Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Thomas.
Hi Anastasia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve worked in tech since I was 19. My main focus has been digital products – apps & websites that users love. During the eight years on this journey that has started back in Ukraine and continued as I traveled and worked around the world (Asia, South and North America, Europe, and now the US), I’ve been a part of several start-ups and had a lot of fantastic growth and development opportunities. This year, working on a few projects of my own, and as a brand-new puppy mom, I saw a huge opportunity in the dog market: there’s a large demand for everything dog-related, but there is also quite a bit of a gap in the digital and retail space, especially in merging the two in a meaningful way. That is how the idea for BARKLOOM was born. I’ve connected with my business partner Eliana Densow, who is also a mom to a handsome German Shepherd puppy herself, and the project naturally became a passion for us.
We’ve done a lot of work before February, and then the war in Ukraine started. With my entire family living in Ukraine, it was a major setback for me, and it was challenging to navigate the new reality and work “as usual” all while checking in with loved ones 24/7. I knew we had to use what we’ve created so far to make a difference. With that, we’ve soft-launched with a single product – The Freedom Bandana, a Ukrainian-themed dog bandana. We partnered with Transform a Street Dog, a non-profit organization that helps dogs in Ukraine affected by the war, and we’re donating all profits from this bandana to the organization. There are a lot of animals left behind that need shelter and food and it makes me so happy to know that we’re able to contribute.
That’s where we are today – working on new products and some really exciting digital parts of the brand while continuing to support the cause.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel like anything worth doing is never easy. The reality is, it’s hard, daily work, especially when you are just getting started and you have a handful of people inevitably doing multiple jobs. But that is the joy of it: taking the journey with the people you trust, making mistakes, learning from them, and doing it better next time. It’s a part of the deal: no matter how much you know (or you think you know) about starting a business, there will always be bumps along the road, and it’s really up to you whether you take them as a detour or a dead-end. Those able to pivot, learn and go on, are the ones able to succeed.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
BARKLOOM is a dog brand, but also so much more: we are on a mission to bring high-quality dog products to pups & their parents while giving the community the advice and platform to be the best dog parent you can be. In the next few months, we are launching some very exciting aspects of it (in addition to a really cute accessory collection) so stay tuned!
In the meantime, I invite everyone to check out the Freedom Bandana and support the dogs in Ukraine that need help right now. Animals deserve to have food, shelter, and loving families, and you can contribute (even a little bit) – to making this happen. Plus, your pup gets an awesome bandana for the summer while supporting a great cause!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck is an opportunity and it’s up to you what you do with it. I’ve been lucky to meet awesome people (including my business partner) that have played pivotal roles in my life and business, and have given me incredible opportunities. Behind all that though, are years of hard work in making the most out of the opportunities I’ve got. It’s important to be able to recognize the “lucky moment” and then do everything possible and impossible to drive success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://barkloom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barkloom/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barkloom/
