Daily Inspiration: Meet Hailey Meadows

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Meadows.

Hi Hailey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
ToTheMoon Shop + Co. started in 2020 in Nashville, TN, and, like many other small businesses, is a product of the pandemic. My now husband and I had just gotten our first puppy, Major, and I had been searching high and low for a bandana that met my high standards. I kept finding tie-on, single-sided styles that he would tug or chew on, which needed to be more durable. Other options were size-specific styles that would only fit for a short period. Growing up, I was petite and had always wanted to learn how to sew. I thought I could create these myself and to my quality standards! That desire turned into testing my abilities to make bandanas for my pup. I ordered a sewing machine and some test fabric and used a great resource – the internet – to learn.

I wanted a comfy, easily worn bandana, durable, adjustable, and stylish. I made it even more worth it by including the reversible style that provides two styles in one. The first several (and I mean several) bandanas were a nightmare, as you can imagine—a lot of trial and error. Once I became more familiar with different approaches to creating a bandana, I chose a process that worked best for me and then went to work. I kept making and testing them on Major and other neighborhood dogs until I felt I had something great. My neighbor then inspired me to put a little sign out front so that dogs and owners walking past each day could see what we had to offer.

It has been so much fun turning this little project into a business I am proud of. I love creating products that meet not only my quality standards but those of so many others. We love our dog “to the moon and back,” and felt like it was the perfect name for our shop, where we would make handmade items for others who love their pups the same. We now sell our products across the country via Etsy.

A big part of the building of this business was how I would use it as a channel for giving back. My grandfather, a United States Air Force Veteran, was a massive part of my life growing up. It made perfect sense to tie in dogs and veterans. Today, ToTheMoon Shop + Co donates a portion of all proceeds to charitable organizations that provide service dogs to our military heroes.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Small businesses face their fair share of challenges. Costs have been a massive challenge for me from day one. Rising material, labor, shipping, and marketing costs have often made me second-guess myself. Luckily, our client base sees the value in our products and has stayed loyal to us through price increases and changes.

Finding skilled and reliable labor to help make the bandanas has been a real struggle. Sewing, like many trades, is a dying art. Finding talent that can meet my high standards and be dependable has been challenging. Fortunately, I’ve seen a few local people help during busy times over the years. It’s a constant effort, but it’s worth it to maintain the quality of our products.

Marketing allocations for social media, photography, website design, and SEO have also been costly for our small business. That is why we eventually focused on Etsy, where we can market, ship, advertise, track, and provide customer service in one place. As a millennial, I know I am supposed to be good at social media, but let me tell you, it is a full-time job! That has been one of the hardest things to maintain and support. I plan to hire a social media manager, at least part-time.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
ToTheMoon Shop + Co is my passion project, but it is a business I do on the side. My career is in healthcare sales, which is also a love of mine. I am immensely proud of how I have managed to maintain ToTheMoon and my job for the last 4+ years. There have been times when I have felt overwhelmed or like I may need to close down, but I have pushed forward. I am so proud of the product that we have created. The reviews of our products on Etsy are a testament to the fact that we are doing the right thing! I enjoy seeing pictures of dogs in our bandanas and the kind words from our customers who say their dogs love wearing them. It makes it all worth it.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
The support from our community is crucial to our success; social media engagement, such as likes, reposts, and sharing our profile, is a great way to show your support. I’m fortunate to have a dedicated following who provide feedback, share ideas, and contribute photos for our content. We’re open to more collaborations as we grow. One of the benefits of working with a small business is the ability to customize designs to fit a specific brand or theme. We’re always excited to explore opportunities to work with other businesses, brands, or influencers.

Pricing:

• $30

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tothemoonshopco.etsy.com
• Instagram: @shop.tothemoon