Kerri Schreiber Bowlby 
Friendship bracelets might have had their moment for humans, but friendship collars are just getting started for the dogs. The Bead Bar Shop is a woman-owned business run by two Hoboken and Jersey City residents and fellow dog lovers who love spoiling the local pups with their unique collar designs. They can be found at various events and pop-ups throughout Jersey City and Hoboken, making beaded dog collars and accessories to strengthen the bond between humans and their pets. Read on to learn more about The Bead Bar Shop and how you can show extra love to your pet.
Best Friends for Life
While working at a veterinary clinic together, Bead Bar Shop owners Katie Birch and Gaby Fadl noticed that a coworker had a beaded collar on their dog. The necklace caught their eye, but was mostly made of wood and got dirty quickly, the longer the dog wore it.
“We thought we could do this better,” Katie told The Hoboken Girl.
And that’s where it all began. They decided to make the collars more lightweight by incorporating silicone beads and charms, making them more comfortable for the dogs. The silicone beads are easy to clean by simply running them underwater, which is an owner’s dream for dogs that like to roll around in the mud and get dirty.
Read More: A List of Dog-Friendly Places in Hoboken
“A lot of dogs don’t tolerate collars,” Katie said. “But these are fun, soft, and easy.”
The first night Katie and Gaby made the collars, they went to dinner and got asked 10 times by strangers about where they got the collars from. From there, they knew they had a business idea, and the Bead Bar Shop was born.
How To Get a Friendship Collar
The Bead Bar Shop does various pop-ups throughout New Jersey and New York, making beaded collars and accessories for both dogs and humans at local events. For those looking to get a collar but don’t live locally or can’t attend an event, The Bead Bar Shop is also on Etsy. While reaching consumers online is an important part of their business, they love the human and canine connection of making personalized items face-to-face with their customers, both furry and human.
“We’ve been having so much fun that we’ve been getting just so much hype, and we’ve met a lot of cool people,” Katie said. “We’ve met so many amazing people in the community and the dog community, and it’s just really rewarding.”
Not only do they sell beaded dog collars, but they also make custom beaded poop bag holders and matching friendship bracelets for humans. Necklaces start at $35 regardless of size and include the dog’s name. If you want to add charm, which many add one or two, it’s an additional two dollars per charm.
Typically, they find that the holidays are a very popular time for orders, but have also had success partnering with dog influencers on social media.
What’s Next?
A dream would be to have a brick-and-mortar location, but their immediate hope is to expand their pop-ups throughout the East Coast and eventually make their way out to the West Coast. For now, Katie and Gaby are enjoying the connections that they’re making with new owners in their local community who also love to celebrate their furry best friends.
See More: A List of Dog-Friendly Places in Montclair
“We love spoiling our dogs, Gaby said. “They’re only with us for too short a time, and so might as well make the most of it.”
