A thank you note to all our customers and other friends

What a year for Charley Chau. We turned three in August and as we reach the end our Summer Sale and the end of our (horrid accounting term coming up) financial year we thought it was a good time to say thank you to everyone who has supported Charley Chau, not just this year but since we launched back in 2010. It might sound a bit cheesy but we have a lot to be thankful for!

We launched three years ago in August 2010 with our signature Snuggle Bed - our one and only product at the time!

To our customers of course – a huge thank you to you for liking our beds and blankets enough to buy our products. We know that most dog lovers want to see their dogs comfy and snug but we are very conscious of the fact that people do have a choice and we’re very grateful when someone chooses Charley Chau for their dog!

To our friends on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest – thank you for keeping up with our news and silly photos and rants and raves! And thank you for helping to spread the word about our little company – every like, comment, share, RT, or pin is very much appreciated. And so is the banter and the fabulous photos that are posted on our timelines and boards!

To some of our other friends who have been there to give us advice and moral support through this roller coaster ride of starting a small business and then learning how to run a business “on the job” – thank you for the wise words and for keeping us sane!

Last year this fun little project that Jenny and I started in 2010 got to a point where it had taken on a life of its own; so much so that it wasn’t possible to fit in all the work involved in the evenings and at weekends any more. So it was decision time and I left a fifteen year career in London behind and started working full time on Charley Chau.

It was a big step and a huge risk to give up a steady salary to face no salary for who knows how many years but I haven’t regretted it for a second, not least because I now spend every day in the office with Charley, Anna, Tino and Theo!

Jenny and I are working  crazy hours to keep up with Charley Chau and to try to move our small business forward, usually 14 hour days, seven days a week, but we wouldn’t change it for the world! We’re feeling all grown up and serious right now as we will be a VAT registered company as of 1 September 2013. It means a horrid VAT bill every quarter which we will put enormous pressure on us as we adjust to saying goodbye to 20% of our sales but such is life and we just have to get on with it regardless. We will have to adjust some of our prices as a result of VAT registration but we've tried as hard as possible to minimise the impact for our customers.

VAT bills aside, there are exciting times ahead and we’re really looking forward to our fourth year which will include something fun and lovely in the run up to Christmas, more gorgeous beds and blankets to add to our already fabulous collection in Spring 2014 and a new fabric range too – the first time since our launch three years ago so that is VERY exciting. And there will of course be heaps of fun things on Facebook and another packed out show schedule as Charley Chau hits the road starting this month with four shows in four weeks! Coo, I’m tired just thinking about it but it’s going to be so much fun!

Thank you everyone for all your support!

x Christine & Jenny