Recently the fine folks over at the Province Newspaper did an article in the "money" section that covers small businesses. As most of my friends and customers were asking about it I thought I would show a link to it below.
http://www.theprovince.com/Life/Bakery+truly+project/1268606/story.html
Since this small article came out I have noticed a huge boost in our already large sales of organic treats and I got some very valuable feedback to what people are looking for in fresh made items.
One of the things that I was reluctant to make was Birthday cakes for dogs as the ingredients used were usually either second rate or simply ones that people could do up in their own kitchen(like the popular use of mashed potato for icing) for much less money that is being charged at other locals.
Now, I understand the benefit of time saved being money saved as well so I have decided to add to our line-up of hand made organic treats...a "BIG BONE BIRTHDAY COOKIE".
This is an item that we will be able to personalize with a half hours notice (we prefer a call the day b4) to say Happy Birthday Fido or something like this.
The cool thing about this item is the lack of mess and the ability to dole out only parts of it as needed and it will be much better priced.
Fresh, storeable, great ingredients, organic, and totally yummy!
One more item for the part of us that is the Woofles and Meowz dog bakery now I just have to figure out how to make a delish sardine roll for the cats!
http://www.theprovince.com/Life/Bakery+truly+project/1268606/story.html
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Eggs on Granville Island.
Woofles and Meowz is simply the coolest train caboose converted into one of Vancouver's first Pet bakery. Things have changed in the past few years as it was first opened as a Pet Deli that sold raw food for dogs and cats waaaaay ahead of the trend. Later it stocked toys and treats baked right here in the caboose and since I have bought it I have packed it with equipment, toys, treats, gifts and products for both cats and dogs. I love that we sell items for both cats and dogs as I sometimes think with all the purse doggies purchased in the past few years that retailers have forsaken our feline friends....not so here!
This morning another animal was busy at Granville Island and especially around the Kids Only Market and that was the EASTER BUNNY!!
As I left the parking garage to head to work I noticed a whole slew of easter eggs all over the island tucked into nooks and crooks. It was the most charming sight and one sorely needed on this very rainy day!
I could not help but open up one of these colorful toys so see that there was a wee sticker and a cute saying inside.
Whomever did the work for this project I have to say a BIG THANK YOU!!!! It was the sweetest thing and watching the young'ins laughing up a storm while searching for them was wonderful!
Happy Easter everybody from Woofles and Meowz.
This morning another animal was busy at Granville Island and especially around the Kids Only Market and that was the EASTER BUNNY!!
As I left the parking garage to head to work I noticed a whole slew of easter eggs all over the island tucked into nooks and crooks. It was the most charming sight and one sorely needed on this very rainy day!
I could not help but open up one of these colorful toys so see that there was a wee sticker and a cute saying inside.
Whomever did the work for this project I have to say a BIG THANK YOU!!!! It was the sweetest thing and watching the young'ins laughing up a storm while searching for them was wonderful!
Happy Easter everybody from Woofles and Meowz.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Cat toys supreme.
Some people like to give great feedback about what and how their cat will play with and won't touch when it comes to toys. We here at Woofles and Meowz absolutely LOVE this feedback as we order all our Cat toys and treats based on this feedback and what is asked of us by these fine folks. All I can say is that when it comes to cats...there is one constant and that there IS NO constant. Everybody seems to have a different case when it comes to their furry friends. Soooo we will keep ordering what people like and hope we get the best!
Dog bakery..Pet bakery....its all good!
Theres NEW things baking at Woofles and Meowz here on Granville Island. Now that we are the closest bakery for the Kitsilano crowd we have decided to expand our already great organic baked goods line to include...Birthday Bones that say "Happy Barkday" and given enough time...usually an hour or so...we can put the doggy's name on it as well. As we use only organic ingredients we like to use a yogurt and cacao mixture to write with instead of the potato mixture some others are using.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm Dog bakery at its finest!
mmmmmmmmmmmmm Dog bakery at its finest!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The hottest dog toy on the market!!!!
At Woofles and Meowz I get an offer on a new item that is "guaranteed" to be a good seller at least once a week. I usually try to be open to the possibilites of certain items and I have been surprised a couple of times on things that go against my first impressions either way, good or bad, but.....not very often.
That is, until I came across the "Scrambler"....a toy that resembles what the old "Leggs" pantyhose containers looked like but more substantial...much more substantial.
"This toy is gonna be a hit" said the rep...."a sure fire seller!"
...yyyyeeeeehhhhhh suuuurrreeeee....I thought to myself. What is the attraction of these plastic eggs?...What gives?
Being not all knowing contrary to popular belief I like to keep the options open to the possibilites so I took a few of the Scramblers both small and large.
I think they lasted in the store about 14 minutes. I am not kidding!
Whether it was the bright colours or the shape I am not sure but I was ordering more the next day and continue to do so every two to three days. Damn!!! why did I not think of this thing!
I decided to take the large size to the Nelson street dog park in the westend of Vancouver to see what was the workability of this toy and I was met with a friend whos dog instantly started herding the egg shaped toy around and as it moved erratically it attracted at least 6 other dogs. This of course was not without its perils at a full dog park but because the gist of the toy being that it cannot be held or bitten there was no one dog dominating the item or any other dog for that matter.
"Hey..where didya get that thing...its great" was the first comment.
"Oh I think there is some at the caboose on Granville Island...Woofles and Meowz I think they are called" said I casually.
"Yeah my dog rips apart everything...that looks perfect" second offering.
"I can at least see that in the snow"...third comment.
"They really seem to like that thing" fourth said.......and the list went on.
I will go on record and say I was wrong in my skepticism on this product and of course it makes sense! Where was my foresightedness...why did I not see that a toy that cannot be bitten also cannot be destroyed???
Of course...there is NO SUCH THING AS AN INDESTRUCTIBLE TOY...but damn..this thing is the closest thing I have ever come across.
I am a fan to say the least and several hundred units later so are many of my customer's dogs.
That is, until I came across the "Scrambler"....a toy that resembles what the old "Leggs" pantyhose containers looked like but more substantial...much more substantial.
"This toy is gonna be a hit" said the rep...."a sure fire seller!"
...yyyyeeeeehhhhhh suuuurrreeeee....I thought to myself. What is the attraction of these plastic eggs?...What gives?
Being not all knowing contrary to popular belief I like to keep the options open to the possibilites so I took a few of the Scramblers both small and large.
I think they lasted in the store about 14 minutes. I am not kidding!
Whether it was the bright colours or the shape I am not sure but I was ordering more the next day and continue to do so every two to three days. Damn!!! why did I not think of this thing!
I decided to take the large size to the Nelson street dog park in the westend of Vancouver to see what was the workability of this toy and I was met with a friend whos dog instantly started herding the egg shaped toy around and as it moved erratically it attracted at least 6 other dogs. This of course was not without its perils at a full dog park but because the gist of the toy being that it cannot be held or bitten there was no one dog dominating the item or any other dog for that matter.
"Hey..where didya get that thing...its great" was the first comment.
"Oh I think there is some at the caboose on Granville Island...Woofles and Meowz I think they are called" said I casually.
"Yeah my dog rips apart everything...that looks perfect" second offering.
"I can at least see that in the snow"...third comment.
"They really seem to like that thing" fourth said.......and the list went on.
I will go on record and say I was wrong in my skepticism on this product and of course it makes sense! Where was my foresightedness...why did I not see that a toy that cannot be bitten also cannot be destroyed???
Of course...there is NO SUCH THING AS AN INDESTRUCTIBLE TOY...but damn..this thing is the closest thing I have ever come across.
I am a fan to say the least and several hundred units later so are many of my customer's dogs.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Dog and cat treat safety.
One of the things we take very seriously here in Vancouver is our health...at least for the most part we are not using bacon fat for buttering the toast as was the habit of certain relatives of mine while growing up on the prairies. (try it sometime though..mmmmmm baconnnnnn ughgughguhgughgu....)
Our healthy eating habits usually extends to our pets which is why our organic treats are so popular for both Dogs and Cats.
We do go a wee bit overboard sometimes when I am sourcing organic lamb meat from Granville Island for some biscuits or wild salmon from the local docks. I know.....crazy but in a good way I hope.
Lately I have been asked two big questions with regard to our treats and that is..."what is Melamine" and "is the peanut butter safe".
Firstly lets look at what Melamine is:
Melamine is an organic compound that is often combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a synthetic polymer which is fire resistant and heat tolerant. Melamine resin is a very versatile material with a highly stable structure. Uses for melamine include whiteboards, floor tiles, kitchenware, fire retardant fabrics, and commercial filters. Melamine can be easily molded while warm, but will set into a fixed form. This property makes it ideally suited to certain industrial applications.
Melamine resin is manufactured by mixing urea with formaldehyde under heat and pressure. The substances begin to polymerize and are forced into a mold which will create the desired shape. Under pressure, melamine releases water, which could make the plastic unstable if it is not removed. The materials finish polymerizing and create a finished product, melamine resin.
Melamine resin is known as a thermoset plastic, because the plastic is fixed after molding. If exposed to enough heat, melamine will melt. For this reason, melamine dishware should not be exposed to high temperatures like those in the oven and microwave. However, the plastic is able to withstand higher temperatures than other plastics. Because it is a thermoset plastic, melamine resin is difficult to recycle.
Melamine can be made into a foam product. Melamine foam has a distinctive structure composed of stacked bubble shapes, which are extremely hard and therefore can easily clean a wide variety of substances. Melamine foam is marketed under a variety of commercial names including Magic Eraser, a cleaning tool well known for removing scuffs and dirt from a wide range of surfaces.
Melamine resin is used in Formica and similar construction products made from composite materials. Formica is made using melamine resin, which is used to coat the fibers in the upper layer of the construction product. The melamine resin makes the end result heat resistant, so that hot objects can be set on the counter without concern. The surface of the material is designed to be easily wiped and cleaned, creating a long lived household product.
Melamine also plays a role in a wide range of flame resistant materials. These include textiles used in upholstery and the uniforms worn by firemen. Thermal liners, heat resistant gloves, and aprons to protect from splashback of hot substances are made using melamine. Melamine will protect a wearer from heat hazards, and will help to resist the spread of fire in aircraft and buses by providing a fire blocker.
Melamine is also used in the manufacture of some filters. The material is porous and will admit substances to pass through, but can be used to filter out particles of a particular size. Melamine filters are capable of handling a high capacity and can be used in hot environments due to the heat resistance of it. Melamine filters are also extremely efficient.
Aside from common commercial uses, melamine became a topic of much discussion in early 2007, when veterinary scientists determined it to be the cause of hundreds of pet deaths, because of pet food contamination. Prior to these reports, melamine had been regarded as non-toxic or minimally toxic. However, because of the unexplained presence of melamine in wheat gluten added to mass-produced dog and cat foods, it is the most likely cause. Pet owners report symptoms that are commonly associated with renal failure, which could be explained by the ammonia that may result from the digestion of the melamine.
Now...these were only manufacturers from China. We never did or ever will import food items from China mainly because we exercise due diligence in examining the sales and manufacturing sheets that accompany toys to keep certain materials away from our store..... but as we all know now with the FURTHER travesty of Chinese milk products having Melamine fillers in them it is almost impossible to comfirm quality of Chinese products.
Yeh, yeh. I know I will get comments about this but I direct those who do send them to read the obits of the children and unhappy pet owners who have suffered the loss of their pooch. nuff said!
As for the peanut butter scrae that is going on we do not use peanut butter from the plant that is in Georgia as we use a fully Canadian pruduct. I have also called up the supplier and/or manufacturer of any product that has peanut butter in it to confirm that it is not on the recall list.
Just a wee little thing to do for our tail waggin' friends.
I think they are worth it don't you?!?!?
Besides is is just too easy to KNOW what goes into the treats when we make them here right?
...just sayin'.............WOOF!
Our healthy eating habits usually extends to our pets which is why our organic treats are so popular for both Dogs and Cats.
We do go a wee bit overboard sometimes when I am sourcing organic lamb meat from Granville Island for some biscuits or wild salmon from the local docks. I know.....crazy but in a good way I hope.
Lately I have been asked two big questions with regard to our treats and that is..."what is Melamine" and "is the peanut butter safe".
Firstly lets look at what Melamine is:
Melamine is an organic compound that is often combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a synthetic polymer which is fire resistant and heat tolerant. Melamine resin is a very versatile material with a highly stable structure. Uses for melamine include whiteboards, floor tiles, kitchenware, fire retardant fabrics, and commercial filters. Melamine can be easily molded while warm, but will set into a fixed form. This property makes it ideally suited to certain industrial applications.
Melamine resin is manufactured by mixing urea with formaldehyde under heat and pressure. The substances begin to polymerize and are forced into a mold which will create the desired shape. Under pressure, melamine releases water, which could make the plastic unstable if it is not removed. The materials finish polymerizing and create a finished product, melamine resin.
Melamine resin is known as a thermoset plastic, because the plastic is fixed after molding. If exposed to enough heat, melamine will melt. For this reason, melamine dishware should not be exposed to high temperatures like those in the oven and microwave. However, the plastic is able to withstand higher temperatures than other plastics. Because it is a thermoset plastic, melamine resin is difficult to recycle.
Melamine can be made into a foam product. Melamine foam has a distinctive structure composed of stacked bubble shapes, which are extremely hard and therefore can easily clean a wide variety of substances. Melamine foam is marketed under a variety of commercial names including Magic Eraser, a cleaning tool well known for removing scuffs and dirt from a wide range of surfaces.
Melamine resin is used in Formica and similar construction products made from composite materials. Formica is made using melamine resin, which is used to coat the fibers in the upper layer of the construction product. The melamine resin makes the end result heat resistant, so that hot objects can be set on the counter without concern. The surface of the material is designed to be easily wiped and cleaned, creating a long lived household product.
Melamine also plays a role in a wide range of flame resistant materials. These include textiles used in upholstery and the uniforms worn by firemen. Thermal liners, heat resistant gloves, and aprons to protect from splashback of hot substances are made using melamine. Melamine will protect a wearer from heat hazards, and will help to resist the spread of fire in aircraft and buses by providing a fire blocker.
Melamine is also used in the manufacture of some filters. The material is porous and will admit substances to pass through, but can be used to filter out particles of a particular size. Melamine filters are capable of handling a high capacity and can be used in hot environments due to the heat resistance of it. Melamine filters are also extremely efficient.
Aside from common commercial uses, melamine became a topic of much discussion in early 2007, when veterinary scientists determined it to be the cause of hundreds of pet deaths, because of pet food contamination. Prior to these reports, melamine had been regarded as non-toxic or minimally toxic. However, because of the unexplained presence of melamine in wheat gluten added to mass-produced dog and cat foods, it is the most likely cause. Pet owners report symptoms that are commonly associated with renal failure, which could be explained by the ammonia that may result from the digestion of the melamine.
Now...these were only manufacturers from China. We never did or ever will import food items from China mainly because we exercise due diligence in examining the sales and manufacturing sheets that accompany toys to keep certain materials away from our store..... but as we all know now with the FURTHER travesty of Chinese milk products having Melamine fillers in them it is almost impossible to comfirm quality of Chinese products.
Yeh, yeh. I know I will get comments about this but I direct those who do send them to read the obits of the children and unhappy pet owners who have suffered the loss of their pooch. nuff said!
As for the peanut butter scrae that is going on we do not use peanut butter from the plant that is in Georgia as we use a fully Canadian pruduct. I have also called up the supplier and/or manufacturer of any product that has peanut butter in it to confirm that it is not on the recall list.
Just a wee little thing to do for our tail waggin' friends.
I think they are worth it don't you?!?!?
Besides is is just too easy to KNOW what goes into the treats when we make them here right?
...just sayin'.............WOOF!
Stray cat strut......
Here at the store I have found there are three different types of music that work wonders with the sales #s.
There seems to be only a vague common denominator in that they usually have the same BPM or beats per minute and within that, a happy tempo.
The first is Big Band music. Y'know those old band guys were really swingin' cats waaaay before we all figured it out. Even the most junior shopper seems to bop along to a post war tempo and tap their feet to Dorsey, Miller, Basie or Goodman. This music also gets a knowing smile from anyone with a snowy head of hair. "Nice music young man" I have heard more than a few times and the smile I get from being called young man at 42 stays with me until the next blood sugar ebb.
The next is ABBA. Say what you want about the popular foursome from Sweden but there is a continued following that spans a few generations now with the hit Mama Mia catching the ear of the young'ins and the lyrics are almost always lip synched by anyone feeling nostalgia for the 70s.
Its happy music for sure.
The third is a combination of sorts between The Spice Girls and Stray Cats. The two would seem far away in relation except that both appeal to the 30 smething crowd with the Spice girls getting the win from most girls and the nod towards the Stray Cats from the guys. Both these groups give good beat with toe tapping potential.
Pop music gets a bad rap sometimes simply for being popular which would be contraindicated would it not?! Someone has to be listening to this stuff right??
Evertime someone comes into Woofles and Meowz and sings along I think to myself .."yer busted!"....I'm not the only swingin' cat going.
There seems to be only a vague common denominator in that they usually have the same BPM or beats per minute and within that, a happy tempo.
The first is Big Band music. Y'know those old band guys were really swingin' cats waaaay before we all figured it out. Even the most junior shopper seems to bop along to a post war tempo and tap their feet to Dorsey, Miller, Basie or Goodman. This music also gets a knowing smile from anyone with a snowy head of hair. "Nice music young man" I have heard more than a few times and the smile I get from being called young man at 42 stays with me until the next blood sugar ebb.
The next is ABBA. Say what you want about the popular foursome from Sweden but there is a continued following that spans a few generations now with the hit Mama Mia catching the ear of the young'ins and the lyrics are almost always lip synched by anyone feeling nostalgia for the 70s.
Its happy music for sure.
The third is a combination of sorts between The Spice Girls and Stray Cats. The two would seem far away in relation except that both appeal to the 30 smething crowd with the Spice girls getting the win from most girls and the nod towards the Stray Cats from the guys. Both these groups give good beat with toe tapping potential.
Pop music gets a bad rap sometimes simply for being popular which would be contraindicated would it not?! Someone has to be listening to this stuff right??
Evertime someone comes into Woofles and Meowz and sings along I think to myself .."yer busted!"....I'm not the only swingin' cat going.
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