Life at the lake: trendy accessories for your little ones

Initially made only of marine rope, the collars and leashes for dogs from La vie au lac aroused great enthusiasm. Easily recognizable by their visuals, they have been quietly integrating into the lives of Canadians for five years, but in a rather exponential way since the adoption of a pet has gained in popularity. Life at the lake is a name that went without saying for the entrepreneur who has lived in Lac-Beauport for more than 20 years. An interview with Pamela McArthur allows us to depict, in the following paragraphs, the creative and passionate universe that has developed there.

A surprising turn

The world of entrepreneurship was not ideal for our interlocutor, for whom sport was once central. It was only after an accident that prevented her from resuming her role in physical education that the founder came up with the idea, at the edge of the quay. She begins by creating a first bracelet from rope, then practices creating a collar and a leash for her dog.

A shopkeeper in the area asks her about the origin of her accessories and she creates a few to sell there. Then came the “Let's connect our SMEs” opportunity, which allowed him to create his online store at low cost.

“Fortunately, I am well surrounded. I have a spouse and grown-up children who help me”, admits the one who says that creation was not previously part of her life when questioned. “We are passionate about new challenges, but otherwise everything has been a big learning curve. Over time, the creative spirit has come and the ideas come by themselves”.

Constant innovation

The first prototype bracelets quickly evolved into leashes. Biothane made its debut in 2019 to make the collar adjustable. Anti-odor and waterproof, it was the perfect material to reduce the negative impacts of incorrect measurements taken by customers. In addition to being less environmentally friendly, leather degraded quickly in contact with water. Biothane, visually similar, keeps a nice look over the years.

In the last year, the Lac-Beauport boutique that sells her accessories suggested Pamela produce accessories entirely made of biothane, which she did while keeping the essence of the product with the colored threads that accompany it. . The newest addition is the collection for small dogs, for which she had more and more demand.

It is by continually adjusting to the quality of the components and the needs expressed by the clientele that La vie au lac pursues its activities. “Everything is copied, but we are moving forward, we are innovating. We have evolved so much so we don't stop there and that's what keeps customers interested,” says the one who is already thinking about the need for harnesses shared by some customers.

Lots of ambassador offers

Sure, there's the undeniable popularity of adopting a pet, but there's also the virtual world and Instagram accounts dedicated to it. “I receive requests every week. In exchange for products, these – rather their master – agree to expose themselves. This gives good visibility which is undoubtedly the source of overseas sales, particularly in France. It's a different world that the businesswoman has gotten to know in recent years, but which overall amuses her a great deal.

A climate of trust

There have been quality adjustments over time, but since the products are guaranteed, a climate of trust is established. The entrepreneur says she is extremely flattered by the loyal customers who place one order after another, love the new colors and never seem to have enough models of collars or leashes.

Considering the era of time and the importance of online sales, the next project will be to redesign the online store to make custom orders easy to complete. Customers will be able to view their work and choose the colors. This should appeal to current and future ambassadors!

Reviewed by MF Editorial