07 October 2024
Today marks our 4th birthday and in the hustle and bustle of daily life and running a business, it’s easy to overlook how far you’ve come. For us at The Pet Carpenter, it has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. As we reach this significant milestone, we want to reflect on our journey and express our heartfelt gratitude to both our long-standing supporters and new members of our community. We also hope that this reflection serves as a reminder of the importance of taking stock of your own journey—wherever it may lead.
2020 – Humble Beginnings
The spark of The Pet Carpenter was ignited in Harry’s dining room in 2020. Back then, we hadn’t even settled on a name. A simple idea, born from a passion for pets and carpentry, soon grew into something much bigger. We found a workshop on Dartmoor, and from there, began designing and crafting beautiful, functional pet furniture for our clients. It was the start of something special.
2021 – Triumph and Tragedy
By October 2021, we were thriving, having built a fantastic community that shared our vision of integrating pets into homes in creative and meaningful ways. However, disaster struck when a devastating fire destroyed our workshop, shaking our world to its core. Faced with the toughest challenge we’d ever encountered, we were forced to question everything—did we have the strength, resilience, and resources to rebuild?
2022 – Rising from the Ashes
With the unwavering support of our community, clients, and loved ones, we made the bold decision to rebuild The Pet Carpenter, stronger than before. Six months after the fire, we moved into a new workshop and reopened for business. It was an emotional time, full of highs and lows, but by the end of the year, we were honored to be named finalists in The Great British Entrepreneur Awards. This recognition was a powerful reminder of how far we had come.
2023 – A Bold New Direction
As we moved forward, the shadow of the fire still lingered, but it also pushed us to innovate. In 2023, we made the bold decision to revamp our approach. Out went our old e-commerce website, and in its place, we launched a new interactive design platform. Our aim was to create a more personal, hands-on experience for our clients, allowing them to take part in designing their own pet furniture. With the help of our partners, we turned this vision into reality, and the positive feedback has been overwhelming.
2024 – Growth and Expansion
Here we are in 2024, and The Pet Carpenter has grown even more. Our team has doubled in size, and we welcomed our first apprentice, Anna, who has been an incredible addition. We’ve also strengthened partnerships with The Artisan Dog Company and Calm Canine Academy, expanding our services to include soft furnishings and behavioural support. We’re proud to have joined the Pet Industry Federation, which has allowed us to collaborate with other pet businesses and better serve our community. We attended our first ever show; The Cat Show Live which was a wonderful experience – watch this space for more! Most excitingly, we’ve been shortlisted for two prestigious awards—Manufacturer of the Year and Online Business of the Year.
As we reflect on the past four years, we are filled with gratitude. There’s always more to learn and improve upon, but moments like these remind us to celebrate how far we’ve come. We couldn’t have done it without our incredible team, our three trusty pups, and, of course, all of you who have supported us along the way.
So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of this journey. We invite you to celebrate with us and take a moment to reflect on your own path. Five years ago, did you imagine you’d be where you are today?