My First Stall Experience: Winterton Hound Ground, August 2025

What an incredible milestone for our business! This August, I finally took the plunge and set up my very first stall at Winterton Hound Ground, and I can honestly say it exceeded every expectation I had.

Taking the Leap

For the longest time, having my own stall has been one of those thoughts that lingered in the back of my mind. You know the ones – those ideas that excite you but also feel a bit daunting? Having my own business has always been a dream of mine, and it's actually what I studied for at university, so this felt like such an important step in making that dream a reality. This year I decided it was time to stop thinking and start doing. And what a wonderful decision it turned out to be!

Meeting Amazing Pet Families

The highlight of the entire day was undoubtedly meeting so many passionate pet owners and their absolutely gorgeous furry companions. There's something truly special about connecting with fellow pet lovers – the shared stories, the excited tail wags, and those precious moments when you see how much joy the right product can bring.

From curious puppies to wise old dogs, each interaction brought such joy to the day. I have to say, my squeaky toys were quite the hit! There's nothing quite like the sound of a perfectly pitched squeak to get a dog's attention – and their owners laughing at their pets' delighted reactions. The pet-themed jewellery was also incredibly popular with the pet owners and lovers who visited – it's wonderful to see how much people love celebrating their furry friends in every way possible. The enthusiasm and love these pet parents showed for their four-legged family members was genuinely heartwarming and reaffirmed why creating quality pet products matters so much.

Sponsoring a Dog Class

One of the most memorable parts of the day was sponsoring one of the dog classes. I had the wonderful opportunity to go around and meet all the beautiful dogs and their owners – what an absolute delight! I have to admit, choosing winners was incredibly difficult when every single dog was so special and deserved recognition. The clear love and bond between each dog and owner pair made the decision nearly impossible.

Being able to support the local dog community in this way felt incredibly fulfilling. It's one thing to sell pet products, but being actively involved in celebrating these wonderful animals and their dedicated owners added such a meaningful dimension to the experience.

A Day of Ups and... Literal Downs!

As I packed up at the end of the day, I couldn't help but reflect on what a significant step forward this represented for our business. What started as a lingering thought had become a reality, and such a positive one at that. Well, mostly positive – I should probably mention that my gazebo decided to take flight in a rather impressive gust of wind towards the end of the day and didn't survive the landing! But you know what? Even that couldn't dampen my spirits. It just added to the adventure and gave everyone a good laugh (including me!).

The connections made, the feedback received, and the sheer joy of being part of this vibrant pet community has energised me for what lies ahead. Plus, I now have a very good reason to invest in a sturdier gazebo!

Looking Forward

Winterton Hound Ground 2025 will always hold a special place in my heart as the day I took that first brave step into stall life (and learned the importance of gazebo weights!). The experience has only strengthened my commitment to serving the pet community and has given me so many ideas for how we can continue to grow and connect with fellow pet lovers.

To everyone who stopped by our stall, shared their stories, helped chase my gazebo, or simply let their furry friends test out the acoustic qualities of our squeaky toys – thank you for making my first stall experience so wonderfully memorable. Here's to many more adventures in the pet community!

Sometimes the best things happen when we stop overthinking and just take that first step – whatever yours might be.