping in plenty of time.

Brindles NY Holiday Bundle. Image Courtesy of Brindles New York.

And as an added treat, Brindles has kindly offered one of their famous Holiday bundles to giveaway--just in time for Santa to leave it for your favorite four legged friend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats to the winner!! Happy Holly-days!

Until Next Time, Darlings!