Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Forde.
Hi Patrick, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up on a dairy & cattle farm in Ireland, animals were part of our lives from an early age. When I was around five years old, we got a dog named Mitch that I claimed as my own, but the open Co. Meath countryside proved too enticing for Mitch and he eventually ran away. That feeling of “a boy and his dog” never left me. As I grew, my attention was focused mostly on the machinery on our farm. Surrounded by tractors, I was fascinated by even the smallest of repairs. Replacing a clutch or welding were small joys despite the inconvenience. This interest led to obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Trinity College, Dublin.
I moved to Texas in the 90’s and like many people in Austin, I worked in the IT industry. In 2004 I co-founded an IT company that provided value-add services to vendors of Dell, HP and Lenovo. We had technicians in Austin, El Paso, Mexico and Brazil. Small business is like being a farmer in that you need to be skilled in many trades from being an accountant to a forklift driver. My favourite facet of this was customer service. I sold this company in 2014 and was eager to combine all the skills and the parts of industry I enjoyed to direct the 2nd half of my career.
I have always gravitated towards industrial design and the aesthetics of the functional objects around us.
In 2015, my teenage sons and I boarded dogs as they were eager to make some part-time income. I realized that the one thing clients loved was photos of their dogs having fun on the playscapes I built for my sons when they were young. This was my ah hah moment! I wanted to build products that were an eye-catching backdrop for doggy photos. This is when Puppy Scapes was conceived and founded in 2017.
I knew it was a perfect fit for me as it combined engineering, visual design, customer service and, of course, dogs.
I built a few units immediately and started promoting using social media. Eventually, enough people expressed interest and it became my full-time occupation in 2019. I have had a steady stream of orders since then.
I love it and feel so lucky to be involved in this every day and that we are in Austin as it is such a dog-friendly city.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Our products are quite bulky and heavy. We get plenty of sales as far away as New Hampshire, Michigan, Florida and South Dakota, so shipping can be expensive. We are currently working with carriers to make this more cost-effective. Covid does not seem to have affected sales, but it did raise the cost of raw materials, especially lumber. We are doing our best not to pass this cost onto our clients, but it certainly has impacted our margins.
We’ve been impressed with Puppy Scapes, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We build Dog Play and Agility Equipment that actively promotes physical exercise, mental stimulation and social interaction. Ideal for Dog Parks, Dog Daycare, Training Facilities, Apartment Complexes and the Back Yard! Our products are Sturdy, over-engineered and eye-catching.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m constantly amazed at how friendly and upbeat people in the pet industry are. They always seem to be in a good mood, which is very motivating for me. I’m always surprised at the inquiries I get from places as far away as Europe, Dubai and Australia. We would eventually like to be able to ship anywhere, but for now we are covering most US states.
Contact Info:
- Email: Patrick@puppyscapes.com
- Website: www.puppyscapes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puppyscapes/
- Facebook: facebook.com/puppyscapes/
