Behind the brand: how Messi Pups started

Messi Pups started as a simple idea between two sisters who wanted to build something of their own. What began as a conversation about working for ourselves has grown into a brand built on creativity, a love for dogs, and a community we’re so grateful to be part of.

Here’s a little look behind the scenes at how our brand came to be.

Where did the idea for Messi Pups first come from?

My sister and I were talking about the future and how we’d love to one day work for ourselves with our own business.

With a background in graphic design and web design, we started thinking of different areas we could go into, knowing that we could at least take care of the branding and website ourselves.

We both love dogs and initially thought about starting a dog treat business, but as we looked into this more, we realised there were a lot of hoops to jump through – hygiene certificates, approval from the Food Standards Agency, etc.

We then thought about designing harnesses, as the only ones we’d ever purchased for our own dog were basic ones from Amazon.

And speaking of our own dog, the brand’s named after our pup, Messi!

At what moment did you decide to go for it and make it a business?

I already had some designs (Leaf Me Alone) from my sticker business on Etsy, so I decided to turn this into a repeat pattern and see what it would look like on a harness. I then started reaching out to manufacturers to see what costs would look like if we were to go ahead with the idea.

While waiting on some samples being made, we worked on the branding and website design for Messi Pups. We were really happy with how it turned out; it felt like us.

We were probably quite naive at the beginning and didn’t realise just how many pet accessory companies were already out there, as we weren’t really part of the online dog community (bad dog mums, we know). In a way, I’m glad we didn’t realise this, as it may have overwhelmed us and stopped us from giving it a go.

How has Scotland influenced the brand and designs?

I love taking photos in my spare time. Any time I go for a drive somewhere or visit a place, I have my camera with me. So for a lot of the designs, there’s an actual photograph taken somewhere in Scotland that has inspired it (minus the unicorns… I’ve yet to find one of them roaming in the wild).

What was the very first design you created?

The first design I created was Hairy Coo-Ture. It was actually my mum’s idea to go with the highland cows as our first design, and I’m so glad we did, because it has remained our best seller since day one.

How did it feel seeing it come to life for the first time?

It was amazing seeing something that I had drawn on an actual product. Getting those first samples in was so exciting, as it felt like the start of something big!

What were the biggest challenges when starting Messi Pups?

None of my family have any background in business, so we were pretty much winging it from day one (and still are). We felt pretty good about the branding/website side of things, but everything else we had to learn as we went along. Finding manufacturers, keeping track of inventory (harder than it seems), finances, marketing…

Was there a moment where you nearly gave up or doubted it?

There have been a few times we’ve questioned whether it was going to work and if it was worth continuing. Being a small business is really difficult, and when things go wrong, it can be costly, and these costs come directly out of our own pockets.

What do you think sets Messi Pups apart from other dog accessory brands?

We put our customers first and try to make sure their experience with us is always a positive one. I pride myself on remembering our customers by name (well, their dog’s name), whether it’s seeing their photos online or in person when they visit us at markets.

What do you care about most when designing products?

I want all our patterns to feel like ‘us’. So when people see a new design, they know right away – that’s a Messi Pups design. They all feel like part of a bigger collection. And I just want to create things that our customers are excited to get their hands on!

What does Messi Pups mean to you today compared to when you started?

It means so much more to us now. It started off as a wee pet project (pardon the pun) celebrating our own wee pup, and it’s turned into a whole community with amazing, loyal customers. We’re so grateful for Messi Pups, as we’ve met some amazing people through it!